Hartnell College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Hartnell College in Salinas, 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 Hartnell College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 11,273 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hartnell College is located in Salinas, CA (Midsize City setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Hartnell College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hartnell College 22:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Hartnell College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hartnell 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 Hartnell College than Riverside City College ($5,246 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Riverside City College are 7.6% lower than at Hartnell College ($26,740 vs. $28,953).
• Riverside City College is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hartnell College (about $24 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,404.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.5% higher at Riverside City College than at Hartnell College (about $2,124 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $10,374.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hartnell College than at Riverside City College (94% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 3.2% larger than aid received by Hartnell College students ($6,463 vs. $6,263).

Hartnell College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

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

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

Hartnell College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hartnell 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 Hartnell College earn a median of about $300 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,300 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hartnell College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 27%)

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.