UC Riverside vs. UCSB vs. UCSD vs. UCI

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than UCSB based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 26,133 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); University of California Santa Barbara is in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; University of California Santa Barbara 17:1.

UC Riverside vs. UCSB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside or UCSB? 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 UCSB ($14,562 vs. $17,658).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Barbara are 2% lower than at University of California Riverside ($20,279 vs. $20,691).
• University of California Santa Barbara is 5.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Riverside (about $808 more per year; $16,414.00 vs. $15,606.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at UCSB than at University of California Riverside (about $808 more per year; $50,614.00 vs. $49,806.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at University of California Santa Barbara (76% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 1.4% larger than aid received by University of California Riverside students ($24,695 vs. $24,355).

UC Riverside vs. UCSB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Riverside or UCSB? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UCSB and UC Riverside.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of California Santa Barbara (1350) is 170 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Incoming UCSB students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (31 vs. 26 at UC Riverside).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; University of California Santa Barbara 1230/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of California Riverside 22/31; University of California Santa Barbara 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; UCSB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; UCSB Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at UCSB (3.82).
• UC Riverside has a higher acceptance rate (76.4%) than UCSB (33%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 13.8% at UCSB.

UC Riverside vs. UCSB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside and UCSB? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• University of California Santa Barbara's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than University of California Riverside's (67%).
• Graduates from University of California Santa Barbara earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $2,658 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($16,451 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($170 vs. $197).
• More UCSB 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.