UC Riverside vs. OSU

Comparable Facts

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

Oregon State University is larger than UC Riverside based on total student enrollment (37,163 students vs. 26,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Oregon State University is in Corvallis, OR (Small City setting).
• University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Oregon State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; Oregon State University 18:1.

UC Riverside vs. OSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or OSU? 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 OSU ($14,562 vs. $22,467).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oregon State University are 20.8% lower than at University of California Riverside ($16,386 vs. $20,691).
• University of California Riverside is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than OSU (about $1,206 more per year; $15,606.00 vs. $14,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.4% higher at UC Riverside than at Oregon State University (about $11,616 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $38,190.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oregon State University than at University of California Riverside (90% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 116.9% larger than aid received by Oregon State University students ($24,355 vs. $11,230).

UC Riverside vs. OSU Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oregon State University (1270) is 90 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Incoming OSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at UC Riverside).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; Oregon State University 1140/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; Oregon State University 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; OSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; OSU Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at OSU (3.61).
• OSU has a higher acceptance rate (77.3%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 20.4% at OSU.

UC Riverside vs. OSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside and OSU? 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 Oregon State University's (61%).
• Graduates from Oregon State University earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,900 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Riverside graduates have a $4,391 lower median loan debt than OSU graduates ($19,109 vs. $23,500).
• Among borrowers, UC Riverside graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OSU graduates ($197 vs. $242).
• More OSU 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.