Riverside City College vs. San Diego City College

Comparable Facts

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

Riverside City College is larger than San Diego City College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 13,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Riverside City College is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); San Diego City College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Riverside City College 26:1; San Diego City College 22:1.

Riverside City College vs. San Diego City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Riverside City College or San Diego City 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 San Diego City College than Riverside City College ($10,040 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Riverside City College are 14.4% lower than at San Diego City College ($26,740 vs. $31,243).
• Riverside City College is 24.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego City College (about $282 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25% higher at Riverside City College than at San Diego City College (about $2,496 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego City College than at Riverside City College (87% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego City College students is 62.5% larger than aid received by Riverside City College students ($10,500 vs. $6,463).

Riverside City College vs. San Diego City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Riverside City College or San Diego City 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 San Diego City 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; San Diego City College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

Riverside City College vs. San Diego City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Riverside City College and San Diego City 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 Riverside City College earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than San Diego City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego City College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, San Diego City College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($46 vs. $82).
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego City College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 30%)

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.