Rio Salado College
- Graduation Rate
- 6% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $41,015 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $8,341 B+
- 51% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 11,668
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $23.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $762,390.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 6% — 89% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Rio Salado College
Rio Salado College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 11,668
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Criminal Justice, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Rio Salado 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 $8,341 a year after grants and scholarships — 51% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $41,015 ten years after enrolling — 1% above the typical college, against $9,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Mobility and social-capital data are limited for this school — see what's reported below.
See mobility →Overview
About 11,668 students call Rio Salado College their educational home, making it a significant player in online and flexible education in Arizona. With a focus on accessibility, the college caters primarily to adult learners and those balancing work and family commitments. This environment fosters a unique community where students can thrive at their own pace.
Data from Chetty/Opportunity Insights shows limited information on income mobility and graduation rates at Rio Salado College, which stands at 6%. While the graduation rate is low, students who do complete their programs earn a median income of $41,015 within ten years of graduation. Although the Pell Grant rate is only 7%, this indicates that a small portion of the student body is receiving federal aid, often critical for low-income students.
The cost of attending Rio Salado College is relatively low, with a net price of $8,341 and a median debt of $9,500. This makes it an attractive option for students looking to minimize debt while pursuing education in popular fields like Criminal Justice and Business. The college is best suited for self-motivated learners who prioritize flexibility and affordability in their educational journey.
Can I Get In?
How selective Rio Salado 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 Rio Salado College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Tempe, Arizona, Rio Salado College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 6%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,330
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 28:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.68
- First-Gen Students
- 47%
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 Rio Salado College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Rio Salado College is $8,958, 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 $8,341. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,800 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $2,358
- Out-of-State
- $8,958
- Avg Net Price
- $8,341
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 7%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 4%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,800
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,182
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,356
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,425
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 Rio Salado 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 Rio Salado College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Rio Salado College report median earnings of $41,015, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $42,314
- 8 Years
- $35,718
- 10 Years
- $41,015
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.23x
- Earning > $25K
- 61%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (4)
- 4%
- 100% (4)
- 4%
- 100% (4)
- 4%
- 100% (4)
- 4%
How Rio 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 Rio Salado College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Rio Salado College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,341/year ($33,364 total). Graduates earn $41,015 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $795,754 in total earnings — a net gain of $762,390 (23.9× your investment). The median debt is $9,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 6% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $33,364
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $795,754
- Net Return
- $762,390
- ROI Multiple
- 23.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,341
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 6%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Rio Salado 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.
- Criminal Justice 36% $49,766 early-career
- Business & Marketing 29% $40,812 early-career
- Humanities 7%
- Visual & Performing Arts 6%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 5%
- Construction Trades 4%
- Health Professions 4% $62,904 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 2% $46,778 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 Rio Salado 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
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Rio Salado College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Tempe, Arizona, Rio Salado College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 6%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Rio Salado College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Rio Salado College is $8,958, 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 $8,341. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,800 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
Is Rio Salado College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Rio Salado College report median earnings of $41,015, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Rio Salado College.
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