RHC vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Rio Hondo College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (17,441 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rio Hondo College is located in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Rio Hondo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rio Hondo College 31:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

RHC vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RHC or SBCC? 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 Santa Barbara City College than RHC ($14,186 vs. $16,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Rio Hondo College and SBCC ($22,086).
• Rio Hondo College is 11.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $148 more per year; $1,388.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at SBCC than at Rio Hondo College (about $548 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $9,884.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rio Hondo College than at Santa Barbara City College (85% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 16.6% larger than aid received by Rio Hondo College students ($5,889 vs. $5,049).

RHC vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RHC or SBCC? 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 SBCC 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: RHC Aug 20, 2027; SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

RHC vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RHC and SBCC? 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 Santa Barbara City College earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than RHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RHC students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.