UC Riverside vs. CU Boulder

Comparable Facts

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

University of Colorado Boulder is larger than UC Riverside based on total student enrollment (38,799 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 Colorado Boulder is in Boulder, CO (Small City setting).
• University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Colorado Boulder is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; University of Colorado Boulder 19:1.

UC Riverside vs. CU Boulder Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or CU Boulder? 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 CU Boulder ($14,562 vs. $26,231).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Colorado Boulder are 10.7% lower than at University of California Riverside ($18,468 vs. $20,691).
• University of Colorado Boulder is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Riverside (about $60 more per year; $15,666.00 vs. $15,606.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.9% higher at UC Riverside than at University of Colorado Boulder (about $4,888 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $44,918.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at University of Colorado Boulder (76% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 117% larger than aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students ($24,355 vs. $11,225).

UC Riverside vs. CU Boulder Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Colorado Boulder (1340) is 160 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Incoming CU Boulder 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 Colorado Boulder 1240/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; University of Colorado Boulder 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; CU Boulder - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at CU Boulder (3.68).
• CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 14.1% at CU Boulder.

UC Riverside vs. CU Boulder Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside and CU Boulder? 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 Colorado Boulder's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than University of California Riverside's (67%).
• Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 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 CU Boulder graduates ($19,109 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, UC Riverside graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CU Boulder graduates ($197 vs. $201).
• More CU Boulder graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (73% 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.