UC Riverside vs. Saint Mary's College of California

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Riverside in Riverside, CA with Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Riverside is larger than Saint Mary's College of California based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 2,734 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Saint Mary's College of California is in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; Saint Mary's College of California 10:1.

UC Riverside vs. Saint Mary's College of California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California ($14,562 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's College of California are 14.9% lower than at University of California Riverside ($17,600 vs. $20,691).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 270.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Riverside (about $42,197 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $15,606.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.1% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at University of California Riverside (about $7,997 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $49,806.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at University of California Riverside (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 74.1% larger than aid received by University of California Riverside students ($42,407 vs. $24,355).

UC Riverside vs. Saint Mary's College of California Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Riverside or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California and UC Riverside.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Riverside (1180) is 20 points higher than at Saint Mary's College of California (1160).
• Incoming UC Riverside students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at Saint Mary's College of California).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; Saint Mary's College of California 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Saint Mary's College of California (3.6).
• Saint Mary's College of California has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California.

UC Riverside vs. Saint Mary's College of California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside and Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California's (61%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College of California earn a median of about $14,600 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,800 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Riverside graduates have a $5,891 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($19,109 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Riverside graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($197 vs. $258).
• More Saint Mary's College of California 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.