College comparison

UC Riverside vs CU Boulder

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	UC Riverside Riverside, CA	CU Boulder Boulder, CO
Acceptance rateUniversity of California-Riverside is more selective	76%	78%
SAT (25–75)	—	1240–1430
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	22,593	31,939
Avg net price	$14,304	$25,346
Test policy	—	—
Type	Public	Public
Location	Riverside, CA	Boulder, CO

Quick answers

Is University of California-Riverside or University of Colorado Boulder harder to get into?

University of California-Riverside is more selective: University of California-Riverside's acceptance rate is approximately 76% and University of Colorado Boulder's is approximately 78% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for University of California-Riverside vs University of Colorado Boulder?

The middle-50% SAT range is — at University of California-Riverside and 1240–1430 at University of Colorado Boulder. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.