Merced College vs. RHC

Comparable Facts

Compare Merced College in Merced, CA with Rio Hondo College in Whittier, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rio Hondo College is larger than Merced College based on total student enrollment (17,441 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Rio Hondo College is in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rio Hondo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; Rio Hondo College 31:1.

Merced College vs. RHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced College or RHC? 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 Merced College than RHC ($6,854 vs. $16,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 12% lower than at Rio Hondo College ($19,432 vs. $22,086).
• Rio Hondo College is 15.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $188 more per year; $1,388.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16% higher at RHC than at Merced College (about $1,364 more per year; $9,884.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Rio Hondo College (88% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 48.1% larger than aid received by Rio Hondo College students ($7,480 vs. $5,049).

Merced College vs. RHC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merced College or RHC? 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 RHC and Merced College.

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

Merced College vs. RHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced College and RHC? 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 Rio Hondo College earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,500 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.