Quad
U. California-Riverside
U. Illinois Chicago

Key differences on Cost & aid

  1. 1

    U. California-Riverside's grants cover 44% of its full price on average, vs. 33% at U. Illinois Chicago

    Aid generosity
  2. 2

    U. California-Riverside costs about $1.9K less per year on average than U. Illinois Chicago ($23,650 vs. $25,530, all students)

    Average cost, all students

Cost & aid

Cost & aid

Average cost, aid generosity, net price by family income, sticker prices, and grants.

What students pay

Average cost, all students
U. California-Riverside$23.7K
U. Illinois Chicago$25.5K
Aid generosity
U. California-Riverside44%
U. Illinois Chicago33%
Net price, with grants
U. California-Riverside$14.6K
U. Illinois Chicago$10.9K

Grants

First-years receiving grants
U. California-Riverside76%
U. Illinois Chicago74%
Average grant
U. California-Riverside$24.4K
U. Illinois Chicago$16.8K
Aid from the college
U. California-Riverside64%
U. Illinois Chicago70%

Sticker prices

On one scale, so the bars read against each other.

Sticker price, in-state
U. California-Riverside$40.3K
U. Illinois Chicago$36.4K
Sticker price, out-of-state
U. California-Riverside$71.1K
U. Illinois Chicago$51.4K
Tuition & fees, in-state
U. California-Riverside$14.2K
U. Illinois Chicago$14.3K
Tuition & fees, out-of-state
U. California-Riverside$44.9K
U. Illinois Chicago$29.4K
First-years paying out-of-state rates
U. California-Riverside6%
U. Illinois Chicago10%
What families at each income pay

Up to $110K: the average net price per year for students receiving federal aid, 2023–24; families who didn't file the FAFSA aren't included. Above it the published data end. For your own number, use the college's net price calculator .

Family income per year $150K

  • U. California-RiversideLittle need-based aid above $110K
  • U. Illinois ChicagoLittle need-based aid above $110K

    Merit possible; averaging $6K

Published (federal figure, up to $110K) EstimateBars share one scale: the largest full price.

Where need-based aid ends, merit, and published promises

MetricU. California-RiversideU. Illinois Chicago
Need-based aid up to Little need-based aid above $110KLittle need-based aid above $110K
Merit for students without need –4.1% got merit aid, averaging $6K
Published promise ––

A college's own promise is stated for a typical family and changes yearly; where a promise and our estimate disagree, the promise wins. Merit has no income limit, so it can lower the price above the point where need-based aid ends.

Tuition guarantee & Promise program

MetricU. California-RiversideU. Illinois Chicago
Tuition guarantee NoYes
Promise program NoYes

From the colleges' Common Data Sets

MetricU. California-RiversideU. Illinois Chicago
Aid forms FAFSAFAFSA
Aid priority date or deadline March 2 (priority)February 15 (priority)
Need met, first-years 87%53%
Average aid package, first-years $33,140$19,618
College grant dollars given as merit 6%6%
Aid for international students 288 students, average $14.1K173 students, average $3.9K

All cost numbers in the table

Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;University of California-Riverside Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;University of California-Riverside Common Data Set 2025–26, 2024–25;College Scorecard, most recent release;Common Data Set, most recent release;University of California-Riverside Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;University of Illinois Chicago Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;University of Illinois Chicago Common Data Set 2025–26, 2024–25;University of Illinois Chicago Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why