UC Riverside vs Rice University
Nestled in the heart of Southern California, University of California-Riverside (UCR) and Rice University, located in the vibrant city of Houston, Texas, stand as two distinct beacons of higher education. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence and student success, they offer unique experiences shaped by their distinct locations, academic strengths, and student demographics. UCR boasts a diverse student body, with a higher acceptance rate and a larger undergraduate population compared to Rice. In contrast, Rice offers a more selective admissions process and a smaller student body, fostering a close-knit community. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into the specifics of each university, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your decision. Discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, setting the stage for a transformative educational journey.
|
![]() Rice University |
![]() University of California-Riverside |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Houston, Texas | Riverside, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 97.0% | 88.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 9.5% | 65.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$85
|
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$120
|
SAT range | 1490 - 1570 | N/A |
ACT range | 34 - 35 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 46.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 29.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 29,544 | 52,672 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,802 | 34,437 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,226 | 5,203 |
Yield rate | 43.8% | 15.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $71,745 |
In state:
$32,312
Out of state:
$62,066
|
Average net price | $18,521 | $13,502 |
Tuition | $52,070 |
In state:
$11,442
Out of state:
$41,196
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,100
Meal plan:
$4,700
|
$16,600 |
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
61.0%
Average amount $51,036 |
78.0%
Average amount $18,676 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
9.0%
Average amount $4,982 |
28.0%
Average amount $4,703 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $24,340 |
2.0%
Average amount $8,151 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
4,247
Men 51.5% Women 48.5% |
22,868
Men 47.0% Women 53.0% |
Graduate students |
4,038
Men 63.9% Women 36.1% |
3,979
Men 53.8% Women 46.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 56.1% | 0.8% |
International students | 25.5% | 8.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 3,533 | 8,597 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Texas California New York Florida Illinois | California Nevada Florida Arizona New Mexico |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 24:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 92.3% | 76.5% |
Dropout rate | 6.9% | 6.2% |
Transferred out | N/A | 16.4% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Psychology, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.

























































































































































































