Foothill College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, 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 Foothill College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 12,949 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Foothill College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill 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 Foothill College ($10,174 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 22.2% lower than at Riverside City College ($20,793 vs. $26,740).
• Foothill College is 9.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Riverside City College (about $137 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,428.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Foothill College than at Riverside City College (about $92 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $12,498.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Riverside City College than at Foothill College (78% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 53% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($6,463 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

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

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

Foothill College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $23,400 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have a $972 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($8,000 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($82 vs. $92).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Riverside City College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.