California State University-Fresno vs. UC Riverside

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than California State University-Fresno based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 24,427 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

California State University-Fresno vs. UC Riverside Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State University-Fresno or UC Riverside? 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 California State University Fresno than UC Riverside ($7,834 vs. $14,562).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Fresno are 42.2% lower than at University of California Riverside ($11,960 vs. $20,691).
• University of California Riverside is 112.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State University-Fresno (about $8,256 more per year; $15,606.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 149.7% higher at UC Riverside than at California State University Fresno (about $29,856 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Fresno than at University of California Riverside (85% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 97.6% larger than aid received by California State University Fresno students ($24,355 vs. $12,326).

California State University-Fresno vs. UC Riverside Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State University-Fresno or UC Riverside? 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 UC Riverside and California State University-Fresno.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Riverside (1180) is 180 points higher than at California State University-Fresno (1000).
• Incoming UC Riverside students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 18 at California State University-Fresno).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fresno 890/1100; University of California Riverside 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Fresno 16/21; University of California Riverside 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State University-Fresno - Test-free; UC Riverside - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-Fresno Dec 15, 2026; UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.72 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at California State University-Fresno (3.12).
• California State University-Fresno has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at California State University-Fresno vs. 12.2% at UC Riverside.

California State University-Fresno vs. UC Riverside Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State University-Fresno and UC Riverside? 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 California State University Fresno's (49%).
• Graduates from University of California Riverside earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than California State University-Fresno graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,200 vs. $46,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fresno graduates have a $4,109 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($15,000 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, California State University-Fresno graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($155 vs. $197).
• More UC Riverside graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State University-Fresno students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 63%)

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.