C
Average
Score: 51/100
Overall (traditional)
C+
Outcome Rating
64/100 · earnings-weighted

Rio Hondo College

4-Year Public
📍 Whittier, California 90601
ℹ️
Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (C) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 27%
Outcomes
C
49/100
Affordability
B+
76/100
Resources
D
42/100
Experience
C+
58/100
Prestige
D
32/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

17,193
Total Enrollment
27%
Graduation Rate
N/A
Retention Rate
31.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$13,920
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Rio Hondo College ▼

68% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$862,404
Avg Monthly Rent
$2,343
1-Year Change
+3.4%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Rio Hondo College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$44,950
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$35,115
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$5,500
Median debt at graduation
24.5%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
26.2%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 12% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 80th percentile among certificate-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Rio Hondo College

Median pay of associate's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$95,666$113,902+41%#47 of 962#57—
Criminal Justice and Corrections—$54,395+16%#83 of 426#173—
Business Administration, Management and Operations—$52,193+7%#190 of 547#313—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Rio Hondo College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $862,404
  • Avg rent near campus: $2,343/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 90603 (3.1% cap, Whittier)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

✓ Sent — check your inbox

Free — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

🏆 Where Rio Hondo College Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#5
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician
of 5 schools
#11
Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD
of 20 schools
#13
Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician
of 31 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $1,306 $9,802

Financial Aid

84%
Receive Any Aid
58%
Receive Pell Grants
0%
Take Out Loans
$13,920
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$11,073
$30,001 - $48,000$11,521
$48,001 - $75,000$13,812
$75,001 - $110,000$15,971
$110,001+$11,240

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 1,837 grads/yr Child Care Provider/Assistant 240 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 228 grads/yr Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician 156 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 152 grads/yr Biological and Physical Sciences 146 grads/yr Psychology, General 132 grads/yr Humanities/Humanistic Studies 110 grads/yr Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician 101 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Police Science 83 grads/yr Fire Science/Fire-fighting 74 grads/yr Sociology, General 70 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 46 grads/yr Human Services, General 45 grads/yr Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD 42 grads/yr Mathematics, General 39 grads/yr Graphic Design 35 grads/yr Art/Art Studies, General 34 grads/yr Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician 33 grads/yr English Language and Literature, General 33 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Rio Hondo College's top programs commonly pursue.

Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78k/yr 183,400 jobs
Childcare workers
$32k/yr 991,600 jobs
Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Compensation and benefits managers
$140k/yr 20,900 jobs
Human resources managers
$140k/yr 221,900 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr 619,500 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
Training and development managers
$127k/yr 46,400 jobs

Student Demographics

17,193
Total Students
43%
Women
46%
Traditional Age (18-24)
68%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 10%
Hispanic 72%
Black 2%
Asian 5%
Two or More 1%

🏠 Living Arrangements

Off-Campus (Renters) 68%
With Family 32%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~11,760 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 52%
Hybrid (Some Online) 21%
Fully Online 27%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 46%
25-64 (Adult) 46%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Rio Hondo College?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Rio Hondo College?
Tuition at Rio Hondo College is $1,306 for in-state students and $9,802 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $13,920.
What is the graduation rate at Rio Hondo College?
The graduation rate at Rio Hondo College is 27%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Rio Hondo College a good school?
Rio Hondo College has a Repit College Score of 51/100 (Grade: C). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (B+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (D): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (C+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Rio Hondo College?
Rio Hondo College has a total enrollment of 17,193 students.
Is there rental demand near Rio Hondo College?
Yes! Approximately 68% of students at Rio Hondo College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 11,760 students who need rental housing near campus. This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Whittier area.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Rio Hondo College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Rio Hondo College

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C
Skyline College
San Bruno, CA · 9,428 students
C
Solano Community College
Fairfield, CA · 8,868 students
C
Bakersfield College
Bakersfield, CA · 30,410 students
C
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA · 23,164 students
C
Modesto Junior College
Modesto, CA · 17,152 students
C
Antelope Valley Community College District
Lancaster, CA · 12,937 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology