
Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) is a public college in Colorado's community college system. It began in 1969 as a campus of the Community College of Denver and later became a separate institution. That history helps explain its continuing emphasis on accessible education, transfer pathways, and career training.
Today, RRCC serves students at its Lakewood and Arvada locations as well as online. Its development from a local campus into a separate college matters to applicants because programs and services may be offered at different locations; a student should check the location and delivery format of each required course before enrolling.
RRCC organizes its academics around programs rather than the residential-college model of separate undergraduate schools. Its catalog includes associate degrees, certificates, and career-focused programs across areas such as business, health care, technology, skilled trades, and the arts and sciences.
Students planning to transfer can look for associate-degree pathways designed around general education and a later bachelor's degree. Those seeking a more direct route to work may prefer an occupational certificate or applied associate degree. Program requirements, admission procedures, and campus locations differ, so the credential name alone does not establish which courses are needed or whether they will transfer.
RRCC's main campus is in Lakewood, Colorado, west of Denver; the college also has a location in Arvada. This is a metropolitan, predominantly commuter setting rather than a residential campus.
Location affects day-to-day planning. Students may need to travel between home, work, and a particular campus, and some programs require in-person labs or clinical experiences even when other courses are available online. Denver International Airport serves the region, but local travel time and course location are more immediate considerations for most students.
RRCC's stated educational purpose centers on accessible learning, student success, and preparation for further education or work. As a public community college, it serves students pursuing transfer credits, occupational credentials, and continuing education rather than a single type of degree.
Those priorities describe the college's aims, not a guarantee of any individual outcome. A prospective student can test how well a specific program fits those aims by reviewing its required courses, transfer arrangements, hands-on components, and available advising.
Name of the institution
Red Rocks Community CollegeLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, not primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
5,000 - 9,999School type
Two-year collegeMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1969Red Rocks Community College is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degreeData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.