Riverside City College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Riverside City College in Riverside, CA with San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Riverside City College is larger than San Diego Mesa College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 19,212 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Riverside City College is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Riverside City College 26:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Riverside City College are 14.4% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($26,740 vs. $31,243).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25% higher at Riverside City College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $2,496 more per year; $12,498 vs. $10,002).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Riverside City College (79% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 27.7% larger than aid received by Riverside City College students ($8,252 vs. $6,463).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Riverside City College and San Diego Mesa College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($46 vs. $82).
• More San Diego Mesa College 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.