SAC vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Ana College is larger than Riverside City College based on total student enrollment (27,248 students vs. 21,730 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Ana College is located in Santa Ana, CA (Large City setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• Santa Ana College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Ana College 33:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

SAC vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SAC or Riverside 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 Santa Ana College than Riverside City College ($5,894 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Ana College are 17.3% lower than at Riverside City College ($22,126 vs. $26,740).
• Riverside City College is 21% more expensive for in-state tuition than SAC (about $248 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.2% higher at Riverside City College than at Santa Ana College (about $1,742 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $10,756.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Ana College than at Riverside City College (89% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Ana College students is 4.7% larger than aid received by Riverside City College students ($6,768 vs. $6,463).

SAC vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SAC or Riverside 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 Riverside City College and SAC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SAC - Open admission; Riverside City College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SAC Apr 1, 2027; Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

SAC vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SAC and Riverside 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 Santa Ana College earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than Riverside City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,500 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Ana College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($7,500 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, SAC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($77 vs. $82).
• More SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Riverside City College students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.