Riverside City College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

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

Riverside City College is larger than Southwestern College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 20,986 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Riverside City College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Riverside City College or Southwestern 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 Southwestern College ($10,174 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 10.6% lower than at Riverside City College ($23,897 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwestern College (about $84 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,344.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.5% higher at Riverside City College than at Southwestern College (about $1,858 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $10,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at Riverside City College (86% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 5.5% larger than aid received by Riverside City College students ($6,821 vs. $6,463).

Riverside City College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

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

Riverside City College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Riverside City College and Southwestern 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 $1,900 more per year than Southwestern College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Southwestern 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 Southwestern 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.