Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Lakewood, Colorado
Red Rocks Community College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$18,048Annual Cost
$46,288Grad Salary
19.3%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$9,356
Need-Based Aid
19.3% receive Pell
Red Rocks Community College serves Colorado's Front Range from its 140-acre Lakewood campus at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Established in 1969, RRCC has grown into a comprehensive institution offering 100+ degree and certificate programs to over 10,000 students annually. The campus features the 100,000 sq ft Arvada Campus for health sciences, the Automotive Technology Center with manufacturer-certified labs, and the Outdoor Lab supporting environmental studies.
RRCC excels in career technical education with programs like emergency medicine (home to Colorado's first paramedic program), earth energy systems, and music business technology. The college's 'WorkReady U' initiative provides customized workforce training for employers like Lockheed Martin and St. Anthony Hospital. RRCC maintains strong transfer pathways to Colorado School of Mines and other universities through its 'Guaranteed Transfer' program. The college's 'First Year Experience' supports new students through learning communities and success coaching. RRCC's commitment to sustainability is evident in its solar array installations and LEED-certified buildings.
Red Rocks Community College Acceptance Rate
Red Rocks Community College maintains an inclusive admission policy. With an acceptance rate of 100%, the institution prioritizes accessibility and opportunity for all qualified students.
Admissions Guidelines
- Inclusive Enrollment: Emphasis is placed on meeting basic eligibility and high school completion.
- Launchpad Policy: Ideal for students looking to build a GPA for future transfer or career certification.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
If your GPA is slightly below the institutional average, you can remain competitive by scoring well on standardized tests and showcasing leadership in co-curricular activities.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Red Rocks Community College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Red Rocks Community College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Red Rocks Community College Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into Red Rocks Community College Without SAT or ACT?
The admission test score (SAT/ACT) policy for Red Rocks Community College is unknown. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admission. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Red Rocks Community College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Red Rocks Community College provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about utilizing resources and planning your long-term academic or career trajectory.
Understand EMS admission runs on two very different models depending on level
RRCC's entry-level EMT course is genuinely open enrollment, first-come-first-served, with space simply limited by section availability - but the Paramedicine track routes through a separate, competitive application (suggested submission by March 15, interviews in mid-March) administered in partnership with area hospital systems like St. Anthony's, not RRCC alone. Students should not assume that finishing the EMT certificate guarantees a Paramedic seat; the two levels use fundamentally different admission logic, and paramedic seats depend on partner hospital capacity as much as RRCC coursework.
Take the RRCC-recommended (non-required) biology sequence if you're paramedic-bound
RRCC's own Emergency Medical Technology degree guide flags that Biology 106 (Anatomy & Physiology) technically satisfies the degree's basic requirements but is non-transferable and not accepted by every paramedic program as a prerequisite - meaning students who take the minimum-requirement path can find themselves needing to retake transferable biology courses later. Students planning to apply to paramedic programs beyond RRCC should proactively take the transferable biology sequence the department recommends, even though it's not the bare minimum for the AAS degree itself.
Use the Bridge to Bachelor's Degree guarantee if your goal is a four-year transfer
Colorado's Bridge to Bachelor's Degree Program guarantees admission to a participating four-year Colorado institution for any first-time student at RRCC (or any of the 13 Colorado Community College System schools) who completes an Associate Degree - a real, systemwide guarantee rather than a soft recommendation. Students should confirm which four-year programs currently participate and what GPA or major-specific conditions apply to their intended transfer destination, since "guaranteed admission" under this program still depends on completing the associate degree with defined standards, not simply enrolling.
Factor in the CCCS-wide criminal background disqualification list before applying to health/EMS/fire programs
Colorado Community College System policy applies a specific, binding list of disqualifying criminal history categories - including certain misdemeanor theft in the prior 5 years and violent or sexual offenses in the prior 7 years - uniformly across Nursing, EMS, Fire Science, and Allied Health programs at RRCC. Students with any relevant history should review this list and consult directly with the program before investing time and money in prerequisite coursework, since this is a hard disqualifier applied system-wide, not a case-by-case departmental judgment call.
Expert Insight:
Because RRCC's general admission is genuinely open (100% acceptance), students sometimes extend that same assumption to every health and public-safety program on campus - but EMS, Fire Science, Nursing, and Allied Health all apply the same CCCS-wide criminal background disqualification standard and, in EMS's case, an entirely separate competitive Paramedic application layered on top of open EMT enrollment. Assuming uniform openness across every program is the most common way a student invests in prerequisite coursework before discovering a disqualifying condition or a competitive second-stage application.
Red Rocks Community College Profile
Full Name
Red Rocks Community College
City
Lakewood
State
Colorado
ZIP Code
80228-1255
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Red Rocks Community College Degree Worth It?
Getting into Red Rocks Community College can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. Red Rocks Community College offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at Red Rocks Community College is $73,000 and the graduate unemployment rate is 2.6%.
How much does a degree from Red Rocks Community College Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Red Rocks Community College is $18,048. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Red Rocks Community College is $9,356.
19.3% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 11.6 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Red Rocks Community College and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Red Rocks Community College, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Red Rocks Community College as your choice in the form.
How much does a Red Rocks Community College Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $46,288. An average Red Rocks Community College graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Degree Programs at Red Rocks Community College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by Red Rocks Community College →
Frequently Asked Questions About Red Rocks Community College Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a lower salary, $46,288 annually, especially in non-technical fields.
The tuition fee at this university is relatively low, around $18,048 per year, making it more affordable for many students.
19.3% of students receive a Pell Grant here, which is below the national average of around 35%. This institution serves a higher proportion of higher-income students. Merit-based scholarships may still be available regardless of financial need — check the official financial aid page of the institute for details.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.