College of the Canyons vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, 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 College of the Canyons based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 18,075 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Canyons is located in Santa Clarita, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Canyons is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Canyons 25:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

College of the Canyons vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Canyons 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 College of the Canyons than Riverside City College ($5,760 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Canyons are 17.4% lower than at Riverside City College ($22,086 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 22.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Canyons (about $262 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,166.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at Riverside City College than at College of the Canyons (about $1,540 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $10,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Canyons than at Riverside City College (83% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 40.6% larger than aid received by College of the Canyons students ($6,463 vs. $4,597).

College of the Canyons vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Canyons or Riverside City College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Riverside City College and College of the Canyons.

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

College of the Canyons vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Canyons and Riverside City College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from College of the Canyons earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,000 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have a $2,197 lower median loan debt than College of the Canyons graduates ($8,000 vs. $10,197).
• Among borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Canyons graduates ($82 vs. $105).
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Canyons students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 36%)

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.