UC Riverside vs. UNLV

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Riverside in Riverside, CA with University of Nevada Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Nevada Las Vegas is larger than UC Riverside based on total student enrollment (32,911 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 Nevada Las Vegas is in Las Vegas, NV (Midsize City setting).
• University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Nevada Las Vegas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; University of Nevada Las Vegas 19:1.

UC Riverside vs. UNLV Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or UNLV? 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 Nevada Las Vegas than UC Riverside ($11,553 vs. $14,562).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nevada Las Vegas are 39% lower than at University of California Riverside ($12,628 vs. $20,691).
• University of California Riverside is 60.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNLV (about $5,858 more per year; $15,606.00 vs. $9,748.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 81.7% higher at UC Riverside than at University of Nevada Las Vegas (about $22,395 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $27,411.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Nevada Las Vegas than at University of California Riverside (90% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 215.6% larger than aid received by University of Nevada Las Vegas students ($24,355 vs. $7,717).

UC Riverside vs. UNLV Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Riverside (1180) is 50 points higher than at UNLV (1130).
• Incoming UC Riverside students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 21 at UNLV).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; University of Nevada Las Vegas 1010/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; University of Nevada Las Vegas 18/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; UNLV - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; UNLV Jun 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at UNLV (3.4).
• UNLV has a higher acceptance rate (96.2%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 36.2% at UNLV.

UC Riverside vs. UNLV Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside and UNLV? 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 Nevada Las Vegas's (40%).
• Graduates from University of California Riverside earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than UNLV graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,200 vs. $47,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Nevada Las Vegas graduates have a $91 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($19,018 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, UNLV graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($196 vs. $197).
• More UC Riverside graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNLV students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 52%)

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.