Head-to-head comparison
Riverside City College vs California Baptist University: which has better ROI?
Option A Riverside, CA
Riverside City College
- Net price / year
- $8,377
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,091
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Riverside, CA
California Baptist University
- Net price / year
- $26,285
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,504
- Payback
- 8 yrs
California Baptist University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $105,140 in 8 years versus not at all at Riverside City College, on median earnings of $61,504 vs $41,091 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Riverside City College | California Baptist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,377 | $26,285 |
| Total net cost | $16,754 | $105,140 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,091 | $61,504 |
| Median debt | $8,000 | $26,063 |
| Payback | — | 8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$162,134 | $157,740 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Riverside City College or California Baptist University?
Riverside City College, at $8,377 a year after aid versus $26,285 — a gap of $17,908 a year, or $88,386 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Riverside City College or California Baptist University graduates earn more?
California Baptist University graduates report a median $61,504 ten years after entry, $20,413 more than the $41,091 at Riverside City College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Riverside City College or California Baptist University?
Riverside City College: its completers carry a median $8,000 in federal loans versus $26,063 at California Baptist University, a difference of $18,063. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
62% of students finish at California Baptist University, against 37% at Riverside City College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.