Coastline Community College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Coastline Community College in Fountain Valley, 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 Coastline Community College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 9,008 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Coastline Community College is located in Fountain Valley, CA (Small City setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Coastline Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Coastline Community College 39:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Coastline Community College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Coastline Community 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 Coastline Community College ($10,174 vs. $16,972).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastline Community College are 11.5% lower than at Riverside City College ($23,659 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 4.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastline Community College (about $64 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,364.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.6% higher at Riverside City College than at Coastline Community College (about $886 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $11,612.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Riverside City College than at Coastline Community College (78% vs. 70%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 18.5% larger than aid received by Coastline Community College students ($6,463 vs. $5,455).

Coastline Community College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Coastline Community 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 Coastline Community College.

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

Coastline Community College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Coastline Community 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 Coastline Community College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,600 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastline Community College graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($5,250 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Coastline Community College graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($54 vs. $82).
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Coastline Community College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 39%)

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.