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“One of the Nation's Largest Online Community Colleges”
Rio Salado College is a public community college headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, and one of ten colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District. Founded in 1978, Rio Salado pioneered online education, offering its first online classes in 1996 and converting the majority of its offerings to online format by 2006. Today, Rio Salado is one of the largest online public community colleges in the nation, serving over 55,000 students across more than 190 degree and certificate programs. The college offers unique features including weekly start dates — meaning students can begin courses almost any week of the year — as well as accelerated completion pathways. Rio Salado's programs span business, healthcare, technology, education, public safety, and the liberal arts. The college also offers bachelor's degrees in public safety administration, elementary education, and special education, reflecting its state college designation in selected fields. Rio Salado serves a highly diverse student body, including working adults, military personnel, first responders, and students across Arizona and throughout the United States. Its flexible, self-paced online model has made it a national leader in accessible, affordable digital higher education.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
—
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$8,958
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $8,958
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
