Mission College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mission College in Santa Clara, 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 Mission College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 6,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Mission College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mission 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 Mission College than Riverside City College ($7,646 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Riverside City College are 24.4% lower than at Mission College ($26,740 vs. $35,361).
• Mission College is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Riverside City College (about $10 more per year; $1,438.00 vs. $1,428.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0% higher at Mission College than at Riverside City College (about $2 more per year; $12,500.00 vs. $12,498.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Mission College as at Riverside City College (78% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 34.1% larger than aid received by Mission College students ($6,463 vs. $4,820).

Mission College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

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

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

Mission College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mission 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 Mission College earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Mission College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Riverside City College students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 41%)

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.