Accolades

Recent RCCD and College Accolades

RCCD Recognized with 2025 Excellence in Energy and Sustainability Award. The Riverside Community College District (RCCD) has been recognized by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges as a 2025 Excellence in Energy and Sustainability Award winner.

RCCD - a Top Producing Institution for Gilman International Scholarships. The Riverside Community College District was recognized as a Gilman Program 25th Anniversary Top Producing Institution in March, 2026, an honor awarded by the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. The recognition places the district among the top institutions nationwide that have supported students receiving Gilman Scholarships during the program’s 25-year history.

Center for Social Justice Earns Community Recognition at Mayor’s Ball. The RCCD Center for Social Justice & Civil Liberties earned second place in the Art Facility category at the 2025 Mayor’s Ball for the Arts. The celebration honored standout contributors to Riverside’s creative landscape, with awardees nominated and voted for by the community.

Online Data Science Program at MVC Ranks Among Nation's Best. The online Associate of Science in Data Science at Moreno Valley College has been ranked No. 8 in the nation among online associate degree data science programs for 2026 by TechGuide, a data-driven resource for analytics and computer science education.

MVC Earns Top 10 State Ranking for Veterans in 2025 Military Times List.  The college ranked No. 7 in California and No. 13 across the Western United States, marking the fourth consecutive year it has been recognized by Military Times for its veteran-focused programs, services, and outcomes.

MVC Ranks 12th Statewide in Rapid Student Return on Investment.  In August , 2025, MVC was recognized as the top-ranked community college in the Inland Empire and 12th statewide for delivering one of the fastest returns on investment for students, with graduates typically earning back their education costs in just under two and a half months (about 10 weeks), according to a new analysis of California’s community and career colleges.

NC Ranked #3 in TechGuide’s 2026 Best Associate in Data Science Programs. Norco College has been recognized as one of the nation’s top institutions for data science education, earning the #3 ranking in TechGuide’s 2026 Best Associate in Data Science Programs for its Associate of Science in Computer Science (Data Science Path).

NC Selected for National Noncredit Workforce Education Initiative. In February, 2026, the college was selected to participate in Student Voices Informing Practice in Noncredit Workforce Education, a new national initiative led by the Education and Employment Research Center at Rutgers University and the National Council for Workforce Education. Norco College is one of only 15 colleges nationwide chosen for the initiative and the only participating institution from California.

NC Designated as a Black-Serving Institution. As of December 9, 2025, NC has been officially designated as a Black-Serving Institution (BSI) by the Black-Serving Institution Governing Board. This significant recognition reflects the College’s enduring commitment to advancing Black student success, equity, and belonging.

NC Named Among 2025 Best for Vets. The Military Times identified the college as one of the best, nation-wide! The college is one of only six California community colleges to be placed on a list of 357 colleges and universities in 2025.

Middle College Program Marks Record Growth in Dual Diploma Graduates. Norco College Middle College is marking a historic achievement this spring with 105 students graduating with both a high school diploma and an associate degree—a 15% increase from last year. This record-breaking class reflects the program’s growing impact and its commitment to expanding college access for high school students.

NC Named Among Top California Colleges for Return on Investment. In 2025, Norco College was ranked #15 in California’s top 25 community and career colleges delivering a fast and strong return on investment (ROI) for students, according to Golden Returns: A Regional Look at the ROI of California’s Community and Career Colleges, a new analysis by the College Futures Foundation and the HEA Group.

Marching Tigers Take Top Honors. RCC earns first place in Division 2 of the 2025 Metallica Marching Band Competition, and won $40,000 in prizes for celebrating creativity and excellence in collegiate music performance.

RCC Officially Designated a Black-Serving Institution. In December, 2025, RCC received notice that the college has been officially designated a Black-Serving Institution (BSI) by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, marking a significant milestone in the college’s ongoing commitment to equity, access, and student success for Black and African American students.

Umoja Program Receives Two Statewide Awards. The RCC Umoja Program has been recognized with two major statewide honors at the 2025 UMOJA Annual Conference in San Jose, solidifying RCC’s role as a leader in culturally responsive education and Black student success across California.

Two Distinctions in 2025 Carnegie Classifications. RCC has been identified as a Mixed Associate Large institution and designated as Higher Access, Medium Earnings in the newly released 2025 Carnegie Classifications—recognitions that highlight the college’s academic breadth and dedication to serving diverse student populations.

Guardians of Cyber Excellence. RCC Ranks 13th in Cybersecurity Guide's 2024 Assessment. Riverside City College (RCC) announced that its Cyber Defense Program has been ranked 13th in Cybersecurity Guide's 2024 rankings, standing out among approximately 150 cybersecurity associate degree programs across the United States.

RCC School of Nursing Earns NSNA Stellar School Chapter Award. This honor bestowed in April, 2025, acknowledges the RCC chapter's ongoing involvement with the National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA) and our dedication to shared governance and the professional development of our nursing students.

 

Athletics

MVC Women's Flag Football. Founded in the spring of 2025, the Women's Flag Football team is the first sports team at MVC. To join the team, you must be an enrolled student at Moreno Valley College. No experience is necessary to join — just be ready to work, support your teammates, and embody Mountain Lion pride.

