RHC vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern College is larger than RHC based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 17,441 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rio Hondo College is located in Whittier, CA (Large Suburban setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Rio Hondo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rio Hondo College 31:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

RHC vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RHC or Southwestern 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 Southwestern College than RHC ($15,148 vs. $16,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rio Hondo College are 7.6% lower than at Southwestern College ($22,086 vs. $23,897).
• Rio Hondo College is 3.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwestern College (about $44 more per year; $1,388.00 vs. $1,344.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.6% higher at Southwestern College than at Rio Hondo College (about $756 more per year; $10,640.00 vs. $9,884.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Rio Hondo College (86% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 35.1% larger than aid received by Rio Hondo College students ($6,821 vs. $5,049).

RHC vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

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

RHC vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RHC and Southwestern 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 $4,400 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,500 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Southwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RHC students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.