RHC vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

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

Saddleback College is larger than RHC based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 17,441 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rio Hondo College is located in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Rio Hondo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rio Hondo College 31:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

RHC vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RHC or Saddleback 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 Saddleback College than RHC ($8,122 vs. $16,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Hondo College are 14.3% lower than at Saddleback College ($22,086 vs. $25,769).
• Rio Hondo College is 20.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $232 more per year; $1,388.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20% higher at Saddleback College than at Rio Hondo College (about $1,976 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $9,884.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rio Hondo College than at Saddleback College (85% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rio Hondo College students is 9.7% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($5,049 vs. $4,603).

RHC vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RHC or Saddleback 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 Saddleback 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; Saddleback College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: RHC Aug 20, 2027.

RHC vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RHC and Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than RHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RHC students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.