Riverside City College vs. Sierra College

Comparable Facts

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

Riverside City College is larger than Sierra College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 19,125 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Riverside City College is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Sierra College is in Rocklin, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sierra College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Riverside City College 26:1; Sierra College 25:1.

Riverside City College vs. Sierra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Riverside City College or Sierra 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 Sierra College ($10,174 vs. $10,285).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sierra College are 49% lower than at Riverside City College ($13,631 vs. $26,740).
• Sierra College is 1.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Riverside City College (about $18 more per year; $1,446.00 vs. $1,428.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 764.3% higher at Riverside City College than at Sierra College (about $11,052 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $1,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sierra College than at Riverside City College (80% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 29.1% larger than aid received by Sierra College students ($6,463 vs. $5,006).

Riverside City College vs. Sierra College Admissions comparison

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

Riverside City College vs. Sierra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Riverside City College and Sierra 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 Sierra College earn a median of about $100 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,100 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Riverside City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sierra College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 32%)

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.