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Colleges / Rio Salado College

About Rio Salado College

Rio Salado College is one of ten Maricopa Community Colleges and one of the largest online public community colleges in the nation, serving more than 35,000 students annually with more than 18,000 online in 50 states. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Rio Salado College offers nearly 600 online classes, 135+ degree and certificate programs and general education courses. The college also provides support for dual enrollment, military and incarcerated students, and serves as the largest provider of adult education in Arizona.

Rio Salado College Overview

Rio Salado College is a public, state school in an urban setting in Tempe, Arizona. Rio Salado College was founded in 1978 and enrolls 17,362 undergrads and no graduate students.

Planning to play sports? Rio Salado College has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Rio Salado College on the Student Life page.

Learn more about life at Rio Salado College on the Student Life page.

2021 Rio Salado College Facts At-A-Glance
Academic Calendar Semester
Early Decision Acceptance Rate ED not offered
Early Action Acceptance Rate EA not offered
In-State Tuition $85
Out-of-State $241
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package $0

Is Rio Salado College a Good School?

Different people have different ideas about what makes a "good" school. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how selective an institution is, but they don't say much about the quality of the education or the student experience. However, there are a few good ways to get a better sense how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its student body.

Let's take a look at to get a better sense of what Rio Salado College offers and if it sounds like the right college for you.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Rio Salado College

Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

About 40% of students who start at Rio Salado College come back for their second year of college.The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outcomes for Rio Salado College Grads

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers.

Check with Rio Salado College directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

Rio Salado College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.

For more information about Rio Salado College's endowment, check with the school directly. For each full-time student, Rio Salado College spends about $1,960 a year.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Rio Salado College

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.

For information on Rio Salado College's financial aid options for first-year students, check with the school directly.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021

Some aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! No one should ever pay to fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Rio Salado College. Based on this information, how does Rio Salado College sound? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may not be the right school for someone else! So ask yourself: Is Rio Salado College a good school for you?

If Rio Salado College seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

Still Doing Your Research?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Admissions

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Rio Salado College Community Forums

Then use the college admissions predictor to take a data science look at your chances of getting accepted at some of the most popular schools in the U.S.

Where is Rio Salado College Located?

Rio Salado College is located in the urban setting of Tempe, Arizona, less than an hour from Phoenix.

If you want to see Rio Salado College for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 10 to Tempe, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Rio Salado College and Tempe are like without leaving home.

Considering Colleges in Arizona?

See a full list of colleges in Arizona and save your favorites to your college list.

College Info

2323 West 14th Street Tempe, AZ 85281-6950

Campus Setting: Urban

Rio Salado College Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Continuous processing

Transfer Applications are Due

Continuous processing

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Rio Salado College is Continuous processing.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Rio Salado College is Continuous processing.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

Rio Salado College SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

Not available

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Math SAT Range

Not available

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Reading SAT Range

Not available

Rio Salado College Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$2,358

In State

$8,958

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$2,328
$8,928
Fees
$30
$30
Housing
Unknown
Unknown
Books
Unknown
Unknown

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Student Life

Wondering what life at Rio Salado College is like? There are approximately 17,078 students enrolled at Rio Salado College. 12% percent of students attend school full-time, 87% percent are from AZ and 13% percent of students are from other states.

12%

Full Time

88%

Part Time

87%

In State

13%

Out-of-State

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

17,078

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

N.A.

Tuition and Fees

In State

$2,358

Out-of-State

$8,958

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Continuous processing
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