Rio Grande Valley College is a private for-profit institution offering associate degrees based in Pharr, Texas. It enrolls 808 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorAccrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
Academic CalendarContinuous
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
78/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes78
Value—
Affordability52
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Rio Grande Valley College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Rio Grande Valley College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $19,500 per year. That's below the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$19,500
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
59%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
71%
Borrowing to attend
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$19,205
$30,001 – $48,000
$19,405
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,969
$75,001 – $110,000
$25,184
Over $110,000
$19,851
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,90610%percentile
$7,81125%percentile
$12,359Medianpercentile
$15,10175%percentile
$18,06990%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $9,756
↓ $2,603
No Pell $14,441
↑ $2,082
Dependent students $7,589
↓ $4,770
Independent students $12,357
—
Female students $10,489
↓ $1,870
Male students $9,768
↓ $2,591
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,575, less than completers ($12,359), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
68% of full-time students who enrolled at Rio Grande Valley College graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
68%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
Post-graduation earnings data is not yet reported for Rio Grande Valley College.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
—
Earning > $25K
—
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Who Studies Here
Rio Grande Valley College is home to 808 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 59% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
808
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
59%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 97.9%791
Asian 0.7%6
White 0.6%5
Black 0.4%3
Other 0.4%3
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Rio Grande Valley College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityPharr, Texas
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
51%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Continuousscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Rio Grande Valley College offers
a focused set of programs:
5 distinct programs across
1 major.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Rio Grande Valley College is 30:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
30:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$37,040
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
23 instructional faculty across 2 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
4
17%
$42,741
Instructors
19
83%
$36,033
Pros & Cons of Rio Grande Valley College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Rio Grande Valley College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Tight-knit, close community feel
Above-average graduation rate
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
For-profit institution, verify accreditation and outcomes carefully
Best for:
Based on the data, Rio Grande Valley College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rio Grande Valley College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Rio Grande Valley College.
Is Rio Grande Valley College hard to get into?
Rio Grande Valley College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Rio Grande Valley College?
Rio Grande Valley College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Rio Grande Valley College cost?
The average net price after aid at Rio Grande Valley College is $19,500 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Rio Grande Valley College known for?
Rio Grande Valley College is best known for its programs in Practical Nursing, Practical Nursing, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Rio Grande Valley College accredited?
Yes. Rio Grande Valley College is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
How many students attend Rio Grande Valley College?
Rio Grande Valley College enrolls 808 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Rio Grande Valley College?
Rio Grande Valley College graduates 68% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Rio Grande Valley College a public or private college?
Rio Grande Valley College is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Rio Grande Valley College located?
Rio Grande Valley College is located in Pharr, Texas.
What programs does Rio Grande Valley College offer?
Rio Grande Valley College offers 5 distinct programs. The most popular include Practical Nursing, Practical Nursing, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Rio Grande Valley College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Rio Grande Valley College is 30:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Rankings That Feature Rio Grande Valley College
Rio Grande Valley College appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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