Long Beach City vs Rio Hondo: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the CCCAA. Rio Hondo lists $1,556 less in out-of-state tuition; Rio Hondo graduates earn $6,080 more a decade out.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean Long Beach City if…
- On the figures we hold, Long Beach City does not lead Rio Hondo on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.
Lean Rio Hondo if…
- You would be in-state: Rio Hondo is $168 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Long Beach City.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Rio Hondo graduates earn about $6,080 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Rio Hondo is $5,000 lower than at Long Beach City.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | Long Beach City | Rio Hondo |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $1,556 | $1,388 — Rio Hondo leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $11,440 | $9,884 — Rio Hondo leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | Long Beach City | Rio Hondo |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 27% | 27% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $38,870/yr | $44,950/yr — Rio Hondo leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $10,500 | $5,500 — Rio Hondo leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 27% | 12% — Rio Hondo leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | Long Beach City | Rio Hondo |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 24,425 | 17,193 |
| Where it is | Long Beach, CA | Whittier, CA |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | Long Beach City | Rio Hondo |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Gabrielle Fua | Bianca Urquidi |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | Long Beach City | Rio Hondo |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at JUCO (NJCAA & community colleges), so the scholarship rules are identical: varies by njcaa division. Scholarship availability at junior colleges varies by NJCAA division — some can offer full athletic scholarships, some offer tuition-level aid, and NJCAA Division III offers no athletic aid.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Long Beach City
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Rio Hondo
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Long Beach City vs Rio Hondo: common questions
- Which school graduates more of its students, Long Beach City or Rio Hondo?
- Both report a 27% graduation rate (IPEDS, 2023-24).
- Do Long Beach City and Rio Hondo offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at JUCO (NJCAA & community colleges): varies by njcaa division. Scholarship availability at junior colleges varies by NJCAA division — some can offer full athletic scholarships, some offer tuition-level aid, and NJCAA Division III offers no athletic aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Long Beach City and Rio Hondo?
- Rio Hondo runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Long Beach City, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for Long Beach City and Rio Hondo accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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