Arizona's pioneer in online community college education since 1978.
Rio Salado College specializes in online education and distance learning, recognized as a leader in higher education innovation. The college offers associate degree and certificate programs in multiple formats: online, in-person, and hybrid. It established its School of Dental Hygiene in 1998 through a partnership with the Arizona Dental Association and Delta Dental Insurance, providing an accredited dental hygiene program. The college also provides College Bridge Pathways programming including Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English Language Acquisition for Adults.
The administrative headquarters are located in Tempe, Arizona, housing three main buildings: The Conference Center at Rio, the Tower at Rio, and the Rio at Hohokam administrative building. Rio Salado relocated from its original Phoenix location to Tempe in 1996. The college operates 15 physical locations across Maricopa County, including satellite campuses in Avondale, Luke Air Force Base, Phoenix, Queen Creek, and Surprise. Educational services are also provided through incarcerated re-entry programs at ASPC-Lewis and ASPC-Perryville.
Rio Salado College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is part of the Maricopa County Community College District.