UC Riverside vs. Stanford

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than Stanford based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 18,625 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; Stanford University 6:1.

UC Riverside vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or Stanford? 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 Stanford ($14,562 vs. $25,078).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Riverside are 2.9% lower than at Stanford University ($20,691 vs. $21,315).
• Stanford University is 322.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Riverside (about $50,304 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $15,606.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.3% higher at Stanford than at University of California Riverside (about $16,104 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $49,806.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at Stanford University (76% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 157.7% larger than aid received by University of California Riverside students ($62,755 vs. $24,355).

UC Riverside vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 370 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Incoming Stanford students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 26 at UC Riverside).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; Stanford University 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; Stanford University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; Stanford - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at UC Riverside (3.84).
• UC Riverside has a higher acceptance rate (76.4%) than Stanford (3.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

UC Riverside vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than University of California Riverside's (67%).
• Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $70,700 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $6,634 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($12,475 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $69 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($128 vs. $197).
• More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.