Rio Salado College

Overview

Founded in 1978, Rio Salado College is a public community college located in Tempe, Arizona, and is part of the Maricopa County Community College District. Known for its focus on online education and serving non-traditional students, Rio Salado offers a range of academic programs in fields such as teacher education, business, and computer technology. With an open admissions policy, the college provides educational opportunities to a diverse student population. The college operates multiple locations throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area, with its main campus situated in Tempe, offering a predominantly online learning environment complemented by in-person services. While Rio Salado College does not provide on-campus housing, its facilities are designed to support its unique educational model, which includes adult basic education, post-secondary career and technical education, and community development programs. The college is not particularly known for athletics; instead, it emphasizes accessibility, flexible scheduling, and educational innovation to meet the evolving needs of its students.

Rio Salado College has an open admission policy which permits enrollment by any high school graduate or GED holding student.  2,005 students are enrolled on a full time basis, and 15,073 attend part time. In-state tuition for 2022/2023, excluding room and board, is $2,040 plus fees of $30.