Step 2: Complete Enrollment Tasks

New-to-college Classes

• The New Student Orientation (NSO101) online class is automatically uploaded for first-time Rio Salado College students. This class explores helpful topics, including college success tips, college policies and resources, financial literacy, wellness and how to navigate RioLearn, the college's online learning portal. NS0101 is a free, non-credit resource to help you be successful in reaching your goals at Rio Salado. If NSO101 does not appear for you in RioLearn please email nso.instructor@riosalado.edu to get enrolled. It is estimated that NSO101 will take 1-2 hours to complete.
• If you are new to Rio Salado College and the Maricopa Community Colleges as of Fall 2022, and pursuing a degree, you will be required to take a first-year experience course. Choose from FYE101 — Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success (1 credit) or FYE103 — Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success (3 credits). These courses are designed to help you learn how to succeed in your college courses and help you reach your career and educational goals.

For more information see First-Year Experience | Maricopa Community Colleges, or check out this video.

Initial Academic Advisement

If you are seeking a certificate or degree at Rio, a Military Academic advisor will help you identify specific classes to meet the requirements of your intended program.

Make sure to Verify our Programs are available in your State using our State Authorization Tool.

Your advisor will be assigned to you by your Branch of Service and use of Military Benefits. Your assigned Academic Advisor will contact you once you’ve submitted a Transcript Evaluation Request Form. We will work with you to register your courses.

Learn about Block Calendar

If you plan to earn a degree or certificate at Rio Salado College, you must register for classes and choose a start date that will determine your Block Calendar. This video explains how the Block Calendar works.

NOTE: Rio Salado's system automatically drops any class in which you register that is set to start or end outside of your assigned block.

Please reference our Block Calendar Planning Tool.

Submit Your Transcript

If you are using a previous college or university class to meet the placement requirements from outside the Maricopa Community Colleges network, submit unofficial transcripts along with the Prerequisite Verification Request Form.

• Rio Salado's prerequisite approval process
• Prerequisite Verification Request Form (fillable form)

Criteria used for course placement

Transcript Evaluation Process

Active duty and Veterans, their spouses and dependents using benefits, must submit transcripts from all previous education and training before registering for courses. Without this evaluation, students using VA education benefits cannot be certified for courses.

The use of Military Tuition Assistance (MiTA) and GI Bill® education benefits requires you submit to an official or unofficial transcript from all colleges and universities you have attended. Submit the Transcript Evaluation Form and attach your Joint Service Transcript or CCAF transcript, CLEP/DSST scores. Email military.advisor@riosalado.edu or call (800) 517-8590 with questions.

Teacher Education Programs

If you plan to pursue teacher education programs and want an evaluation of prior education or content area courses, use the Transcript Evaluation Form for Teacher Education Programs.

Course Placement for English, Math and Reading

If you're taking English, math or reading courses, Rio Salado College offers five options for determining your course placement:

• Placement using the unweighted GPA on your high school transcript
• Placement with an ACT score
• Placement with a GED score
• Placement with SAT score
• Placement Testing

Learn about course placement and the criteria used for Placement.

Note: You can submit college transcripts from prior college courses in English, math or reading to meet the prerequisite requirement in some classes. Learn about the Prerequisite Approval Process.

Enrollment Tuition Assistance Deadlines

In order to use Military Benefits, we must have an Education Plan approved prior to requesting Tuition Assistance. In order to create an Education Plan, all Prior Education must be evaluated first. Please plan accordingly for your intended Start date.

MyCAA, Army, Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard must submit their Enrollment for Tuition Assistance no later than 10 days prior to a start date.

Air Force and Space Force must submit their Tuition Assistance no later than the week prior to a start date.

Need Assistance Getting Admitted or Registering for Classes?

Contact Military Academic Advisement Office at (800) 517-8590 or email military.advisor@riosalado.edu

GI Bill^® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site.