UC Riverside vs. DUofC

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than DUofC based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 1,900 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Dominican University of California is in San Rafael, CA (Small City setting).
• University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Dominican University of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; Dominican University of California 8:1.

UC Riverside vs. DUofC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or DUofC? 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 DUofC ($14,562 vs. $37,456).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dominican University of California are 21.7% lower than at University of California Riverside ($16,191 vs. $20,691).
• Dominican University of California is 234.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Riverside (about $36,555 more per year; $52,161.00 vs. $15,606.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.7% higher at DUofC than at University of California Riverside (about $2,355 more per year; $52,161.00 vs. $49,806.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dominican University of California than at University of California Riverside (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dominican University of California students is 40.5% larger than aid received by University of California Riverside students ($34,224 vs. $24,355).

UC Riverside vs. DUofC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dominican University of California (1260) is 80 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; Dominican University of California 1210/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; DUofC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at DUofC (3.66).
• DUofC has a higher acceptance rate (83.5%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 12.7% at DUofC.

UC Riverside vs. DUofC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside and DUofC? 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 Dominican University of California's (56%).
• Graduates from Dominican University of California earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Riverside graduates have a $7,891 lower median loan debt than DUofC graduates ($19,109 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Riverside graduates have an estimated $82 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DUofC graduates ($197 vs. $279).
• More DUofC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.