Starting in Tempe
what Rio Salado's numbers actually say
You're weighing whether Rio Salado College is the right first stop before finishing a bachelor's in Arizona. The decision turns on transfer rates, what students earn afterward, and what this CC actually costs out of pocket.
~19,000 undergrads, 28% transfer out by year 8, median $41k 10-yr earnings, $9,500 median debt.
A large Tempe CC that moves a real share of students toward four-year degrees
Rio Salado College enrolls nearly 19,000 undergraduates in Tempe, Arizona, with 89% attending part-time — a hallmark of an institution serving working adults and career-changers. Its eight-year transfer-out rate is 28%, a result that sits solidly above the national community college average. Median earnings ten years out land at $41k, median debt is a low $9,500, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. Corrections and Customer Service Support each exceed 1,200 annual completions, while Criminal Justice and Liberal Arts round out the transfer-prep side. In-state tuition is $2,328, with a net price of $8,341.
Rio Salado College is based in Tempe, Arizona, and enrolls roughly 19,000 undergraduates — almost all of them part-time. That 89% part-time rate is the defining fact about this school: Rio Salado is built around students who are working, raising families, or otherwise unable to attend full-time, and its online-heavy course catalog reflects that design. The top programs by completions are Corrections (1,286) and Customer Service Support/Call Center (1,279), both vocational credentials, followed by Criminal Justice/Police Science (453), Art/Art Studies (321), and Liberal Arts (238). The eight-year transfer-out rate is 28% — above the national community college norm and a meaningful signal that a real share of students do reach the transfer step, even with part-time timelines. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are $41k, median debt sits at $9,500, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. In-state tuition is $2,328 annually, but net price is $8,341 — worth checking if you qualify for aid. For an Arizona student weighing a low-cost starting point with a documented transfer track, Rio Salado's numbers are credible, provided you go in with a clear four-year target.
What this CC teaches at scale
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Corrections. | 1,286 |
| Customer Service Support/Call Center/Teleservice Operation. | 1,279 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science. | 453 |
| Art/Art Studies, General. | 321 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 238 |
| Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling. | 165 |
| General Studies. | 102 |
| Electrician. | 80 |
| Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician. | 73 |
| Plumbing Technology/Plumber. | 65 |
Source · IPEDS completions (all undergraduate credentials).
Where Arizona transfers tend to go
Reflects state-aggregated IPEDS transfer-in volume — CC-specific destinations are not publicly available from IPEDS or the College Scorecard.
Frequently asked
- Is Rio Salado College a good place to start a bachelor's degree?
- The data makes a reasonable case. Twenty-eight percent of Rio Salado students transfer to a four-year institution within eight years — a solid rate given that 89% attend part-time, which typically extends timelines considerably. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are $41k, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%, suggesting students who complete a credential here are not leaving with unmanageable debt. Median borrower debt is $9,500. In-state tuition runs $2,328 annually. The net price of $8,341 is higher, so aid eligibility matters. If you have a clear four-year plan and need a flexible, part-time-friendly starting point in Arizona, Rio Salado's numbers support that path.
- How does Rio Salado College's transfer-out rate compare to typical community colleges?
- Rio Salado's eight-year transfer-out rate is 28%. National benchmarks consistently place the average community college transfer rate in the 15–25% range, so Rio Salado sits above that. The 28% figure is especially notable given that 89% of students attend part-time — a format that extends completion timelines and typically suppresses transfer rates compared to full-time peers. An additional 1.9% were still enrolled at the eight-year mark, and 41% had completed a credential at Rio Salado itself. That completion rate is high for a CC, suggesting students are finishing what they start here, even if their path beyond Rio Salado varies. The transfer signal is genuine.
- What programs does Rio Salado College offer at meaningful scale?
- Rio Salado's highest-volume programs by completions are Corrections (1,286) and Customer Service Support/Call Center (1,279) — both career-focused credentials with substantial output. Criminal Justice/Police Science follows at 453, then Art/Art Studies (321) and Liberal Arts (238). Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling produced 165 completions, General Studies 102, and trades including Electrician (80), Automotive Technology (73), and Plumbing Technology (65) round out the top ten. The volume in Corrections and Criminal Justice gives those programs a well-developed infrastructure. Liberal Arts, while smaller, is the natural pathway for transfer-bound students targeting a four-year degree.
Methodology — Transfer signals reflect IPEDS Outcome Measures 8-year cohorts; earnings and debt come from the College Scorecard. Destinations are state-aggregated; we do not claim CC-specific transfer destinations without authoritative per-student tracking data.