RHC vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than RHC based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 17,441 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

RHC vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RHC or San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College than RHC ($10,316 vs. $16,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Hondo College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• Rio Hondo College is 21.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $242 more per year; $1,388.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.2% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at Rio Hondo College (about $118 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $9,884.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rio Hondo College than at San Diego Mesa College (85% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 63.4% larger than aid received by Rio Hondo College students ($8,252 vs. $5,049).

RHC vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

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

RHC vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RHC and San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than RHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More San Diego Mesa 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.