Bakersfield College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

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

Bakersfield College is larger than Riverside City College based on total student enrollment (30,746 students vs. 21,730 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bakersfield College is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Bakersfield College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bakersfield College 31:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Bakersfield College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bakersfield College 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 Riverside City College than Bakersfield College ($10,174 vs. $16,637).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bakersfield College are 9.5% lower than at Riverside City College ($24,192 vs. $26,740).
• Bakersfield College is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Riverside City College (about $2 more per year; $1,430.00 vs. $1,428.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.6% higher at Riverside City College than at Bakersfield College (about $1,198 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $11,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bakersfield College than at Riverside City College (85% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 8.8% larger than aid received by Bakersfield College students ($6,463 vs. $5,940).

Bakersfield College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bakersfield College 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 Bakersfield College.

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

Bakersfield College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bakersfield College 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 Riverside City College earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Bakersfield College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have a $955 lower median loan debt than Bakersfield College graduates ($8,000 vs. $8,955).
• Among borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bakersfield College graduates ($82 vs. $92).
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bakersfield College 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.