Head-to-head comparison
University of California-Riverside vs Riverside City College: which has better ROI?
Option A Riverside, CA
University of California-Riverside
- Net price / year
- $14,304
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,699
- Payback
- 3 yrs
Option B Riverside, CA
Riverside City College
- Net price / year
- $8,377
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,091
- Payback
- No payback
University of California-Riverside has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $57,216 in 3 years versus not at all at Riverside City College, on median earnings of $67,699 vs $41,091 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of California-Riverside | Riverside City College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,304 | $8,377 |
| Total net cost | $57,216 | $16,754 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $67,699 | $41,091 |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $8,000 |
| Payback | 3 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $329,564 | -$162,134 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of California-Riverside or Riverside City College?
Riverside City College, at $8,377 a year after aid versus $14,304 — a gap of $5,927 a year, or $40,462 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 University of California-Riverside or Riverside City College graduates earn more?
University of California-Riverside graduates report a median $67,699 ten years after entry, $26,608 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, University of California-Riverside or Riverside City College?
Riverside City College: its completers carry a median $8,000 in federal loans versus $17,500 at University of California-Riverside, a difference of $9,500. 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?
76% of students finish at University of California-Riverside, 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.