Cuyamaca College vs. RHC

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, 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 Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (17,441 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); Rio Hondo College is in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rio Hondo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuyamaca College 28:1; Rio Hondo College 31:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. RHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College than RHC ($7,752 vs. $16,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Cuyamaca College and RHC ($22,086).
• Rio Hondo College is 3.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuyamaca College (about $42 more per year; $1,388.00 vs. $1,346.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.5% higher at Cuyamaca College than at Rio Hondo College (about $1,430 more per year; $11,314.00 vs. $9,884.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rio Hondo College than at Cuyamaca College (85% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 63.3% larger than aid received by Rio Hondo College students ($8,246 vs. $5,049).

Cuyamaca College vs. RHC Admissions comparison

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

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

Cuyamaca College vs. RHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca 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 Rio Hondo College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,500 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Cuyamaca College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RHC students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.