Cabrillo College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

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

Riverside City College is larger than Cabrillo College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 9,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Cabrillo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cabrillo College 20:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Cabrillo College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cabrillo 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 Cabrillo College ($10,174 vs. $20,716).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cabrillo College are 5.5% lower than at Riverside City College ($25,281 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cabrillo College (about $158 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,270.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.7% higher at Riverside City College than at Cabrillo College (about $2,636 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $9,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cabrillo College than at Riverside City College (85% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 15.4% larger than aid received by Cabrillo College students ($6,463 vs. $5,600).

Cabrillo College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cabrillo College - Open admission; Riverside City College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cabrillo College Apr 9, 2027; Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

Cabrillo College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cabrillo 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 Cabrillo College earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,200 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Cabrillo College graduates ($8,000 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cabrillo College graduates ($82 vs. $108).
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cabrillo College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 40%)

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.