Cuyamaca College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, 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 Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuyamaca College 28:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College than Riverside City College ($7,752 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuyamaca College are 17.4% lower than at Riverside City College ($22,086 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 6.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuyamaca College (about $82 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,346.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.5% higher at Riverside City College than at Cuyamaca College (about $1,184 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $11,314.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuyamaca College than at Riverside City College (81% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 27.6% larger than aid received by Riverside City College students ($8,246 vs. $6,463).

Cuyamaca College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

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

Cuyamaca College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca 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 Riverside City College earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($46 vs. $82).
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuyamaca College 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.