Merritt College vs. RHC

Comparable Facts

Compare Merritt College in Oakland, 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 Merritt College based on total student enrollment (17,441 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); Rio Hondo College is in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rio Hondo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; Rio Hondo College 31:1.

Merritt College vs. RHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt 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 Merritt College than RHC ($15,581 vs. $16,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Hondo College are 3.2% lower than at Merritt College ($22,086 vs. $22,820).
• Rio Hondo College is 10.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $130 more per year; $1,388.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at Merritt College than at Rio Hondo College (about $14 more per year; $9,898.00 vs. $9,884.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rio Hondo College than at Merritt College (85% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rio Hondo College students is 1.5% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,049 vs. $4,972).

Merritt College vs. RHC Admissions comparison

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

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

Merritt College vs. RHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt 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 Merritt College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than RHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More RHC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (34% 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.