What Verdica's 757 score means for Arapahoe Community College
Arapahoe Community College scores 757 out of 850 on Verdica's composite assessment, placing it in the "strong" band (740–799). This means the institution demonstrates solid regulatory standing and operational compliance across the dimensions Verdica measures.
A score in this range reflects an education provider that meets baseline federal and state requirements and shows no systemic red flags in accreditation, student outcomes reporting, or Title IV program integrity. For someone evaluating the college—whether as a prospective student, employer partner, or community stakeholder—a 757 indicates reasonable confidence that the institution is operating under active oversight and maintaining documented academic and financial standards.
It is worth noting that "strong" is not the highest tier; Verdica's "excellent" band (800–850) exists above it. Arapahoe's sub-scores reveal where the college excels and where there is room for improvement relative to peers, which we detail below.
How the sub-scores break down
Accreditation (820/850): This sub-score reflects Arapahoe's standing with its accrediting body and related quality assurance mechanisms. A score of 820 is in the excellent range and indicates the college holds recognized regional or specialized accreditation and is not under probation, warning, or show-cause orders. Accreditation bodies review institutional mission, governance, financial stability, and educational effectiveness on multi-year cycles. A high accreditation score means the college has cleared recent reviews without serious compliance sanctions.
Student Outcomes (630/850): This is Arapahoe's lowest sub-score, falling into the "elevated" risk band (580–669). In the education sector, student outcomes typically measure completion rates, placement rates, earnings post-graduation, and other indicators from federal data sources like IPEDS (the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System). A 630 does not signal failure—the college is still reporting and subject to federal scrutiny—but it suggests outcomes metrics lag peer benchmarks or show volatility. This could reflect student demographic factors, program mix, or operational challenges; Verdica's data does not isolate the cause.
Compliance (835/850): This sub-score is in the excellent band and speaks to Title IV (federal student aid) program integrity, financial aid administration, and related regulatory adherence. A score of 835 indicates Arapahoe is not subject to active investigations, sanctions, or heightened monitoring by the U.S. Department of Education or state regulators for financial aid violations, enrollment reporting, or similar issues. Title IV compliance is binary in practice—providers either maintain their aid eligibility or lose it—so a high score here means the college has not triggered enforcement action.
What regulators in CO track for education providers
Colorado's education landscape is governed by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, regional accreditation bodies (typically the Higher Learning Commission for community colleges), and federal agencies. Verdica pulls three data streams:
Accreditation status records whether an institution holds current regional or specialized accreditation and whether it faces any sanctions (probation, warning, show-cause orders). Accreditors conduct self-studies and peer reviews every 5–10 years and monitor compliance annually.
Title IV compliance tracks whether the college maintains eligibility to disburse federal grants and loans. The U.S. Department of Education can sanction or exclude providers for violations including false enrollment reporting, mishandling of aid funds, or violations of borrower rights.
IPEDS data includes graduation rates, transfer rates, default rates on federal loans, enrollment trends, and revenue/expense breakdowns. These metrics are public and reported annually by all institutions receiving federal aid. Low or declining outcomes can trigger regulatory review and institutional improvement plans.
Bottom line
Arapahoe Community College is a strong provider with no apparent acute compliance or accreditation risk. Its 757 score reflects solid federal and state standing, though its student outcomes metrics warrant monitoring if you are weighing educational value. Cross-check current graduation and placement rates directly with the college or via federal data dashboards before enrolling or partnering.