Admissions Policy

Students seeking admission to Red Rocks Community College should submit an application for admission online at www.rrcc.edu/apply. Staff is available to assist you with completing the application on site in the Admissions office at the Lakewood campus and at the Arvada campus. The College practices an "open door" admissions policy, which means that entry is generally unrestricted; however, the college reserves the right to place students in classes on the basis of academic advising, testing, pre-enrollment interviews, and past educational achievement. Certain college programs have specific admission requirements as well. The following minimum requirements are used as guidelines for admission:

  1. All individuals, 17 years of age or older, who have a high school diploma, a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or are not enrolled in high school, are admitted upon completion of the RRCC admissions applications.
  2. Students younger than 17 and who are not currently in a high school concurrent enrollment program may be considered for underage admissions by completing a "Request for Waiver of Admissions Requirements for Underage Students" (available online www.rrcc.edu/high-school-relations/underage-enrollment). Students must complete the Accuplacer test and an admission decision will be based on a student’s academic history, determination of ability to benefit from college level instruction, and overall educational goals.
  3. Most new students must take the placement test or have appropriate ACT or SAT scores from a test taken within the last five years. State Board Policy requires that colleges assess their students to determine their levels of English, mathematics, and reading, and if needed, that students take developmental courses within their first 30 hours at the college.

All new students must meet assessment requirements, which can be accomplished in one of the following ways:

  • Evidence of a C or higher in prior college-level English and math courses. (Please note that English courses taken outside the United States do not meet the Assessment or Transfer guidelines.)
  • Placement scores will be used to determine placement in both college-level and academic enrichment courses as appropriate. Please see the current class schedule for placement and prerequisite requirements.

All degree- or certificate-seeking students must meet assessment requirements. All students seeking to register for a course with prerequisites must meet assessment requirements (regardless of degree/certificate status).

Admission to the college does not assure acceptance of a student into a particular course or program. Some students may need to enroll in certain courses to compensate for scholastic deficiencies or to meet established prerequisites. The college reserves the right to review and revoke the enrollment of any person who appears to be unable to profit from further education, as well as of those persons whose enrollment would not be beneficial to them or to the college and in accordance with Board Policy BP 4-10. The policy is online at: www.cccs.edu/policies-and-procedures/board-policies/bp-4-10-admission-continued-enrollment-and-re-enrollment-of-students.

Students who enroll in an occupational program, who are veterans, who receive financial aid, or who are on F-1 or M-1 student visa status must declare their degree or certificate program at the time of registration. Any changes in the declared degree or certificate must be recorded with the Admissions office and, if the student is a financial aid recipient, with the Financial Aid office.

RRCC does not require physical examinations as a condition for admission. Disabled students are encouraged to contact Accessibility Services at 303-914-6733. This office provides support and accommodations (at no cost) to students with disabilities. Students who had an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan in high school are encouraged to contact Accessibility Services after applying for admission to the college.