University of California-Riverside vs Riverside City College: which has better ROI?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.