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Getting Started

1. Apply for Admission, the College Opportunity Fund (COF), and Financial Aid.

  1. If you are new to RRCC or have been away from RRCC for a year or more, you need to complete the online application for admission at www.rrcc.edu/apply or stop by the Admissions Office. Upon completion, you will receive a Student ID number (example: S12345678). Save this number, as you will need it for registration and all other correspondence with RRCC. There is no fee to apply. Acceptance letters are sent by email or by regular U.S. mail. Please contact Admissions with any questions regarding the acceptance letter. Information: 303-914- 6543.
  2. Apply for and authorize COF: If you are a Colorado resident for tuition purposes and did not sign up for COF through your admissions application, you can sign up online. The State of Colorado provides funding for students to attend college through COF. This is the state-paid portion of your tuition, which is a benefit to all Colorado residents. The COF application is free and can save you hundreds of dollars each semester on your tuition. You only have to apply for this benefit once. Please note that if you do not apply for and authorize COF funding, you are responsible for both the student share and the state share of all tuition and fees. When you fill out the college application you may select "yes" to have a COF account automatically created, or you may visit: www.rrcc.edu/college-opportunity-fund and click on Sign up here!
  3. Apply for financial aid: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.gov to see if you are eligible for any kind of aid to help you pay for college (grants, loans, and work-study). The RRCC school code for your FAFSA is 009543. The application process can take 6-8 weeks to complete, so apply early! The priority deadline for the year is April 15.

Check the status of your financial aid by logging into The Rock student portal or by contacting the Financial Aid Office. FAFSA assistance is available by making an appointment with the Financial Aid Office. When we receive your FAFSA, we’ll email you to let you know if you qualify or if we need any additional information from you. Your financial aid file is not complete until you receive an offer notice.  

2. Complete the Red Rocks 101 Orientation Session (required).

The Red Rocks 101 student orientation is offered in an online format. This orientation is MANDATORY for all new students and for all students returning to Red Rocks following a break of a year or more. Red Rocks 101 is designed to help students successfully navigate the college experience. The orientation will cover important topics such as class registration, financial aid, degree and certificate options, and student services. You can access the online orientation at: www.rrcc.edu/orientation.

3. Provide transcripts from any previously attended colleges.

If you have taken college coursework prior to starting classes at RRCC, please provide a transcript from any previous college you have attended. This will help an advisor determine if you need to take the placement test.

RRCC also accepts credit for prior learning for students who have completed standardized exams such as College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB). RRCC will apply credits that meet the content and rigor of RRCC’s courses and that apply to your declared degree or certificate program at RRCC. Please visit our Student Records web page for more information at www.rrcc.edu/student-records.

4. Satisfy Assessment Requirements.

You must provide evidence of college readiness before registering for courses. To determine which courses you should take, you must complete the placement test if you are: 1) a degree- or certificate-seeking student, 2) registering for a course with any prerequisites, or 3) under the age of 20 (regardless of degree/certificate status).

The untimed placement test is available on both the Lakewood and Arvada campuses. You must have applied for and received an RRCC student identification number prior to taking the placement test and present a government-issued photo ID at least two hours before the Assessment Center closes.

We strongly recommend you review the online study guides available before taking the placement test. The study guides can be found at www.rrcc.edu/assessment. Your score is an indication of the level of coursework you are ready to take. You are responsible for completing basic skills courses during your first 30 credit hours of attendance if your placement scores are below college level.

Students enrolling in Fire Science or Emergency Services coursework must consult the Emergency Services Department for their placement requirements.

You may be exempt from taking the placement test if you have satisfied one of the following requirements:

  • Taken the ACT or SAT placement test within the past five years. Please check our website to see if your scores exempt you from this requirement. Your math and English scores are valid for five years. Submit your score report to RRCC Student Records.
  • Earned an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university. You must submit your transcripts to the RRCC Student Records Office.
  • Have qualifying AP and IB test scores. You must submit your transcripts and/or official score reports to RRCC to be exempt from taking the corresponding sections of the test.
  • Registered for a non-guaranteed transfer course for which placement scores are not required as a prerequisite.
  • Concurrently enrolled high school students who do not need to meet a prerequisite for a course, until they are matriculated by the institution as degree seeking undergraduates by an institution.

