UC Riverside vs. CSUMB

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than CSUMB based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 7,713 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); California State University Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Monterey Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

UC Riverside vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or CSUMB? 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 California State University Monterey Bay than UC Riverside ($14,493 vs. $14,562).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Monterey Bay are 16.7% lower than at University of California Riverside ($17,234 vs. $20,691).
• University of California Riverside is 100.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUMB (about $7,827 more per year; $15,606.00 vs. $7,779.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 144.4% higher at UC Riverside than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $29,427 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $20,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at California State University Monterey Bay (76% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 99.9% larger than aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students ($24,355 vs. $12,185).

UC Riverside vs. CSUMB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Riverside or CSUMB? 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 CSUMB and UC Riverside.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Riverside (1180) is 120 points higher than at CSUMB (1060).
• Incoming UC Riverside students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 20 at CSUMB).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; California State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; California State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; CSUMB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at CSUMB (3.45).
• CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

UC Riverside vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside and CSUMB? 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 Riverside's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than California State University Monterey Bay's (38%).
• Graduates from University of California Riverside earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than CSUMB graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,200 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $5,109 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($14,000 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($144 vs. $197).
• More CSUMB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.