Riverside City College vs. SCC

Comparable Facts

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

Riverside City College is larger than SCC based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 11,897 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Riverside City College is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Santiago Canyon College is in Orange, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santiago Canyon College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Riverside City College 26:1; Santiago Canyon College 34:1.

Riverside City College vs. SCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Riverside City College or SCC? 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 Santiago Canyon College than Riverside City College ($6,573 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santiago Canyon College are 17.4% lower than at Riverside City College ($22,086 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 22.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCC (about $264 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,164.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30% higher at Riverside City College than at Santiago Canyon College (about $2,886 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $9,612.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Riverside City College than at Santiago Canyon College (78% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santiago Canyon College students is 1.8% larger than aid received by Riverside City College students ($6,580 vs. $6,463).

Riverside City College vs. SCC Admissions comparison

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

Riverside City College vs. SCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Riverside City College and SCC? 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).

• More SCC 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.