Area and Climate

Riverside Community College is located in Southern California, an hour's drive east of Los Angeles. RCC opened two additional campuses in 1991 in nearby Norco and Moreno Valley. Riverside is a traditional Southern California community. Museums, a symphony orchestra, and theater companies add to the cultural life of the region. More than twenty-five colleges and universities are located within 30 miles of Riverside. Newport and Laguna Beach, the San Bernardino Mountains, the Palm Springs desert resort region, and Disneyland are also within an hour's drive. The weather is mild, with a Mediterranean climate.

Education

The College, which has three campuses, enrolls approximately 30,000 people. Part of the California Community College system, RCC offers the first two years of a four-year education in preparation for transfer to four-year universities. More than 2,000 classes are offered each semester in more than seventy majors. In addition to courses that prepare students for transfer, the Associate degree is awarded after two years (or 60 units) of study. Certificate programs in many occupational fields are also available.

Campus Life

With more than 300 young people from sixty countries attending each semester, RCC maintains a Center for International Students and Programs. The Center assists students in becoming acquainted with American college life, meeting other students and faculty on campus, touring Riverside and Southern California points of interest, and receiving academic tutoring when needed. Housing is not provided. However, the Center keeps lists of possible home-stay families and apartment houses as well as lists of students who are seeking someone to share an apartment.

For International Students

RCC Center for International Students and Programs has a full-time staff to assist students with admissions, registration, advising on academic and career goals, immigration, and transfer to universities to complete bachelor's degrees. A Paper-based TOEFL Test score of 450+, a Computer-based TOEFL Test score of 133+, or an IELTS score of 4.5+ is required for students to benefit from instruction at the college level. Students on an F-1 Visa must present evidence of financial resources to meet all costs for tuition, books, insurance, and personal living expenses. Health and accident insurance is required. Students must purchase insurance through the College. Applications should be submitted as early as possible. The RCC Center for International Students and Programs is located on the Riverside campus, but students may take classes in Moreno Valley or Norco.

Highlights

Institution Type: Public, Coeducational

Annual Costs:

Tuition and Fees: $4,500
Insurance, Books and Supplies: $1,500
Living Expenses: $10,000

Academic Calendar: Semester

Accreditation: WASC

English Requirement: Paper-based TOEFL Test 450+, Computer-based TOEFL Test 133+, or IELTS score 4.5+

Application Deadlines:

April 1 for Summer Session
June 1 for Fall Semester
November 1 for Spring Semester