Cuesta College vs. RHC

Deciding between Cuesta College and Rio Hondo College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cuesta College San Luis Obispo, CA
  • RHC Whittier, CA
  • Setting
  • Cuesta College Rural Fringe
  • RHC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cuesta College 11,283
  • RHC 17,441
  • Type
  • Cuesta College Public 2 Year
  • RHC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cuesta College
  • RHC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cuesta College -
  • RHC -
  • Status
  • Cuesta College Non-profit
  • RHC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cuesta College
  • RHC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cuesta College $1,350
  • RHC $1,388
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cuesta College $11,010
  • RHC $9,884
  • Room & Board
  • Cuesta College $22,086
  • RHC $22,086
  • Average Net Price
  • Cuesta College $16,541
  • RHC $16,449
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cuesta College $4,143
  • RHC $5,049
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cuesta College 75%
  • RHC 85%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cuesta College -
  • RHC -
  • Admitted
  • Cuesta College -
  • RHC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cuesta College Open
  • RHC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Cuesta College Open
  • RHC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cuesta College
  • RHC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cuesta College
  • RHC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cuesta College -
  • RHC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cuesta College -
  • RHC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cuesta College Unavailable
  • RHC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cuesta College
  • RHC
  • ACT Range
  • Cuesta College
  • RHC
  • SAT Range
  • Cuesta College
  • RHC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cuesta College Open admission
  • RHC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027
  • RHC Aug 20, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cuesta College 27:1
  • RHC 31:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cuesta College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (56%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (2%)
  • RHC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (21%)
    • Work and Family Studies (19%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cuesta College -
  • RHC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cuesta College $40,800
  • RHC $38,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cuesta College 51%
  • RHC 34%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cuesta College $11,250
  • RHC N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cuesta College $116
  • RHC N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cuesta College 49%
  • RHC 59%
  • % Women
  • Cuesta College 51%
  • RHC 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cuesta College Medium
  • RHC Low
  • HBCU
  • Cuesta College No
  • RHC No
  • % White
  • Cuesta College 62%
  • RHC 8%
  • % Asian
  • Cuesta College 3%
  • RHC 7%
  • % Black
  • Cuesta College 2%
  • RHC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cuesta College 27%
  • RHC 77%
  • % Native American
  • Cuesta College 1%
  • RHC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cuesta College 0%
  • RHC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cuesta College 5%
  • RHC 1%
  • % International
  • Cuesta College 0%
  • RHC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cuesta College 1%
  • RHC 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cuesta College 94%
  • RHC 100%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cuesta College 0%
  • RHC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cuesta College No
  • RHC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cuesta College No
  • RHC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cuesta College No
  • RHC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cuesta College Yes
  • RHC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cuesta College Yes
  • RHC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA with Rio Hondo College in Whittier, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rio Hondo College is larger than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (17,441 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Rio Hondo College is in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rio Hondo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; Rio Hondo College 31:1.

Cuesta College vs. RHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or RHC? 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 Rio Hondo College than Cuesta College ($16,449 vs. $16,541).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Cuesta College and RHC ($22,086).
  • Rio Hondo College is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuesta College (about $38 more per year; $1,388.00 vs. $1,350.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.4% higher at Cuesta College than at Rio Hondo College (about $1,126 more per year; $11,010.00 vs. $9,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rio Hondo College than at Cuesta College (85% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rio Hondo College students is 21.9% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($5,049 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. RHC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta College or RHC? 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 RHC and Cuesta College.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cuesta College - Open admission; RHC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027; RHC Aug 20, 2027.

Cuesta College vs. RHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta College and RHC? 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 Cuesta College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than RHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RHC students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 34%)

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.