College comparison

UC Riverside vs South Carolina

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	South Carolina Columbia, SC
Acceptance rateUniversity of South Carolina-Columbia is more selective	76%	60%
SAT (25–75)	—	1180–1360
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	22,593	29,820
Avg net price	$14,304	$22,811
Median earnings (10 yr)UC Riverside reports higher median earnings	$67,699	$62,177
Graduation rate	76%	79%
Median debt	$17,500	$21,500
Economic mobility	6.0%	—
Test policy	—	—
Type	Public	Public

Quick answers

Is University of California-Riverside or University of South Carolina-Columbia harder to get into?

University of South Carolina-Columbia is more selective: University of California-Riverside's acceptance rate is approximately 76% and University of South Carolina-Columbia's is approximately 60% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for University of California-Riverside vs University of South Carolina-Columbia?

The middle-50% SAT range is — at University of California-Riverside and 1180–1360 at University of South Carolina-Columbia. 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.