UC Riverside vs. Westmont College

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than Westmont College based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 1,310 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Westmont College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Westmont College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Riverside 22:1; Westmont College 10:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westmont College are 18% lower than at University of California Riverside ($16,960 vs. $20,691).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.6% higher at Westmont College than at University of California Riverside (about $3,778 more per year; $53,584 vs. $49,806).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Westmont College than at University of California Riverside (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Westmont College students is 60% larger than aid received by University of California Riverside students ($38,956 vs. $24,355).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Westmont College than at UC Riverside (28 vs. 26, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UC Riverside, test optional at Westmont College.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UC Riverside average a 3.84 high school GPA, 0.25 higher than at Westmont College (3.59).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 15.9% at Westmont College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Riverside graduates have a $6,014 lower median loan debt than Westmont College graduates ($19,109 vs. $25,123).
• Among borrowers, UC Riverside graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Westmont College graduates ($197 vs. $259).
• More Westmont College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation (86% vs. 65%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.