C
Average
Score: 47/100
Overall (traditional)
C+
Outcome Rating
60/100 · earnings-weighted

Rio Salado College

4-Year Public
📍 Tempe, Arizona 85281
ℹ️
Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (D) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 4%
Outcomes
D
37/100
Affordability
B
68/100
Resources
D
42/100
Experience
C+
60/100
Prestige
D
32/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

18,631
Total Enrollment
4%
Graduation Rate
N/A
Retention Rate
31.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$9,003
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Rio Salado College ▼

70% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$396,722
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,680
1-Year Change
-1.8%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Rio Salado College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$41,015
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$42,314
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$9,500
Median debt at graduation
8.5%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
6.8%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 23% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 83rd percentile among certificate-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (AZ wage index 0.95). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Rio Salado College

Median pay of associate's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$45,744$54,628-12%#190 of 237#193$8,125
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities—$51,899+18%#66 of 947#65$12,250

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Rio Salado College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $396,722
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,680/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 85040 (4.5% cap, Phoenix)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

✓ Sent — check your inbox

Free — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

🏆 Where Rio Salado College Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#4
Customer Service Support/Call Center/Teleservice Operation
of 8 schools
#9
Banking and Financial Support Services
of 9 schools
#17
Corrections
of 35 schools
#18
Plumbing Technology/Plumber
of 29 schools
#20
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling
of 60 schools
#20
Athletic Training/Trainer
of 23 schools
#20
Small Business Administration/Management
of 26 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $2,328 $8,928

Financial Aid

37%
Receive Any Aid
28%
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Take Out Loans
$9,003
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$7,976
$30,001 - $48,000$8,272
$48,001 - $75,000$9,612
$75,001 - $110,000$13,740
$110,001+$12,507

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Corrections 1,286 grads/yr Customer Service Support/Call Center/Teleservice Operation 1,279 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Police Science 453 grads/yr Art/Art Studies, General 321 grads/yr Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 238 grads/yr Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling 165 grads/yr General Studies 102 grads/yr Electrician 80 grads/yr Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician 73 grads/yr Plumbing Technology/Plumber 65 grads/yr Early Childhood Education and Teaching 62 grads/yr Athletic Training/Trainer 60 grads/yr Small Business Administration/Management 54 grads/yr Accounting 47 grads/yr Business/Commerce, General 46 grads/yr Legal Assistant/Paralegal 40 grads/yr Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) 37 grads/yr Computer Installation and Repair Technology/Technician 31 grads/yr Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies 30 grads/yr Banking and Financial Support Services 30 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Rio Salado College's top programs commonly pursue.

First-line supervisors of police and detectives
$106k/yr 160,800 jobs
First-line supervisors of correctional officers
$76k/yr 57,100 jobs
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
$71k/yr 16,200 jobs
Correctional officers and jailers
$58k/yr 387,500 jobs
Order clerks
$45k/yr 89,500 jobs
Customer service representatives
$43k/yr 2,814,000 jobs
Detectives and criminal investigators
$94k/yr 117,900 jobs
Police and sheriff's patrol officers
$76k/yr 698,800 jobs

Student Demographics

18,631
Total Students
60%
Women
18%
Traditional Age (18-24)
70%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 49%
Hispanic 29%
Black 7%
Asian 5%
Two or More 6%

🏠 Living Arrangements

Off-Campus (Renters) 70%
With Family 30%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~13,098 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 57%
Hybrid (Some Online) 3%
Fully Online 40%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 18%
25-64 (Adult) 30%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Rio Salado College?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Rio Salado College?
Tuition at Rio Salado College is $2,328 for in-state students and $8,928 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $9,003.
What is the graduation rate at Rio Salado College?
The graduation rate at Rio Salado College is 4%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Rio Salado College a good school?
Rio Salado College has a Repit College Score of 47/100 (Grade: C). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (D): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (B): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (D): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (C+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Rio Salado College?
Rio Salado College has a total enrollment of 18,631 students.
Is there rental demand near Rio Salado College?
Yes! Approximately 70% of students at Rio Salado College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 13,098 students who need rental housing near campus. This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Tempe area.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Rio Salado College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Rio Salado College

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C
Glendale Community College
Glendale, AZ · 13,480 students
C+
Paradise Valley Community College
Phoenix, AZ · 5,880 students
C+
Yavapai College
Prescott, AZ · 7,200 students
C+
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ · 28,186 students
B
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ · 53,001 students
C
DeVry University-Arizona
Phoenix, AZ · 24 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology