Rio Hondo College
- Graduation Rate
- 26% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,950 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $14,379 C+
- 16% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 15,684
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 21.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.6 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $21.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,184,250.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 26% — 55% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Rio Hondo College Matters
Rio Hondo College is a public college in Whittier, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 15,684
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Criminal Justice, Construction Trades, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Rio Hondo College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,379 a year after grants and scholarships — 16% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,950 ten years after enrolling — 10% above the typical college, against $5,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.06 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Nearly 16,700 students choose Rio Hondo College each year, making it a significant hub for education in Whittier, California. The college serves a diverse population, with strong programs in Humanities, Criminal Justice, Business, and Psychology, catering to a range of academic interests and career paths.
Graduates from Rio Hondo College earn an average of $44,950 a decade after enrollment. While the graduation rate stands at 26%, the college's focus on accessibility allows many students to pursue higher education and gain valuable skills. The Pell Grant rate of 26% indicates that a notable portion of students rely on financial aid to support their studies, reflecting the college's commitment to serving those who may need additional resources.
With a net price of $14,379 and a median debt of $5,500, Rio Hondo College remains an affordable option for many. Students who thrive here are often those looking to enter the workforce quickly or transfer to a four-year institution. The community college environment fosters personal growth and prepares students for various career opportunities.
Can I Get In?
How selective Rio Hondo College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Rio Hondo College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Rio Hondo College, located in Whittier, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 26%.
- Retention Rate
- 100%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 31%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,922
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 29:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.51
- First-Gen Students
- 68%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Rio Hondo College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Rio Hondo College is $9,884, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,379. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,549 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $5,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,388
- Out-of-State
- $9,884
- Avg Net Price
- $14,379
- Median Debt
- $5,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 26%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 1%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $14,549
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,728
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,030
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,355
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Rio Hondo College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Rio Hondo College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Rio Hondo College report median earnings of $44,950, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,115
- 8 Years
- $39,942
- 10 Years
- $44,950
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.12x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
How Rio Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Rio Hondo College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Rio Hondo College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,379/year ($57,516 total). Graduates earn $44,950 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,241,766 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,184,250 (21.6× your investment). The median debt is $5,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 26% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $57,516
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,241,766
- Net Return
- $1,184,250
- ROI Multiple
- 21.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,379
- Median Debt
- $5,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 26%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,926,312
- Investment Income
- $542,851
Top Programs
The fields Rio Hondo College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 39%
- Criminal Justice 16% $29,247 early-career
- Construction Trades 8%
- Business & Marketing 6%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 3%
- Health Professions 3% $88,611 early-career
- Psychology 3%
- Social Sciences 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Rio Hondo College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Rio Hondo College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Rio Hondo College, located in Whittier, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 26%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Rio Hondo College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Rio Hondo College is $9,884, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,379. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,549 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $5,500 in federal student loans.
Is Rio Hondo College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Rio Hondo College report median earnings of $44,950, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Rio Hondo College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Rio Hondo College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.06, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Rio Hondo College.
- Mesa Community CollegeMesa, AZ · Close peer16% grad $44,034 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison, WI · Close peer28% grad $45,413 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Los Angeles Valley CollegeValley Glen, CA · Close peer32% grad $42,678 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Front Range Community CollegeWestminster, CO · Close peer33% grad $45,910 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Metropolitan State University of DenverDenver, CO · Close peer31% grad $52,093 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Georgia State University-Perimeter CollegeAtlanta, GA · Close peer22% grad $47,384 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Rio Hondo College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Rio Hondo College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.06, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note