RHC vs. Sierra College

Comparable Facts

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

Sierra College is larger than RHC based on total student enrollment (19,125 students vs. 17,441 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

RHC vs. Sierra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RHC or Sierra 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 Sierra College than RHC ($10,285 vs. $16,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sierra College are 38.3% lower than at Rio Hondo College ($13,631 vs. $22,086).
• Sierra College is 4.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than RHC (about $58 more per year; $1,446.00 vs. $1,388.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 583.5% higher at RHC than at Sierra College (about $8,438 more per year; $9,884.00 vs. $1,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rio Hondo College than at Sierra College (85% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rio Hondo College students is 0.9% larger than aid received by Sierra College students ($5,049 vs. $5,006).

RHC vs. Sierra College Admissions comparison

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

RHC vs. Sierra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RHC and Sierra 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 Rio Hondo College earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Sierra College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,500 vs. $36,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More RHC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sierra College students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 32%)

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.