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.
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. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Health Professions 35%
- Criminal Justice 17%
- Humanities 9%
- Business & Marketing 6%
- Education 6%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Construction Trades 3%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
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.
- Tacoma Community CollegeTacoma, WA · Close peer32% grad $47,168 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Columbia Basin CollegePasco, WA · Close peer30% grad $46,680 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