Pasadena City College vs. RHC

Comparable Facts

Compare Pasadena City College in Pasadena, CA with Rio Hondo College in Whittier, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pasadena City College is larger than RHC based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 17,441 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Rio Hondo College is in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rio Hondo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pasadena City College 23:1; Rio Hondo College 31:1.

Pasadena City College vs. RHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College than RHC ($6,888 vs. $16,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 12% lower than at Rio Hondo College ($19,431 vs. $22,086).
• Rio Hondo College is 17.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $208 more per year; $1,388.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at RHC than at Pasadena City College (about $64 more per year; $9,884.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rio Hondo College than at Pasadena City College (85% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 33.9% larger than aid received by Rio Hondo College students ($6,759 vs. $5,049).

Pasadena City College vs. RHC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College.

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

Pasadena City College vs. RHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pasadena City 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 Rio Hondo College earn a median of about $600 more per year than Pasadena City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,500 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Pasadena City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RHC students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 34%)

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.