Merced College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Merced College in Merced, 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 Merced College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Merced College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced 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 Merced College than Riverside City College ($6,854 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 27.3% lower than at Riverside City College ($19,432 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 19% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $228 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46.7% higher at Riverside City College than at Merced College (about $3,978 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Riverside City College (88% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 15.7% larger than aid received by Riverside City College students ($7,480 vs. $6,463).

Merced College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merced 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 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; Riverside City College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

Merced College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced 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 Riverside City College earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 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.