UC Riverside vs Berkeley

Nestled in the heart of California, University of California-Riverside (UCR) and University of California-Berkeley (UCB) stand as two distinct academic powerhouses, each offering a unique educational experience. While both institutions share the UC system's commitment to excellence, they differ in several key aspects. UCR boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring students. UCB, on the other hand, attracts a more diverse student body, with a higher percentage of international and out-of-state students. In terms of academics, UCR offers a wider range of undergraduate majors, including specialized programs in engineering, business, and the arts. UCB, known for its strong research focus, excels in fields like computer science, engineering, and social sciences. As you explore the detailed comparison table below, you'll discover further insights into these universities' acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates, helping you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
University of California-Berkeley logo

University of California-Berkeley

University of California-Riverside logo

University of California-Riverside

Overview

Location Berkeley, California Riverside, California
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 96.0% 88.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 14.4% 65.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 112,843 52,672
Total number of admissions given out 16,295 34,437
Admitted students who chose to enroll 6,931 5,203
Yield rate 42.5% 15.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $37,920

Out of state: $67,674
In state: $32,312

Out of state: $62,066
Average net price $17,652 $13,502
Tuition
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
Room & board $20,236 $16,600
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

52.0%
Average amount $21,406
78.0%
Average amount $18,676
Students receiving federal student loan 15.0%
Average amount $4,586
28.0%
Average amount $4,703
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $7,122
2.0%
Average amount $8,151

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 31,814
Men 45.4% Women 54.6%
22,868
Men 47.0% Women 53.0%
Graduate students 13,222
Men 51.7% Women 48.3%
3,979
Men 53.8% Women 46.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 16.9% 0.8%
International students 18.0% 8.1%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Large
Dormitory capacity 9,630 8,597
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California New Jersey Texas Virginia New York California Nevada Florida Arizona New Mexico

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Legal Profession
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 20:1 24:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 92.8% 76.5%
Dropout rate 6.3% 6.2%
Transferred out N/A 16.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $171,936
  • Year 3: $191,597
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $167,052
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $125,250
  • Year 2: $125,388
  • Year 3: $161,399
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $126,367
  • Year 2: $128,868
  • Year 3: $160,666
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $160,390
  • Year 2: $142,470
  • Year 3: $143,984
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $119,358
  • Year 3: $143,516
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $107,442
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $112,973
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,750
  • Year 2: $91,363
  • Year 3: $104,601
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,600
  • Year 2: $85,760
  • Year 3: $103,738
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,282
  • Year 2: $65,387
  • Year 3: $102,543
Psychology, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $85,748
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,571
  • Year 2: $69,617
  • Year 3: $84,080
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $79,838
  • Year 3: $81,740
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,399
  • Year 2: $66,076
  • Year 3: $80,825
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,188
  • Year 2: $59,912
  • Year 3: $68,240
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,114
  • Year 2: $60,320
  • Year 3: $67,946
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,484
  • Year 2: $49,464
  • Year 3: $66,365
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,049
  • Year 2: $58,568
  • Year 3: $64,438
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,664
  • Year 2: $49,214
  • Year 3: $63,844
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,269
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $59,823

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.
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