Rio Hondo College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Whittier, California. It enrolls 15,684 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 (4-Year Open / Online). 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
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes60
Value48
Affordability35
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Rio Hondo College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Rio Hondo 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 $14,379 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,379
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
26%
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)
$1,388
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,884
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,391
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
$14,549
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,728
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,030
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,305
Over $110,000
$17,355
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
$2,62525%percentile
$5,500Medianpercentile
$7,87575%percentile
$16,00090%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 $4,750
↓ $750
No Pell $3,500
↓ $2,000
Dependent students $3,500
↓ $2,000
Independent students $4,976
↓ $524
Female students $4,750
↓ $750
Male students $4,459
↓ $1,041
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,500, close to what completers borrow ($5,500) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
7% of full-time students who enrolled at Rio Hondo College graduate within six years, and 100% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
7%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
100%
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 Rio Hondo College earn a median of $44,950 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,950
Earning > $25K
70%
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
$35,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,700, about 23% 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 ↑
8.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 66% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Rio Hondo College is home to 15,684 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 68% are first-generation college students, 75% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
15,684
Part-Time
75%
First-Generation
68%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 69.1%10,833
White 11.8%1,855
Asian 4.9%762
Black 2.5%384
Other 1.5%227
International 0.2%24
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Rio Hondo College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeWhittier, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
47%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Rio Hondo College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
68 distinct programs across
26 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 Rio Hondo College is 31:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
31:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,870
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$3.1M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$114,852
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
205 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
205
100%
$114,852
Pros & Cons of Rio Hondo College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Rio Hondo College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Strong first-year retention
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
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Rio Hondo College is a fit for
working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rio Hondo College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Rio Hondo College.
How much does Rio Hondo College cost?
The average net price after aid at Rio Hondo College is $14,379 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Rio Hondo College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,950 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,379 per year. That's roughly 3.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Rio Hondo College known for?
Rio Hondo College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Rio Hondo College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Rio Hondo College are $44,950, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Rio Hondo College accredited?
Yes. Rio Hondo College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Rio Hondo College?
Rio Hondo College enrolls 15,684 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Rio Hondo College?
Rio Hondo College graduates 7% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Rio Hondo College a public or private college?
Rio Hondo College is a Public institution.
Where is Rio Hondo College located?
Rio Hondo College is located in Whittier, California.
What programs does Rio Hondo College offer?
Rio Hondo College offers 68 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Rio Hondo College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Rio Hondo College is 31:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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