ARC vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

Compare American River College in Sacramento, CA with Riverside City College in Riverside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American River College is larger than Riverside City College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 21,730 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

ARC vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Riverside City College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American River College than Riverside City College ($9,488 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 17.4% lower than at Riverside City College ($22,086 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 10.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ARC (about $140 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at ARC than at Riverside City College (about $118 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $12,498.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Riverside City College (89% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 18.5% larger than aid received by American River College students ($6,463 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or Riverside City College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Riverside City College and ARC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ARC - Open admission; Riverside City College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

ARC vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Riverside City College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from American River College earn a median of about $600 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have a $4,233 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($8,000 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($82 vs. $126).
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.