RHC vs. Las Positas College

Comparable Facts

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

Rio Hondo College is larger than Las Positas College based on total student enrollment (17,441 students vs. 8,103 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rio Hondo College is located in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting); Las Positas College is in Livermore, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Rio Hondo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Las Positas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rio Hondo College 31:1; Las Positas College 25:1.

RHC vs. Las Positas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RHC or Las Positas 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 Las Positas College than RHC ($8,669 vs. $16,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Hondo College are 4.3% lower than at Las Positas College ($22,086 vs. $23,076).
• Rio Hondo College is 18.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Las Positas College (about $220 more per year; $1,388.00 vs. $1,168.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at RHC than at Las Positas College (about $76 more per year; $9,884.00 vs. $9,808.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rio Hondo College than at Las Positas College (85% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rio Hondo College students is 31.5% larger than aid received by Las Positas College students ($5,049 vs. $3,839).

RHC vs. Las Positas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RHC or Las Positas 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 Las Positas College and RHC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RHC - Open admission; Las Positas College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: RHC Aug 20, 2027; Las Positas College Aug 1, 2027.

RHC vs. Las Positas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RHC and Las Positas 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 Las Positas College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than RHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Las Positas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RHC students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.