UC Riverside vs. UCSD

Comparable Facts

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

University of California San Diego is larger than UC Riverside based on total student enrollment (44,256 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 of California San Diego is in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; University of California San Diego 19:1.

UC Riverside vs. UCSD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or UCSD? 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 San Diego than UC Riverside ($14,047 vs. $14,562).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California San Diego are 8.3% lower than at University of California Riverside ($18,970 vs. $20,691).
• University of California San Diego is 7.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Riverside (about $1,152 more per year; $16,758.00 vs. $15,606.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at UCSD than at University of California Riverside (about $1,152 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $49,806.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at University of California San Diego (76% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 5.8% larger than aid received by University of California Riverside students ($25,757 vs. $24,355).

UC Riverside vs. UCSD Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California San Diego (1380) is 200 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Incoming UCSD students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 26 at UC Riverside).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; University of California San Diego 1270/1480.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; University of California San Diego 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; UCSD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; UCSD Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at UCSD (3.82).
• UC Riverside has a higher acceptance rate (76.4%) than UCSD (26.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 20.4% at UCSD.

UC Riverside vs. UCSD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside and UCSD? 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than University of California Riverside's (67%).
• Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $15,700 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $609 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($18,500 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($191 vs. $197).
• More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.