Mendocino College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mendocino College in Ukiah, 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 Mendocino College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 4,225 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mendocino College is located in Ukiah, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Mendocino College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mendocino College 16:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Mendocino College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mendocino 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 Mendocino College than Riverside City College ($9,798 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mendocino College are 38% lower than at Riverside City College ($16,580 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mendocino College (about $5 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,423.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.9% higher at Riverside City College than at Mendocino College (about $2,495 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $10,003.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mendocino College than at Riverside City College (84% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mendocino College students is 11.1% larger than aid received by Riverside City College students ($7,180 vs. $6,463).

Mendocino College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mendocino College or Riverside City College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Riverside City College and Mendocino College.

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

Mendocino College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mendocino College and Riverside City College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Riverside City College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Mendocino College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $29,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Mendocino College graduates ($8,000 vs. $13,000).
• Among borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mendocino College graduates ($82 vs. $134).
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mendocino College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 30%)

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.