Does it work
starting at Rio Hondo in Whittier?
You're deciding whether to spend your first two years at Rio Hondo College before finishing a bachelor's elsewhere in California. That means looking hard at transfer rates, what graduates actually earn, and what it costs you out of pocket — not at brochure language.
17,441 undergrads, 26% transfer out by year 8, median $45k 10-yr earnings, $5,500 median debt.
A mid-size Whittier CC with a solid transfer-out track record
Rio Hondo College enrolls 17,441 undergraduates in Whittier, California, with 77% attending part-time. Twenty-six percent of students transfer to a four-year institution within eight years — a result that places it above the national community college norm. Median earnings land at $45k ten years out, and median debt is a low $5,500. Liberal Arts and Sciences alone produces 1,837 completions, by far the largest program. In-state tuition is $1,306 annually. The 0% three-year loan default rate is a clean signal on repayment outcomes.
Rio Hondo College sits in Whittier, California, serving 17,441 undergraduates — 77% of whom attend part-time. That part-time majority shapes everything: timelines stretch, transfer decisions get made alongside jobs and family obligations, and the path to a four-year degree requires more deliberate planning than at a traditional residential campus. Liberal Arts and Sciences is the college's dominant program, with 1,837 completions — nearly eight times the next-largest offering — making it the clear workhorse for students building a general transfer foundation. Business Administration (228 completions) and Criminal Justice-related programs (156 and 152) add vocational depth. The eight-year transfer-out rate is 26%, above the range that most national benchmarks cite for community colleges. Median earnings ten years out sit at $45k, median debt is $5,500, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. In-state tuition is $1,306, though note that the net price of $14,379 is higher than many California peers — financial aid packaging matters here.
What this CC teaches at scale
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 1,837 |
| Child Care Provider/Assistant. | 240 |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 228 |
| Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician. | 156 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration. | 152 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences. | 146 |
| Psychology, General. | 132 |
| Humanities/Humanistic Studies. | 110 |
| Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician. | 101 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science. | 83 |
Source · IPEDS completions (all undergraduate credentials).
Where California transfers tend to go
Reflects state-aggregated IPEDS transfer-in volume — CC-specific destinations are not publicly available from IPEDS or the College Scorecard.
Frequently asked
- Is Rio Hondo College a good place to start a bachelor's degree?
- The data gives a measured yes. Twenty-six percent of Rio Hondo students transfer to a four-year institution within eight years, which is above the national community college average — a real signal given that 77% attend part-time, which naturally extends timelines. In-state tuition is $1,306, but the net price is $14,379, which is higher than many California community colleges, so financial aid planning is important. Median borrower debt is $5,500 and the three-year loan default rate is 0%, suggesting that students who do borrow are managing repayment. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are $45k. Taken together: a viable starting point, but one where you need a clear transfer plan and an honest look at your net cost.
- How does Rio Hondo College's transfer-out rate compare to typical community colleges?
- Rio Hondo's eight-year transfer-out rate is 26%. National research generally places community college transfer rates between 15% and 25%, so Rio Hondo sits at or just above that benchmark. The 26% figure is measured over eight years, and given that 77% of students attend part-time — which extends the typical timeline considerably — it reflects genuine transfer momentum rather than an artificially clean cohort. An additional 1.9% were still enrolled at the eight-year mark, and 25% had completed a credential at Rio Hondo itself. The numbers suggest the college is functioning as an active feeder into the four-year system, not just a long-term enrollment holding pattern.
- What programs does Rio Hondo College offer at meaningful scale?
- Liberal Arts and Sciences dominates Rio Hondo's completions with 1,837 — a figure that dwarfs every other program and signals this is the primary transfer-prep track. After that, Child Care Provider/Assistant (240 completions) and Business Administration and Management (228) represent the next tier. Fire Prevention and Safety Technology (156) and Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (152) show strength in public safety fields, which have defined career paths with local employer demand in Southern California. Biological and Physical Sciences (146) and Psychology (132) add science and social science transfer options. The concentration in Liberal Arts means advising and course infrastructure around transfer-prep pathways is genuinely developed at scale.
Methodology — Transfer signals reflect IPEDS Outcome Measures 8-year cohorts; earnings and debt come from the College Scorecard. Destinations are state-aggregated; we do not claim CC-specific transfer destinations without authoritative per-student tracking data.