Pierce College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland 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 Pierce College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 16,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Pierce College is located in Woodland Hills, CA (Large City setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Los Angeles Pierce College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles Pierce College 30:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Pierce College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce 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 Pierce College ($10,174 vs. $14,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Pierce College are 5% lower than at Riverside City College ($25,407 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 15.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pierce College (about $190 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.2% higher at Riverside City College than at Los Angeles Pierce College (about $1,926 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Riverside City College than at Los Angeles Pierce College (78% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 1% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students ($6,463 vs. $6,398).

Pierce College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pierce College - Open admission; Riverside City College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027; Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

Pierce College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce 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 Los Angeles Pierce College earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Pierce College graduates ($8,000 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pierce College graduates ($82 vs. $108).
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 33%)

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.