Riverside City College vs. San Jose City College

Comparable Facts

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

Riverside City College is larger than San Jose City College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 8,609 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Riverside City College vs. San Jose City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Riverside City College or San Jose 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 Riverside City College than San Jose City College ($10,174 vs. $19,585).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Jose City College are 15.3% lower than at Riverside City College ($22,658 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Jose City College (about $62 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,366.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at Riverside City College than at San Jose City College (about $576 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $11,922.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Jose City College than at Riverside City College (85% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 13.1% larger than aid received by San Jose City College students ($6,463 vs. $5,712).

Riverside City College vs. San Jose City College Admissions comparison

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Riverside City College and San Jose 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 $1,800 more per year than San Jose City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Jose City College graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($5,250 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, San Jose City College graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($54 vs. $82).
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Jose City College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 36%)

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.