Red Rocks Community College
#8 Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado- Graduation Rate
- 35% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $46,288 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $9,044 B+
- 47% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 4,889
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 29.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $29.0 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Most Affordable Colleges in Colorado.
Every $1 spent returns $29.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,013,070.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 35% — 39% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $29.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Red Rocks Community College Matters
Red Rocks Community College is a public college in Lakewood, CO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 4,889
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Criminal Justice, Humanities, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Red Rocks Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $9,044 a year after grants and scholarships — 47% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $46,288 ten years after enrolling — 14% above the typical college, against $9,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.38 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Students at Red Rocks Community College enjoy a low net price of $9,044, making it an accessible option for many. With an enrollment of 4,889, this public college serves a diverse body of students who are looking for affordable pathways to education and careers.
According to data from Opportunity Insights, while specific mobility metrics are not available, graduates earn a median salary of $46,288 ten years after enrollment. This suggests that students can achieve significant economic advancement with a degree from Red Rocks, especially in popular fields like Health Professions and Criminal Justice.
The graduation rate stands at 35%, indicating that students who thrive here often take advantage of the supportive programs and services available. With a median debt of $9,500, students can graduate with manageable loan burdens. This makes Red Rocks a solid choice for those focused on practical education and career readiness without incurring excessive debt.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Red Rocks Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Red Rocks Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Red Rocks Community College, located in Lakewood, Colorado, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,601
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 22:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.58
- First-Gen Students
- 45%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Red Rocks Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Red Rocks Community College is $17,459, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,044. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,901 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,859
- Out-of-State
- $17,459
- Avg Net Price
- $9,044
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 17%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 9%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,901
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,797
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,061
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,064
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Red Rocks Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Red Rocks Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $46,288, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $41,495
- 8 Years
- $43,221
- 10 Years
- $46,288
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.21x
- Earning > $25K
- 56%
Earnings Trajectory
How Red Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Red Rocks Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Red Rocks Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,044/year ($36,176 total). Graduates earn $46,288 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,049,246 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,013,070 (29.0× your investment). The median debt is $9,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 35% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $36,176
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,049,246
- Net Return
- $1,013,070
- ROI Multiple
- 29.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,044
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 35%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Red Rocks Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 35% $58,959 early-career
- Criminal Justice 17% $72,032 early-career
- Humanities 9%
- Business & Marketing 6% $59,684 early-career
- Education 6% $23,930 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Construction Trades 3% $59,033 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3% $58,566 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Red Rocks Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Red Rocks Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Red Rocks Community College, located in Lakewood, Colorado, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Red Rocks Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Red Rocks Community College is $17,459, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,044. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,901 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
Is Red Rocks Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $46,288, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Red Rocks Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Red Rocks Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Red Rocks Community College.
- Columbia Basin CollegePasco, WA · Close peer30% grad $46,680 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Tacoma Community CollegeTacoma, WA · Close peer32% grad $47,168 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Everett Community CollegeEverett, WA · Close peer38% grad $45,434 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northeastern State UniversityTahlequah, OK · Close peer36% grad $45,379 earn 100% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Pierce College DistrictLakewood, WA · Close peer31% grad $47,532 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Arapahoe Community CollegeLittleton, CO · Close peer28% grad $48,341 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Red Rocks Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Red Rocks Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note