Riverside City College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Riverside, California. It enrolls 18,346 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes48
Value67
Affordability54
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Riverside City College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Riverside City College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $8,377 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$8,377
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
1%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,428
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$12,498
Room & Board (off-campus)
$26,740
Books & Supplies
$1,454
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,911
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$6,931
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,371
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,221
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,755
Over $110,000
$13,880
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,00025%percentile
$8,000Medianpercentile
$8,00075%percentile
$13,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $6,000
↓ $2,000
No Pell $5,125
↓ $2,875
Dependent students $4,500
↓ $3,500
Independent students $9,000
↑ $1,000
Female students $6,000
↓ $2,000
Male students $5,250
↓ $2,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,250, less than completers ($8,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
11% of full-time students who enrolled at Riverside City College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
11%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Riverside City College earn a median of $41,091 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$41,091
Earning > $25K
65%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$33,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,400, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
25.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Riverside City College is home to 18,346 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 56% are first-generation college students, 69% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
18,346
Part-Time
69%
First-Generation
56%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 68.0%12,475
White 12.9%2,372
Black 7.0%1,281
Asian 6.3%1,148
Other 4.8%877
International 0.6%106
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Riverside City College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityRiverside, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
26%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Riverside City College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
69 distinct programs across
27 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Riverside City College is 26:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
26:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,321
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$6.4M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$132,262
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
276 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
276
100%
$132,262
Pros & Cons of Riverside City College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Riverside City College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Riverside City College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Riverside City College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Riverside City College.
Is Riverside City College hard to get into?
Riverside City College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Riverside City College?
Riverside City College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Riverside City College cost?
The average net price after aid at Riverside City College is $8,377 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Riverside City College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $41,091 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,377 per year. That's roughly 4.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Riverside City College known for?
Riverside City College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Riverside City College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Riverside City College are $41,091, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Riverside City College accredited?
Yes. Riverside City College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Riverside City College?
Riverside City College enrolls 18,346 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Riverside City College?
Riverside City College graduates 11% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Riverside City College a public or private college?
Riverside City College is a Public institution.
Where is Riverside City College located?
Riverside City College is located in Riverside, California.
What programs does Riverside City College offer?
Riverside City College offers 69 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Riverside City College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Riverside City College is 26:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Liberal Arts
Business Administration
Biological and Physical Sciences
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