UC Riverside vs. Oxy

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than Oxy based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Occidental College is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Occidental College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; Occidental College 9:1.

UC Riverside vs. Oxy Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or Oxy? 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 Oxy ($14,562 vs. $48,400).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Occidental College are 7% lower than at University of California Riverside ($19,252 vs. $20,691).
• Occidental College is 324.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Riverside (about $50,668 more per year; $66,274.00 vs. $15,606.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.1% higher at Oxy than at University of California Riverside (about $16,468 more per year; $66,274.00 vs. $49,806.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at Occidental College (76% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Occidental College students is 49.5% larger than aid received by University of California Riverside students ($36,400 vs. $24,355).

UC Riverside vs. Oxy Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Occidental College (1450) is 270 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Incoming Oxy students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 26 at UC Riverside).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; Occidental College 1380/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; Occidental College 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; Oxy - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; Oxy Jan 10, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Oxy (3.63).
• UC Riverside has a higher acceptance rate (76.4%) than Oxy (44.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 17.8% at Oxy.

UC Riverside vs. Oxy Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside and Oxy? 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).

• Occidental College's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than University of California Riverside's (67%).
• Graduates from Occidental College earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,600 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Riverside graduates have a $4,543 lower median loan debt than Oxy graduates ($19,109 vs. $23,652).
• Among borrowers, UC Riverside graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oxy graduates ($197 vs. $244).
• More Oxy graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.