Cuesta College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, 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 Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Cuesta College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta 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 Cuesta College ($10,174 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 17.4% lower than at Riverside City College ($22,086 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuesta College (about $78 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.5% higher at Riverside City College than at Cuesta College (about $1,488 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $11,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Riverside City College than at Cuesta College (78% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 56% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($6,463 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta 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 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; Riverside City College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027; Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

Cuesta College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta 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 Cuesta College earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($8,000 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($82 vs. $116).
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Riverside City College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 41%)

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.