ARC New & Returning Students

Get started on your path to college by filling out our free on-line application. You will be automatically accepted if you have a high school diploma (or equivalent) or are at least 18 years old. After submitting your application, an email will be sent to you with your Los Rios identification (ID) number and instructions for next steps.

How to apply

Applications are processed through OpenCCC. Create an OpenCCC account to fill out the application. You can save your application and come back to it at any time. You will have a chance to review your application before you submit it.

You only need to submit one application to take classes at any college in the Los Rios district (American River College, Cosumnes River College, Folsom Lake College, Sacramento City College). Do not submit a separate application for each college.

Application checklist

With the new Los Rios Promise, all first-time students who complete a FAFSA (or California Dream Act application) and enroll full time (minimum of 12 units) are eligible for free tuition. In addition to the Los Rios Promise, there are several other ways to get financial assistance if you need help paying for college. You may qualify for thousands of dollars in aid from federal, state, and private resources. Types of financial aid include fee waivers, grants, scholarships, and loans.

Federal Aid

The first step is to apply for financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can read more about the FAFSA or get started immediately.
Though undocumented students cannot apply for aid through the FAFSA, the may be eligible for state financial aid through the California Dream Act. Learn more about the California Dream Act or complete your application.

California residents

The California College Promise Grant (formerly known as the BOG Fee Waiver) is just for California community college students and does not have to be repaid. It waives enrollment fees but does not cover the cost of books or other expenses.

Financial aid checklist

* You can submit the FAFSA or the CA Dream Act Application after this date, but priority is given on a first-come, first-serve basis.  You may not be considered for a Cal Grant (state financial aid) after this date.

Orientation gives you important information to help you succeed at American River College. All new students must complete orientation on-line or in person.

On-line orientation

You can start on-line orientation 24 hours after you get your student ID number. After you finish orientation, we will email you a certificate of completion. Save or print this certificate for your records.

To complete orientation, log into Canvas and find the tile for Los Rios on-line Orientation.

Don’t have a computer or need help?

Visit the Center for Leadership and Development inside the Student Center.

Orientation checklist

The purpose of placement/assessment is to help students succeed by placing them in English and math classes that match their skill level.

Using high school records for placement

You will be automatically placed into English and math classes if you:

• Graduated from a US high school within the last ten years
• Included all of the requested information about your high school records on your college application

You can view your placement results in your eServices account. From your eServices dashboard, click Student Center, then Steps to Success. Your placements are displayed in the Assessment Placements section.

If you did not provide high school records, then you will need to take assessment tests or submit high school transcripts to your college’s Assessment Office. Assessment tests are free.

Using college records for placement

If you have attended another college (outside of Los Rios), then you can provide college transcripts showing that you passed certain classes.

Prerequisites are not automatic for students who have taken a course outside of the Los Rios Community College District. Note: Non-Los Rios coursework that is in progress will not be accepted as proof of meeting a prerequisite.

a. Only the course on the pre-approved list will be automatically approved by Admissions staff.

English Equivalency List: LRCCD English External Equivalency List

Math Equivalency List: LRCCD Math External Equivalency List

b. If your prerequisite course is listed on the pre-approved list, please complete the clearance form and bring a printed copy of your transcript (office or unofficial) to Enrollment Services or e-Services Registration Lab. 

Prerequisite Equivalency Form: Prerequisite Equivalency Form

Areas in which students are assessed

English reading and writing assessment

If you would like to earn a higher English placement for reading or writing and try to get into a higher-level English class, then you can take the English reading and/or writing assessment test.

Math assessment

Your math placement is based on the higher of:

1. Your high school math records, or;
2. Your scores on the math assessment test.

The highest you can place with a high school transcript is Trigonometry. Students who wish to take Calculus or Pre-calculus must complete an assessment test. Students who have passed college-level math classes or certain tests (such as AP calculus or statistics) do not have to take the math assessment test.

English as a Second Language (ESL) assessment

If you are still learning English, then you can choose to take the ESL assessment test.

Assessment Centers

Visit ARC’s Assessment Center website for testing calendars, sample tests, and study suggestions.

Retesting

You are allowed to take each placement test a total of two times district-wide. You must wait 30 calendar days before taking a test for the second time. If your placement result is “undetermined,” then you can retest immediately.

After you have your placement results, meet with a counselor and make a first semester educational plan. Your educational plan will outline which courses you should take to meet your educational goal. Planning sessions are for students only – not for parents.

Details

Please visit the Counseling website for specific information about scheduling an appointment.

Come prepared

Before your planning session, spend some time thinking about your education and career goals. On the day of your planning session, remember to bring your:

1. Valid photo ID
2. Student ID number
3. Placement results
4. High school transcripts
5. AP, CLEP, or IB test scores, if you’ve taken any of these tests
6. College transcripts, if you have previously attended college

Educational plan checklist

Qualify for priority enrollment

If you create your education plan by April 1 (for summer or fall semester) or November 1 (for spring semester), then you qualify for priority enrollment. Priority enrollment lets you enroll earlier than other students, so you can get into classes you want before they fill up.

You can enroll for classes on-line or in person. You will be assigned an enrollment appointment date and time, which is the earliest date and time you can register for classes. You can find your enrollment appointment time in eServices.

Tip: You can put your desired courses in your enrollment shopping cart in eServices before your actual enrollment appointment.

Details

Enrollment time-line

Learn more about when class schedules are posted, when you will be notified of your enrollment appointment time, and when enrollment begins.

What if a class I want is closed?

If a class you want is closed, then you can:

• Work with a counselor to pick another class.
• See if the class is offered at another Los Rios college.
• Attend the first class session, even if you are not on the wait-list. You may be able to add the class if another student doesn’t show up.

What hours is on-line registration available?

During the enrollment period, on-line registration is available Monday through Saturday from 7:00 am to 11:30 pm, and on Sundays from 9:00 am to 11:30 pm.

Checklist