Please note that English courses taken outside of the United States do not meet the placement requirements.

Information: 303-914-6720 www.rrcc.edu/assessment. Arvada Campus Assessment: 303-914-6010.

5. Meet with an academic advisor.

An advisor will help you select courses, identify course prerequisites, obtain program information, evaluate placement results, assist with transfer planning to a four-year college or university, and prepare you for graduation. They can check your progress in AA, AS, AGS, and AAS degree plans, and develop a course schedule that fits your needs and academic goals. A team of academic advisors, on both the Lakewood and Arvada campuses, is available year-round by appointment or on a walk-in basis. An important step toward succeeding at RRCC is meeting regularly with an academic advisor. Information: 303-914-6255 or www.rrcc.edu/advising. Arvada Campus Advising: 303-914-6010.

6. Register for classes.

You may register for classes in person at the Lakewood or Arvada campus or you may register online. Go to www.rrcc.edu and click on "The Rock." Enter your student ID (S number) and password. Click on "Add or Drop Classes." Follow directions to register for your classes.

Although we can’t register you over the phone, we can guide you through the process. Please contact us should you have any questions. Remember to print your schedule a few days before the semester begins to get current room information.

Information: 303-914-6348 or www.rrcc.edu/admissions

7. Get your RRCC Student ID card. (Student IDs are not issued to students taking only online courses.)

You will need a photo ID and a copy of your current schedule, which you can get online or in Admissions. It is possible to get a preferred name on your student ID. Visit www.rrcc.edu/lgbtq-center https://www.rrcc.edu/lgbtq-center and scroll down to access the RRCC Preferred Name Change Form.

Information: 303-914-6370

8. Activate your student email account.

Your college email account is the official method of communication at RRCC, so it is extremely important that you activate your account and check it frequently. To activate your account, log in to "The Rock" and click the "Student Email" link at the top of the page. Activate your account today at www.rrcc.edu/admissions/student-email.

9. Log in to the Portal and review your student account.

You should familiarize yourself with your student account whether you are paying on your own, expecting financial aid or a third party is covering your balance. Through your portal you can make payments to your student account by using a credit card or you can set up an affordable payment plan and the sooner you sign up the lower your payments will be. If you are receiving financial aid or a third party is paying your account, you can monitor whether the payment has been posted.

Whether you are receiving financial aid or not, you should also select a refund preference. Watch your mail for an envelope containing your refund preference kit from BankMobile (do not mistake this for junk mail). This envelope contains information on how to select your refund preference. When you receive the kit, go online to www.refundselection.com and use the included personal code to activate a refunding preference.

There are many options to manage your student account through your portal/student account tab in the Rock. Take the time to look around, check payment policies and due dates but if you still have questions please contact the Cashier’s office. They are happy to help.

What else should I do?

  1. Purchase books and supplies.

    The RRCC Bookstore, located on the Lakewood campus, is your source for all of your educational materials, including those for CCCOnline classes. Books can be ordered and delivered to the Arvada campus with adequate notice. To use up to $750 of your expected financial aid refund at the campus bookstore, contact the Financial Aid Office to see if you qualify, and complete the Bookstore Authorization Form with Financial Aid. 

    Information: Lakewood campus 303-914-6232 or Arvada campus 303-914-6022 www.rrcc.bncollege.com

  2. Apply for a Red Rocks Community College scholarship.

    Information: 303-914-6426 or www.rrcc.edu/scholarships

  3. Check-in with Accessibility Services.

    If you are a student with a disability, contact Accessibility Services at 303-914-6733 for support or accommodations. The Arvada Campus is by appointment only: 303-914-6733.

  4. Stay current with RRCC.

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