UC Riverside vs. San Francisco State

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than San Francisco State based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 22,563 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); San Francisco State University is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. San Francisco State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; San Francisco State University 19:1.

UC Riverside vs. San Francisco State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or San Francisco State? 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 San Francisco State University than UC Riverside ($13,168 vs. $14,562).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Riverside are 7.1% lower than at San Francisco State University ($20,691 vs. $22,266).
• University of California Riverside is 96.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Francisco State (about $7,656 more per year; $15,606.00 vs. $7,950.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 142.4% higher at UC Riverside than at San Francisco State University (about $29,256 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $20,550.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Francisco State University than at University of California Riverside (77% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 87.4% larger than aid received by San Francisco State University students ($24,355 vs. $12,996).

UC Riverside vs. San Francisco State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Riverside or San Francisco State? 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 San Francisco State and UC Riverside.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Riverside (1180) is 150 points higher than at San Francisco State (1030).
• Incoming UC Riverside students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 19 at San Francisco State).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; San Francisco State University 930/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; San Francisco State University 16/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; San Francisco State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; San Francisco State Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at San Francisco State (3.31).
• San Francisco State has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 8.6% at San Francisco State.

UC Riverside vs. San Francisco State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside and San Francisco State? 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 San Francisco State University's (46%).
• Graduates from San Francisco State University earn a median of about $400 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,600 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Francisco State University graduates have a $1,859 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($17,250 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, San Francisco State graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($178 vs. $197).
• More UC Riverside graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Francisco State students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 63%)

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.