UC Riverside vs. SCI-Arc

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than SCI-Arc based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 418 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UC Riverside vs. SCI-Arc Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or SCI-Arc? 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 SCI-Arc ($14,562 vs. $28,985).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern California Institute of Architecture are 34.3% lower than at University of California Riverside ($13,600 vs. $20,691).
• Southern California Institute of Architecture is 259.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Riverside (about $40,556 more per year; $56,162.00 vs. $15,606.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.8% higher at SCI-Arc than at University of California Riverside (about $6,356 more per year; $56,162.00 vs. $49,806.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at Southern California Institute of Architecture (76% vs. 26%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern California Institute of Architecture students is 75% larger than aid received by University of California Riverside students ($42,627 vs. $24,355).

UC Riverside vs. SCI-Arc Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Riverside or SCI-Arc? 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 SCI-Arc and UC Riverside.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Riverside (1180) is 50 points higher than at SCI-Arc (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; Southern California Institute of Architecture 1020/1230.
• 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; SCI-Arc - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; SCI-Arc Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at SCI-Arc (3.5).
• SCI-Arc has a higher acceptance rate (76.6%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 7% at SCI-Arc.

UC Riverside vs. SCI-Arc Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside and SCI-Arc? 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 Southern California Institute of Architecture's (58%).
• Graduates from University of California Riverside earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than SCI-Arc graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,200 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Riverside graduates have a $23,641 lower median loan debt than SCI-Arc graduates ($19,109 vs. $42,750).
• Among borrowers, UC Riverside graduates have an estimated $245 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCI-Arc graduates ($197 vs. $442).
• More UC Riverside graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCI-Arc students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 62%)

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.