Merritt College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Merritt College in Oakland, 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 Merritt College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Merritt College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt 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 Merritt College ($10,174 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 14.7% lower than at Riverside City College ($22,820 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 13.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $170 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.3% higher at Riverside City College than at Merritt College (about $2,600 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Riverside City College than at Merritt College (78% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 30% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($6,463 vs. $4,972).

Merritt College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

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

Merritt College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt 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 Merritt 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 $3,500 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($8,000 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Riverside City College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($82 vs. $118).
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.