NC Women's Flag Football Shocks the Nation, Sweeps the Weekend. In a dominant showcase of grit, discipline, and belief, the Mustangs swept through two powerhouse programs, defeating California State University, Long Beach 49-6, and edging the University of Southern California 14-7. Two very different games. One common outcome: Norco finished on top.

NC Men’s Soccer Team Secures Back-to-Back Conference Championships.  The team clinched their second consecutive Inland Empire Athletic Conference (IEAC) championship, marking a historic achievement for the college's athletic program.  The season’s decisive game against College of the Desert (COD) on November 1, 2024 was a chance for Norco to secure the championship on their own terms.

RCC Men’s Track and Field Team Honored. RCC won the 2025 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Track and Field State Championship victory, marking the program’s ninth state title under Coach McCarron’s leadership.

RCC Secures Top Marks at USA Collegiate Championships.  RCC Cheer Team takes 1st at USA competition. Riverside City College delivered standout performances at the USA Collegiate Championships, competing across three divisions and earning multiple podium finishes against a highly competitive national field.

Teams at RCC for both men and women. These teams have collectively won three state championships just within the past four years. The Men’s Track and Field team won the 2025 CCCAA championship title; the Tiger Football team won the 2023 state title; and, the Baseball team won top state honors in 2022. Coaches of the Year Accolades abound for fall and spring sports teams alike, and many RCC students transfer to play their respective sports at four-year institutions. More information on RCC athletics can be found at http://www.rccathletics.com/.

 

Student Highlights

MVC Student Selected as Statewide College Corps Ambassador. Lauryn Chin was selected by California Volunteers to serve as a 2025 College Corps Fellow Ambassador, representing both the college and the state in a program that provides students with hands-on service opportunities across California.

MESA Students Claim Top Honor at HackMESA 2.0 with AI Privacy Tool. On April 23, 2026, three students from Moreno Valley College's Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program earned the Most Innovative Tech award at HackMESA 2.0, a collegiate hackathon, for developing CensorIt, a real-time AI tool designed to automatically detect and blur license plates during live video streams.

MVC Student Selected as National Delegate for Leadership Conference in D.C. A TRIO Honors Scholar and Middle College student at Moreno Valley College, was selected as one of only 100 students nationwide to attend the 2025 National Student Leadership Congress (NSLC), hosted by the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) in Washington, D.C.

NC Rocketry Team Takes 2^ND Place in National Hybrid & Liquid Rocketry Competition. The Norco College Rocketry team earned second place in its altitude category at the 2025 FAR-OUT rocketry competition, marking another historic milestone for the college’s growing aerospace program. Organized by the Friends of Amateur Rocketry (FAR), this annual competition is dedicated exclusively to student-built hybrid and liquid rockets. 

NC Data Science Students Triumph at ASA NYC-Metro Digital Health AI Hackathon. A talented group of Norco College data science students claimed the top prize in the Digital Health mini-hackathon held as part of the American Statistical Association (ASA) New York City Metro Area Chapter’s inaugural Artificial Intelligence Workshop NYC on July 20, 2025.

Norco College Team Flies High in CSU 3D-Printed Aircraft Competition. Norco College earned a second-place finish in the third annual CSU 3D-Printed Fixed-Wing Aircraft Competition (C-3DPAC), hosted by California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA), placing just behind Stanford University in a field of 22 institutions from across California and beyond. The competition took place May 31 at Cal State LA’s Jesse Owens Track and Field Complex and was judged in two categories: flight performance and design creativity.

RCC Students Earn Top Honors at ADDY Awards. Riverside City College (RCC) is celebrating an exceptional achievement as 7 students across 20 categories earned recognition at the prestigious 2026 ADDY Awards, highlighting the college’s strength in design, advertising, and visual communication. RCC students competed across multiple categories, earning Gold, Silver, and Finalist honors for their innovative and impactful work.

RCC Dance Earns Gala Selection at ACDA Conference. From February 4–7, 2026, the Riverside City College Dance Department represented the college at the American College Dance Association (ACDA) Conference held at California State University, Long Beach, earning top honors and national recognition. A major highlight of the festival was the selection of And Five..Six..Seven Eight, as the closing performance of the evening—an exceptional honor among participating institutions.

RCC’s Fine and Performing Arts group, Performance Riverside, is housed on the campus of Riverside City College and celebrated its 43rd season. Performance Riverside provides opportunities for students to work alongside local professionals and has received national recognition for its outstanding professional theatre productions.

RCC’s Model United Nations team takes home Outstanding Delegation award.  Riverside City College’s Model United Nations team was recognized as an outstanding delegation at a national conference held in New York City from April 6 to April 10. This award recognizes delegations who display “active engagement in committee, professionalism and diplomatic values and proper use of the rules of procedure,” according to the National Model United Nations website.

RCC’s Viewpoints Staff Earns Statewide Recognition at JACC Awards. Riverside City College’s student-run newspaper, Viewpoints, brought home multiple awards at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC) state conference, held March 6-8, 2026 in Long Beach, California.

The College’s Journalism program and student newspaper, Viewpoints, have earned the Associated Collegiate Press national Best of Show Newspaper award in 2024, 2021 and 2019. Additionally, Viewpoints has received over 45 General Excellence Awards for print and online versions of the paper since 1996. This is the highest overall award achievable by the Journalism Association of Community Colleges