UC Riverside vs. UB

Deciding between University of California Riverside and University at Buffalo? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Riverside
University at Buffalo

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Riverside Riverside, CA
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • UC Riverside Large City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Riverside 26,384
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • UC Riverside Public 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC Riverside #306
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC Riverside -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • UC Riverside Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC Riverside
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC Riverside $15,606
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC Riverside $49,806
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • UC Riverside $20,691
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • UC Riverside $14,562
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC Riverside $24,355
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC Riverside 76%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC Riverside 58,048
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • UC Riverside 44,343
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC Riverside 76.4%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UC Riverside 12.2%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Riverside 1180
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Riverside 26
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC Riverside 3.84
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC Riverside A-
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Riverside Difficult
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC Riverside
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • UC Riverside 22/31
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UC Riverside 1080/1280
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Riverside Test-free
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC Riverside 22:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC Riverside
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC Riverside 67%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC Riverside $52,200
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC Riverside 65%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC Riverside $19,109
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC Riverside $197
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC Riverside 49%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • UC Riverside 51%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Riverside Very High
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • UC Riverside No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • UC Riverside 13%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • UC Riverside 37%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • UC Riverside 4%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC Riverside 36%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • UC Riverside 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC Riverside 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC Riverside 4%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • UC Riverside 4%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC Riverside 1%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC Riverside 96%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC Riverside 1%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UC Riverside Yes
  • UB Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UC Riverside No
  • UB No
  • Meal Plan
  • UC Riverside Yes
  • UB Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UC Riverside No
  • UB No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UC Riverside Yes
  • UB Yes

Comparable Facts

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

University at Buffalo is larger than UC Riverside based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 26,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

UC Riverside vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or UB? 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 UB ($14,562 vs. $20,529).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Buffalo are 15.8% lower than at University of California Riverside ($17,426 vs. $20,691).
  • University of California Riverside is 42.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $4,670 more per year; $15,606.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 57.9% higher at UC Riverside than at University at Buffalo (about $18,270 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside as at University at Buffalo (76% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 128.4% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($24,355 vs. $10,663).

UC Riverside vs. UB Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 120 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
  • Incoming UB students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at UC Riverside).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at UB (3.75).
  • UC Riverside has a higher acceptance rate (76.4%) than UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 14.1% at UB.

UC Riverside vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside and UB? 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 at Buffalo's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than University of California Riverside's (67%).
  • Graduates from University at Buffalo earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Riverside graduates have a $391 lower median loan debt than UB graduates ($19,109 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, UC Riverside graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UB graduates ($197 vs. $201).
  • More UB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.