You’ve put in the work, earned your credits at Rio Salado College, and now you’re thinking about going to a four-year institution to continue your education. Did you know that the credits you’ve earned at Rio Salado are transferable? The work you’ve done can carry over to the next stage in your educational journey thanks to our transfer pathway agreements. Read on as we break down some of the basics behind transferring from Rio Salado and RSVP to attend an upcoming Maricopa transfer fair to meet some of our partner colleges and find out more about transferring your credits.
Getting Started
Rio Salado College’s credits can be transferred to a wide range of colleges and universities across the country. Rio Salado College, as part of the Maricopa Community Colleges district, has many partnerships with both state and national schools. From the big three state colleges of ASU, NAU, and U of A, to universities across the nation, our partnerships make the transfer process even smoother.
If you’re thinking of transferring, the first thing you want to do is contact the university you’re planning on going to to see if they’ll accept your Rio college credits. While many schools will take Maricopa community college credits, some will not and it’s important to double-check before you initiate the transfer process. You'll also want to look up deadlines on your prospective school's site for submitting forms, transcripts, and/or applications.
Another important step in the process is sending your transcripts to your transferring institution. You can request your official Rio Salado transcript through the college's approved vendor, Parchment, or by using one of the two other methods below. There is a cost for each official transcript (more information on transcripts can be acquired by calling 480-517-8540).
Ordering Transcripts
- Portal.Maricopa. Go to portal.maricopa.edu and log in with your MEID. Download your unofficial transcripts: this will allow you to confirm that your grades in RioLearn have been posted to your official record. You can find this information under “Transcripts” then the Class Details heading. Once you've confirmed that the grades on your unofficial transcript are accurate, click on Request Official Transcript to fill out the online form.
- Student Center. Log-in to your Student Center, go to Academics, click on Other Academic in the drop-down menu, and then select Request Transcript to fill out an online form.
- Parchment
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
- Minimum GPA. Most schools require a minimum GPA as part of the transfer admission process. Most schools will not accept credits with grades less than a C.
- Financial Aid/scholarships. Not all forms of financial aid or scholarships transfer. This can be a case by case basis, so be sure to double-check.
- Entrance Requirements. Every college has its own process for transferring. Depending on your major, there may be additional entrance requirements you’ll need in order to transfer your credits.
Talk to an Advisor
Talking to someone at your prospective college is very important but don’t forget to touch base with your Rio Salado advisor! Your advisor can offer important information about initiating transfers from Rio Salado and point you to important resources that will help you make this big change as friction-free as possible. You can sign up for an advising session by logging into RioLearn and then clicking on your assigned advisor in the right-hand column.
University Transfer Fairs
The MCCCD will host transfer fairs throughout the months of February, March, and April to provide guidance and knowledge on how students, parents, and community members can navigate the transfer process. Attendees will also get a chance to meet with representatives from our partner colleges to learn more about scholarship opportunities, financial aid options, and what it takes to transfer your credits.
Each University Transfer event is held at a different college. See various locations and times for Transfer Fairs held at colleges throughout the District. You do not need to register to attend. Current students (and family members), faculty, and staff are welcome to attend!
- Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Thursday, February 6 / 11 a.m.–1 p.m. / Student Pavilion Patio - Rio Salado College (virtual)
Thursday, February 27 / 6–8 p.m. / Virtual WebEx Link - Estrella Mountain Community College
Monday, March 3 / 10 a.m.–2 p.m. / Estrella Conference Center
Tuesday, March 4 / 10 a.m.–2 p.m. / Estrella Conference Center - Glendale Community College
Thursday, March 6 / 9 a.m.–1 p.m. / Student Union Suites - Phoenix College Community College
Wednesday, March 18 / 10 a.m.–1 p.m. / Sophomore Square - Paradise Valley Community College
Wednesday March 19 / 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. / KSC Boardwalk - Scottsdale Community College
Thursday, March 20 / 11 a.m.–1 p.m. / SC Building East Patio - South Mountain Community College
Thursday, March 27 / 10 a.m.–2 p.m. / Student Enrollment Services Patio - Mesa Community College
Wednesday, April 16 / 10 a.m.–2 p.m. / Navajo Room
Article by Austin Brietta