Riverside City College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Riverside City College in Riverside, CA with San Diego Mesa 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 Mesa College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 19,212 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Riverside City College is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Riverside City College 26:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Riverside City College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Riverside City College or San Diego Mesa 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 Riverside City College than San Diego Mesa College ($10,174 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Riverside City College are 14.4% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($26,740 vs. $31,243).
• Riverside City College is 24.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa 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 Mesa 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 Mesa College than at Riverside City College (79% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 27.7% larger than aid received by Riverside City College students ($8,252 vs. $6,463).

Riverside City College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Riverside City College and San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($46 vs. $82).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Riverside City College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.