Rio Salado College Tuition, Completion & Outcomes (2026)
Rio Salado College is a public certificate and vocational school in Tempe, Arizona, with about 11,668 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. Typical net price after grant aid is about $8,341 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $2,358. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $41,015 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $2,358
- 2024 Average Net Price: $8,341 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 11,668 15.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 8.51%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Nontraditional
- First-Generation Students: 47.3%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 13.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 18.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 36,355
- Room & Board: $9,664 annual estimate
Rio Salado College: what the data shows
Common questions about Rio Salado College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Rio Salado College?
Rio Salado College is located in Tempe, AZ (ZIP 85281).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is Rio Salado College public or private?
Rio Salado College is a Public institution.
How much does Rio Salado College cost?
Published tuition: $2,358 in-state, $8,958 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $8,341.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $6,800 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,182 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $9,356 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $10,871 |
| $110,001+ | $13,425 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $9,432.
How big is Rio Salado College?
Total enrollment: 11,668 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 36,355 students.
About 15% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Rio Salado College?
150%-time completion rate: 8.51%.
What do graduates of Rio Salado College earn?
Median earnings: $42,314 six years after entry; $41,015 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $9,500.
6.82% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Rio Salado College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Corrections (1,286 completions)
- Customer Service Support/Call Center/Teleservice Operation (1,279 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Police Science (453 completions)
- Art/Art Studies, General (321 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (238 completions)
- Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling (165 completions)
- General Studies (102 completions)
- Electrician (80 completions)
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician (73 completions)
- Plumbing Technology/Plumber (65 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Rio Salado College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 8.51%; median earnings $41,015 at 10 years; net price $8,341. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$2,358
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Rio Salado College was $2,358.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$8,341
2024 Value
In 2024 Rio Salado College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $8,341.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$33,364 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$8,341 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$9,432 4-Year In-State Tuition
$35,832 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$9,664 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,104 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$13,126 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$52,504 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Rio Salado College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
6.82% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
3.96% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Rio Salado College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Rio Salado College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,974 | $7,758 | $8,214 |
| 2014 | $2,046 | $7,830 | $8,396 |
| 2015 | $2,046 | $7,830 | $7,422 |
| 2016 | $2,094 | $7,878 | $7,067 |
| 2017 | $2,094 | $7,878 | $7,200 |
| 2018 | $2,070 | $7,854 | $6,964 |
| 2019 | $2,070 | $7,854 | $9,320 |
| 2020 | $2,070 | $7,854 | $9,616 |
| 2021 | $2,070 | $7,854 | $9,226 |
| 2022 | $2,070 | $7,854 | $7,371 |
| 2023 | $2,358 | $8,958 | $8,764 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Rio Salado College reported total enrollment of about 11,668 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 38% male and 62% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (47.1%), Hispanic or Latino (29.3%), and Black or African American (8.6%). About 6.82% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 47.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
15.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Rio Salado College in 2024 is 11,668 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 36,355 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
N/A%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 47.1%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
0.00% 100% Completion Time
8.51% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 0.00% of students graduating from Rio Salado College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Corrections: 71% male / 29% female
- Customer Service Support/Call Center/Teleservice Operation: 44% male / 56% female
- Criminal Justice/Police Science: 88% male / 12% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Hispanic or Latino.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Rio Salado College.
Return on Investment
$9,500 Median Student Debt
$41,015 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
23.16% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1129.32% Return on Investment
2.3 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Rio Salado College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 77 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Corrections: 1,286 completions
2. Customer Service Support/Call Center/Teleservice Operation: 1,279 completions
3. Criminal Justice/Police Science: 453 completions
4. Art/Art Studies, General: 321 completions
5. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 238 completions
6. Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling: 165 completions
7. General Studies: 102 completions
8. Electrician: 80 completions
9. Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician: 73 completions
Most popular programs at Rio Salado College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Rio Salado College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Rio Salado College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,330
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $1,837
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Rio Salado College is a public institution located in Tempe, AZ, classified as Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Corrections, Customer Service Support/Call Center/Teleservice Operation, Criminal Justice/Police Science. Enrollment is approximately 11,668 students. Student body composition includes White (47.1%), Hispanic or Latino (29.3%), Black or African American (8.6%). The 150%-time completion rate is 8.51%. Approximately 6.82% of students receive Pell Grants. About 47.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Nontraditional
Location
Tempe, AZ 85281
Region: Southwest
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 8.51% graduation rate at Rio Salado College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 77 distinct degree programs, Rio Salado College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rio Salado College located?
Rio Salado College is located in Tempe, AZ.
How much does Rio Salado College cost?
Reported tuition is $2,358 and average net price is $8,341 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $9,664 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Rio Salado College?
Rio Salado College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 36,355 students, White (47.1%), Hispanic or Latino (29.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Rio Salado College?
About 47.3% of students at Rio Salado College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Rio Salado College earn?
Median earnings are $42,314 six years after entry and $41,015 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Rio Salado College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 8.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Rio Salado College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $9,500.
Is Rio Salado College public or private?
Rio Salado College is a public institution located in Tempe, AZ.
Is Rio Salado College an HBCU?
No. Rio Salado College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Rio Salado College a tribal college?
No. Rio Salado College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Rio Salado College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Rio Salado College reports 29.3% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Rio Salado College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Rio Salado College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Arizona college costs
- Arizona colleges by ROI
- Arizona trade schools profile
- Tempe, Arizona city profile
- Southwest regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Arizona
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.