Arapahoe Community College vs. Red Rocks Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, CO with Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, CO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arapahoe Community College is larger than Red Rocks Community College based on total student enrollment (15,012 students vs. 8,419 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arapahoe Community College is located in Littleton, CO (Large Suburban setting); Red Rocks Community College is in Lakewood, CO (Large Suburban setting).
• Arapahoe Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Red Rocks Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arapahoe Community College 26:1; Red Rocks Community College 28:1.

Arapahoe Community College vs. Red Rocks Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arapahoe Community College or Red Rocks Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Red Rocks Community College than Arapahoe Community College ($8,478 vs. $10,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Arapahoe Community College and Red Rocks Community College ($16,785).
• Red Rocks Community College is 9.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Arapahoe Community College (about $425 more per year; $4,859.00 vs. $4,434.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.5% higher at Red Rocks Community College than at Arapahoe Community College (about $425 more per year; $17,459.00 vs. $17,034.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Red Rocks Community College than at Arapahoe Community College (44% vs. 32%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Red Rocks Community College students is 76.6% larger than aid received by Arapahoe Community College students ($14,333 vs. $8,117).

Arapahoe Community College vs. Red Rocks Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Arapahoe Community College or Red Rocks Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Red Rocks Community College and Arapahoe Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Arapahoe Community College - Open admission; Red Rocks Community College - Open admission.

Arapahoe Community College vs. Red Rocks Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Arapahoe Community College and Red Rocks Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Red Rocks Community College earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than Arapahoe Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,900 vs. $39,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Red Rocks Community College graduates have a $929 lower median loan debt than Arapahoe Community College graduates ($9,072 vs. $10,001).
• Among borrowers, Red Rocks Community College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Arapahoe Community College graduates ($93 vs. $103).
• More Arapahoe Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Red Rocks Community College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 42%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.