Riverside City College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare Riverside City College in Riverside, CA with Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Riverside City College is larger than Saddleback College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 20,764 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Riverside City College is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Riverside City College 26:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Riverside City College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Riverside City College or Saddleback 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 Saddleback College than Riverside City College ($8,122 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saddleback College are 3.6% lower than at Riverside City College ($25,769 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 23.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $272 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at Riverside City College than at Saddleback College (about $638 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $11,860.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Riverside City College than at Saddleback College (78% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 40.4% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($6,463 vs. $4,603).

Riverside City College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Riverside City College or Saddleback 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 Saddleback College and Riverside City College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Riverside City College - Open admission; Saddleback College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

Riverside City College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Riverside City College and Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $8,300 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have a $1,880 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($6,120 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($63 vs. $82).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Riverside City College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 41%)

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.