UC Riverside vs. UCSC

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than UCSC based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 19,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UC Riverside vs. UCSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or UCSC? 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 UCSC ($14,562 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Cruz are 3.6% lower than at University of California Riverside ($19,948 vs. $20,691).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 2.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Riverside (about $399 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $15,606.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at UCSC than at University of California Riverside (about $399 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $49,806.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at University of California Santa Cruz (76% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 6.9% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($24,355 vs. $22,774).

UC Riverside vs. UCSC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 80 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Incoming UCSC 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 of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; UCSC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at UCSC (3.63).
• UC Riverside has a higher acceptance rate (76.4%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 9.3% at UCSC.

UC Riverside vs. UCSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside and UCSC? 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 Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than University of California Riverside's (67%).
• Graduates from University of California Riverside earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,200 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Riverside graduates have a $850 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($19,109 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, UC Riverside graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($197 vs. $206).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.