Home / Worth-It Scores / California / Rio Hondo
Is Rio Hondo College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Rio Hondo, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Rio Hondo sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $44,950 helps, but median debt of $5,500 plus yearly net price of $14,379 creates a tighter path. For context, Rio Hondo's net price is about 6% above the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$13,920
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrNet price is slightly above average
You'd pay about $766 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $3,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$14,379
Median earnings 10 years out
$44,950
Median debt at graduation
$5,500
Graduation rate
26%
At Rio Hondo, a typical graduate carries about $5,500 in student debt and earns roughly $44,950 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $63 per month, or 2% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Rio Hondo is a two year school in Whittier, CA. For many families, the real question is not just sticker price but what this path unlocks next, whether that is direct employment, transfer, or a lower cost route into a four year degree.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
2-year
Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $14,621
2-year
Napa Valley
Napa, CA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $14,644
2-year
Salon Success Academy-Corona
Corona, CA
Worth-It Score: 64/100
Median net price: $14,668
2-year
Healthcare Career
Paramount, CA
Worth-It Score: 64/100
Median net price: $13,756
2-year
Salon Success Academy-Riverside
Riverside, CA
Worth-It Score: 64/100
Median net price: $15,423
Common questions about Rio Hondo
The median net price at Rio Hondo is $14,379 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in California? See the most affordable public universities in California →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →