Rio Salado College Tuition & Cost
- 2 Year
- Tempe, AZ
-
0 reviews
How Much Does It Cost to Attend?
In State Arizona Resident Sticker Price
$16,676Out of State Resident Sticker Price
$23,276Breakdown
- Tuition $2,358
- Books and Supplies $1,104
- Other Fees $30
- Estimated Off Campus Cost of Living $9,664
- Budget for Other Expenses $3,520
- Total One Year Cost $16,676
- Tuition $8,958
- Books and Supplies $1,104
- Other Fees $30
- Estimated Off Campus Cost of Living $9,664
- Budget for Other Expenses $3,520
- Total One Year Cost $23,276
In-State Tuition
In-state tuition at Rio Salado College for undergraduate students residing in Arizona is $2,358. Students will also need to budget for books and supplies, which typically amount to $1,104 annually. Other administrative or academic fees are $30 for the year. Additionally, students should plan an estimated $3,520 for other miscellaneous expenses throughout the year. In sum, residents attending Rio Salado College full time should expect a total annual cost of $16,676.
Out-of-State Tuition
Undergraduate tuition at Rio Salado College is $8,958 for out-of-state students. Additionally, out-of-state students are charged $1,104 for textbooks and educational resources, plus fees of $30. Students are advised to budget $3,520 for other expenses. When these costs are combined, annual out-of-state charges total $23,276. This figure is 39.6% higher than what Arizona residents pay.
Housing Costs
Rio Salado College doesn't offer on campus housing. If you're not living with family you will need to budget for food and housing in the Tempe area just like you would for a college with dorms. The estimated rent and meal expense per academic year for off campus housing is $9,664.
Books and Supplies
The estimated annual cost for books and educational supplies is $1,104.
Other Living Expenses
Off-campus students should budget for $3,520 in other miscellaneous living expenses.
All price data is sourced from the IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025.
Net Price
The average reported annual net price for Rio Salado College for students receiving grants or scholarship aid was $8,733* in 2023/2024. Net price includes tuition and required fees, books and supplies, and average cost for room and board and other expenses.
Average Net Price 2023/2024
$8,733Below is the average net price by student family income.
The net price provides a more realistic estimate of the true cost of attending Rio Salado College, once common grants and scholarships have been taken into account. It's important to note that your net price will fluctuate based on factors such as family income, assets and individual financial need. Net price is the out-of-pocket total cost that students end up paying or financing though student loans.
*Reported Average Annual Net Price for students receiving grant or scholarship aid reported to the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2023/2024. Financial aid is only available to those who qualify. Consult this school's net price calculator for further understanding of your potential net price.
Note that for colleges with no reported on-campus room and board, the average net price has been increased to account for living expenses. This number may not only reflect the net price paid to the school for tuition.
Financial Aid
33% of full-time undergrad Rio Salado College received financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, fellowships from the institution or from Federal, State or local government agencies. This aid averaged $4,913 per student during the 2023/2024 school year. Grant and scholarship aid does not need to be paid back.
Pell Grants
28 percent of students received aid in the form of Pell Grants from the U.S. Federal Government. The average Pell Grant awarded for 2023/2024 was $5,105. To apply for a Pell Grant to attend Rio Salado College, the first step is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Student Loans
13% of students received Federal Student Loans averaging $4,697.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2023/2024
Financial Aid Mix - $16,676 In-State Total Cost
CollegeSimply has modeled example payment coverage for the annual in-state tuition and living expenses of $16,676. Breakdown is based on average grant aid and federal loan aid which will vary based on your family income.
Grants and Scholarships
37% - $4,913
Money granted to you by the U.S. Department of Education, Rio Salado College or other organizations. These are not loans and do not need to be repaid.
Federal Student Loans
36% - $4,697
Low interest student loans funded by the U.S. Department of Education. This amount will need to be repaid.
Out of Pocket Cost
27% - $3,546
Covered by family savings, work or private student loans which you will have to repay.
Student Loans
To gauge a more realistic picture of what it really could cost you out of pocket to go to Rio Salado College, we've modeled a ten year student loan with an original principal value of $17,466. The loan balance of $17,466 is a two year multiple of the $8,733 average net price. This is a estimate of what you could owe upon graduation if you were to qualify for average financial aid and what a degree really may cost. Should you not qualify for financial aid, you may owe significantly more when you graduate. Based on these assumptions, a monthly repayment of $199 could be required to pay off your student loan. The total of all payments including interest would sum $23,820.08.
Please note that financial aid is not guaranteed and is only available for qualifying students. Federal Student Loans are not grants and must be repaid with interest. The current Stafford loan interest rate is 6.52%.
Student Loan Affordability
In order to afford student loan payments and still meet all your other costs of living, it is recommended not to borrow more than you can pay back using 10% of your monthly income earned after graduation. If you're considering attending Rio Salado College, should consider if it will be realistic to make the post graduation loan payments based on your expected salary.
Using the 10% of salary threshold, an annual income of $23,820.08 would be needed to afford a $198.50 monthly payment in the example $17,466.00 loan modeled above. This assumes a repayment over 10 years. You can change the terms of this example loan using the student loan calculator below. View statistics about Rio Salado College student loan debt and graduate salaries under student outcomes.
Projected 2 Year Degree Price
2 Year Sticker Price
$33,352Based on published tuition prices, we estimate the current cost of a 2 year associate degree and living expenses at Rio Salado College to be $33,352 - assuming graduation in normal time. The estimation assumes a 3.1% annual increase over the next 2 years which has been the recent trend for this school.
Tuition Details
Credit Hour Cost and Price per Class
Estimated cost for a class at Rio Salado College based on published credit hour prices. Note that not all schools allow single class enrollment. These prices should be used for comparison purposes as to how much it may cost to take a class at Rio Salado College versus other colleges.
Tuition Payment Plans Available
Tuition History
Historical in-state and out-of-state tuition and price increases for Rio Salado College.
Plan and Calculate Costs
College Savings Calculator
Plan and Save for College
Discover how much will you need to start saving now to afford Rio Salado College in the future.
Student Loan Calculator
Estimate Loan Payments
Modify the loan assumptions to fit your financial situation and likely tuition price. Then calculate your payoff and loan payments for a Rio Salado College student loan.
Costs for Similar Colleges
Explore costs at colleges similar to Rio Salado College
Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=105668.
Last updated: August 2026