Redlands Community College

The academic offerings are tightly aligned with local workforce needs and transfer pathways. Redlands offers 15 distinct undergraduate degrees concentrated into majors within 10 broad fields of study. The most popular major by far is Liberal Arts and Humanities, with 112 annual graduates reported, serving as a common transfer track. Other significant programs include Child Development (41 grads), Agriculture (38 grads), Psychology, and Police and Criminal Science. The college provides a supportive academic environment where professors and advisors are noted for being accessible and helpful. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 19:1, classes are small, fostering direct interaction. The curriculum is practical, featuring certificates and degree programs in areas like Applied Technology AAS, Business Administration, Athletic/Personal Training, and Computer Science.

Life at Redlands is characterized by a 'neighborly atmosphere' and a 'supportive learning environment.' The college actively promotes student involvement through a variety of clubs and organizations, which are presented as a primary way to get involved and make friends. The campus, located just one mile north of I-40 in El Reno and positioned along the historic Route 66 west of the Oklahoma City metro, is designed to be accessible. Institutional rhetoric emphasizes modeling 'ethical professionals, informed citizens and community-minded leaders,' suggesting a focus on character and local engagement beyond the classroom. The college offers virtual and in-person campus tours to introduce prospective students to its facilities, which include a Culture Education Center and a Gemini Center.

Graduation and retention rates are key challenges and areas of focus. The federal College Scorecard reports a graduation rate of 26%, below the 35% midpoint for two-year colleges. Other sources report a six-year graduation rate of 35% and note that the average graduation rate over a recent ten-year period was 30.2%. The first-year retention rate is reported at 54% (full-time) and 64% (part-time retention rate noted elsewhere), indicating a significant portion of students do not return for a second year. Early-career earnings for graduates are reported to average around $29,000.

Redlands positions itself as an affordable option, with a significant portion of students receiving financial aid. The average net price after grants and scholarships is reported variably as $5,964 (official Scorecard), $5,596, and $8,040. A substantial majority of students receive grant aid: 63% receive federal grants (averaging $7,971), 44% receive state/local grants (averaging $2,732), and 52% receive institutional grants (averaging $5,727). The college offers its own scholarships, with most applications available in November and due February 1 (May 31 for nursing). A net price calculator is provided to help families estimate costs, which include tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Projections suggest students from lower-income families (below $30K) may pay around $4,548, while those from higher-income brackets ($75K-$110K) could pay around $13,932.

Redlands Community College stands out for its unwavering commitment to open access and its role as a hyper-local economic catalyst. It doesn't pretend to be a selective liberal arts college; instead, it embraces its identity as a practical, first-step institution for the El Reno region and western Oklahoma City metro. Its signature isn't prestige, but proximity and purpose. The curriculum is a direct reflection of community needs—strong programs in Agriculture, Applied Technology, and Child Development aren't just academic offerings, they are pipelines to local jobs. The 'neighborly atmosphere' and small classes are operational necessities for serving a diverse student body, many of whom might be first-generation or returning students. While graduation rates indicate systemic challenges common to open-access institutions, the college's recent enrollment growth suggests it is successfully attracting students seeking an affordable, supportive environment to start their postsecondary journeys. It's a college built for the student who needs a clear, attainable path more than a lofty pedigree.