Rio Hondo College Tuition, Demographics & Completion (2026)
Rio Hondo College is a public community college in Whittier, California, with about 15,684 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $14,379 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,388. Student demographics in federal data include Hispanic or Latino (69.1%) and White (11.8%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,388
- 2024 Average Net Price: $14,379 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 15,684 25.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 24.53%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs
- First-Generation Students: 68.3%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 153.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 30.6%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 28,960
- Room & Board: $22,086 annual estimate
Rio Hondo College: what the data shows
Common questions about Rio Hondo College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Rio Hondo College?
Rio Hondo College is located in Whittier, CA (ZIP 90601-1616).
Is Rio Hondo College public or private?
Rio Hondo College is a Public institution.
How much does Rio Hondo College cost?
Published tuition: $1,388 in-state, $9,884 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $14,379.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $14,549 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,728 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,030 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $17,305 |
| $110,001+ | $17,355 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $5,552.
How big is Rio Hondo College?
Total enrollment: 15,684 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 28,960 students.
About 25% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Rio Hondo College?
150%-time completion rate: 24.53%.
First-year retention: 100.0%.
What do graduates of Rio Hondo College earn?
Median earnings: $35,115 six years after entry; $44,950 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $5,500.
26.17% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Rio Hondo College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (1,837 completions)
- Child Care Provider/Assistant (240 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (228 completions)
- Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician (156 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (152 completions)
- Biological and Physical Sciences (146 completions)
- Psychology, General (132 completions)
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies (110 completions)
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician (101 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Police Science (83 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Rio Hondo College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 24.53%; median earnings $44,950 at 10 years; net price $14,379. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,388
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Rio Hondo College was $1,388.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$14,379
2024 Value
In 2024 Rio Hondo College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,379.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$57,516 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$14,379 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$5,552 4-Year In-State Tuition
$39,536 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$22,086 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,062 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$24,536 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$98,144 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Rio Hondo College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
26.17% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
0.57% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Rio Hondo College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Rio Hondo College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,178 | $5,738 | $4,601 |
| 2014 | $1,356 | $6,760 | $4,609 |
| 2015 | $1,360 | $6,960 | $5,004 |
| 2016 | $1,360 | $6,960 | $5,916 |
| 2017 | $1,360 | $6,960 | $5,111 |
| 2018 | $1,360 | $6,624 | $4,433 |
| 2019 | $1,360 | $8,584 | $5,487 |
| 2020 | $1,360 | $8,779 | $5,357 |
| 2021 | $1,388 | $9,884 | $5,461 |
| 2022 | $1,388 | $9,884 | $4,703 |
| 2023 | $1,388 | $9,884 | $11,903 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Rio Hondo College reported total enrollment of about 15,684 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 61% male and 39% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (69.1%), White (11.8%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (10.2%). About 26.17% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 68.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
25.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Rio Hondo College in 2024 is 15,684 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 28,960 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
100.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 69.1%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
0.00% 100% Completion Time
24.53% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 0.00% of students graduating from Rio Hondo College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 37% male / 63% female
- Child Care Provider/Assistant: 5% male / 95% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 54% male / 46% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Hispanic or Latino.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Rio Hondo College.
Return on Investment
$5,500 Median Student Debt
$44,950 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
12.24% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
681.52% Return on Investment
1.2 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Rio Hondo College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 91 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 1,837 completions
2. Child Care Provider/Assistant: 240 completions
3. Business Administration and Management, General: 228 completions
4. Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician: 156 completions
5. Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 152 completions
6. Biological and Physical Sciences: 146 completions
7. Psychology, General: 132 completions
8. Humanities/Humanistic Studies: 110 completions
9. Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician: 101 completions
Most popular programs at Rio Hondo College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Rio Hondo College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Rio Hondo College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 30.6%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $12,922
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,467
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Rio Hondo College is a public institution located in Whittier, CA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Child Care Provider/Assistant, Business Administration and Management, General. Enrollment is approximately 15,684 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (69.1%), White (11.8%), Race/ethnicity unknown (10.2%). The 150%-time completion rate is 24.53%. Approximately 26.17% of students receive Pell Grants. About 68.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs
Location
Whittier, CA 90601-1616
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 24.53% graduation rate at Rio Hondo College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 91 distinct degree programs, Rio Hondo College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rio Hondo College located?
Rio Hondo College is located in Whittier, CA.
How much does Rio Hondo College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,388 and average net price is $14,379 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $22,086 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Rio Hondo College?
Rio Hondo College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 28,960 students, Hispanic or Latino (69.1%), White (11.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Rio Hondo College?
About 68.3% of students at Rio Hondo College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Rio Hondo College earn?
Median earnings are $35,115 six years after entry and $44,950 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Rio Hondo College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 24.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Rio Hondo College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $5,500.
Is Rio Hondo College public or private?
Rio Hondo College is a public institution located in Whittier, CA.
Is Rio Hondo College an HBCU?
No. Rio Hondo College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Rio Hondo College a tribal college?
No. Rio Hondo College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Rio Hondo College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Rio Hondo College reports 69.1% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Rio Hondo College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Rio Hondo College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Whittier, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.