UCI vs. UC Riverside

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Irvine in Irvine, CA with University of California Riverside in Riverside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Irvine is larger than UC Riverside based on total student enrollment (37,297 students vs. 26,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); University of California Riverside is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Irvine 19:1; University of California Riverside 22:1.

UCI vs. UC Riverside Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI or UC Riverside? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Riverside than UCI ($14,562 vs. $15,889).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Irvine are 8.2% lower than at University of California Riverside ($18,991 vs. $20,691).
• University of California Irvine is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Riverside (about $116 more per year; $15,722.00 vs. $15,606.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at UCI than at University of California Riverside (about $116 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $49,806.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at University of California Irvine (76% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 5.4% larger than aid received by University of California Irvine students ($24,355 vs. $23,110).

UCI vs. UC Riverside Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCI or UC Riverside? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UC Riverside and UCI.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Irvine (1330) is 150 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Incoming UCI students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at UC Riverside).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; University of California Riverside 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33; University of California Riverside 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; UC Riverside - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026; UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at UCI (3.75).
• UC Riverside has a higher acceptance rate (76.4%) than UCI (28.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 12.2% at UC Riverside.

UCI vs. UC Riverside Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI and UC Riverside? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of California Irvine's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than University of California Riverside's (67%).
• Graduates from University of California Irvine earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,800 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Irvine graduates have a $2,109 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($17,000 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, UCI graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($175 vs. $197).
• More UCI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.