River Parishes Community College vs. Blue Cliff College-Alexandria

Comparable Facts

Compare River Parishes Community College in Gonzales, LA with Blue Cliff College Alexandria in Alexandria, LA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

River Parishes Community College is larger than Blue Cliff College-Alexandria based on total student enrollment (2,597 students vs. 345 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• River Parishes Community College is located in Gonzales, LA (Rural Fringe setting); Blue Cliff College Alexandria is in Alexandria, LA (Small City setting).
• River Parishes Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Blue Cliff College Alexandria is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: River Parishes Community College 24:1; Blue Cliff College Alexandria 30:1.

River Parishes Community College vs. Blue Cliff College-Alexandria Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, River Parishes Community College or Blue Cliff College-Alexandria? 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 River Parishes Community College than Blue Cliff College-Alexandria ($10,582 vs. $16,253).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blue Cliff College Alexandria are 26.8% lower than at River Parishes Community College ($8,642 vs. $11,802).
• Blue Cliff College Alexandria is 239.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than River Parishes Community College (about $9,766 more per year; $13,845.00 vs. $4,079.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 239.4% higher at Blue Cliff College-Alexandria than at River Parishes Community College (about $9,766 more per year; $13,845.00 vs. $4,079.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at River Parishes Community College than at Blue Cliff College Alexandria (83% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by River Parishes Community College students is 39.3% larger than aid received by Blue Cliff College Alexandria students ($5,382 vs. $3,864).

River Parishes Community College vs. Blue Cliff College-Alexandria Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, River Parishes Community College or Blue Cliff College-Alexandria? 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 Blue Cliff College-Alexandria and River Parishes Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: River Parishes Community College - Open admission; Blue Cliff College-Alexandria - Open admission.

River Parishes Community College vs. Blue Cliff College-Alexandria Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for River Parishes Community College and Blue Cliff College-Alexandria? 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 River Parishes Community College earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than Blue Cliff College-Alexandria graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,900 vs. $25,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Blue Cliff College Alexandria graduates have a $2,485 lower median loan debt than River Parishes Community College graduates ($9,515 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Blue Cliff College-Alexandria graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than River Parishes Community College graduates ($98 vs. $124).
• More River Parishes Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Blue Cliff College-Alexandria students, three years after graduation. (24% vs. 20%)

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.