UC Riverside vs. UH at Manoa

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than UH at Manoa based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 20,028 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); University of Hawaii at Manoa is in Honolulu, HI (Large City setting).
• University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Hawaii at Manoa is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; University of Hawaii at Manoa 15:1.

UC Riverside vs. UH at Manoa Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or UH at Manoa? 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 UH at Manoa ($14,562 vs. $17,202).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Hawaii at Manoa are 29.2% lower than at University of California Riverside ($14,658 vs. $20,691).
• University of California Riverside is 28.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UH at Manoa (about $3,420 more per year; $15,606.00 vs. $12,186.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.6% higher at UC Riverside than at University of Hawaii at Manoa (about $15,588 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $34,218.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at University of Hawaii at Manoa (76% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 203% larger than aid received by University of Hawaii at Manoa students ($24,355 vs. $8,039).

UC Riverside vs. UH at Manoa Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Riverside or UH at Manoa? 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 UH at Manoa and UC Riverside.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Hawaii at Manoa (1190) is 10 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Incoming UC Riverside students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 21 at UH at Manoa).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; University of Hawaii at Manoa 1081/1293.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; University of Hawaii at Manoa 17/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; UH at Manoa - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at UH at Manoa (3.67).
• UH at Manoa has a higher acceptance rate (86.6%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 21.4% at UH at Manoa.

UC Riverside vs. UH at Manoa Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside and UH at Manoa? 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 Riverside's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than University of Hawaii at Manoa's (55%).
• Graduates from University of California Riverside earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than UH at Manoa graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,200 vs. $49,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Hawaii at Manoa graduates have a $359 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($18,750 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, UH at Manoa graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($193 vs. $197).
• More UH at Manoa graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.