Orange Coast College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, 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 Orange Coast College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 17,096 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Orange Coast College 27:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Orange Coast College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College than Riverside City College ($9,116 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 28.4% lower than at Riverside City College ($19,159 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 2.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Orange Coast College (about $36 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,392.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.4% higher at Riverside City College than at Orange Coast College (about $858 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Riverside City College than at Orange Coast College (78% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 17.7% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($6,463 vs. $5,493).

Orange Coast College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College.

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

Orange Coast College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($6,500 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($67 vs. $82).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Riverside City College students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.