UCLA vs. Rutgers

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles and Rutgers University New Brunswick? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Los Angeles
Rutgers University New Brunswick

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • Rutgers Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCLA Yes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCLA No
  • Rutgers No
  • Meal Plan
  • UCLA Yes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCLA No
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCLA Yes
  • Rutgers Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than UCLA based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 47,335 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

UCLA vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA or Rutgers? 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 Los Angeles than Rutgers ($14,512 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 14.5% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($15,714 vs. $18,369).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 17.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $2,726 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $15,203.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.9% higher at UCLA than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $11,962 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rutgers University New Brunswick than at University of California Los Angeles (50% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 53.1% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($25,627 vs. $16,742).

UCLA vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers and UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is 10 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming UCLA students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); Rutgers - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.62 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

UCLA vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA and Rutgers? 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 Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $5,915 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($16,300 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($168 vs. $229).
  • More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 68%)

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.