What Verdica's 773 score means for Arapahoe Community College
Arapahoe Community College received a composite score of 773 out of 850, placing it in the "strong" band (740–799). This score reflects measurable compliance and operational health across three regulatory dimensions: accreditation standing, student outcomes reporting, and Title IV federal aid compliance.
A score in the strong band indicates that the institution is performing well above minimum thresholds and demonstrates consistent adherence to regulatory requirements. For a consumer or business partner, this suggests lower institutional risk compared to providers scoring in elevated or high-risk bands. The college is not flagged for systemic compliance failures, and its accreditation status appears stable.
That said, "strong" is not the highest tier. The college's score of 773 is 27 points below the "excellent" threshold of 800. This gap suggests room for improvement in at least one or more measured dimensions, though the institution remains in good standing overall.
How the sub-scores break down
Accreditation: 845 / 850
This near-excellent score reflects the college's regional or national accreditation status with recognized bodies. In higher education, accreditation is the primary signal of institutional legitimacy and quality assurance. A score of 845 indicates the college meets or exceeds accreditation standards and has no unresolved compliance issues with its accrediting agency. This is one of the strongest signals available to consumers and employers.
Student Outcomes: 645 / 850
This score falls in the "acceptable" band and represents the most material gap in the college's profile. Student outcomes typically measure graduation rates, retention, employment post-graduation, and loan repayment performance as reported through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). A score of 645 suggests the college's performance on these measures is meeting baseline expectations but is not exceptional. For prospective students or employers evaluating graduate readiness, this dimension merits additional scrutiny using publicly available IPEDS data and state workforce outcomes reports.
Compliance: 835 / 850
This strong score reflects the college's adherence to Title IV federal financial aid regulations, reporting accuracy, and other administrative compliance requirements. Title IV programs provide federal student loans and grants, and participation requires strict adherence to eligibility, disbursement, and reporting rules. A score of 835 indicates few or no unresolved compliance violations with the U.S. Department of Education and consistent, timely submission of required data.
What regulators in CO track for education providers
Colorado education providers are subject to oversight by the Colorado Department of Higher Education (oversight of state systems) and regional accrediting bodies such as the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). At the federal level, the U.S. Department of Education enforces Title IV compliance for institutions receiving federal aid.
Accreditation bodies evaluate curricula, faculty qualifications, facilities, financial stability, and student support services. Title IV compliance audits focus on aid eligibility verification, disbursement accuracy, enrollment reporting, and loan servicing requirements. IPEDS data—the foundation for student outcomes measurement—includes graduation and retention rates, program-level employment outcomes, and student loan default rates.
Scores move downward when institutions face sanctions (such as accreditation warnings), accumulate unresolved Title IV violations, miss reporting deadlines, or show declining student outcomes relative to peer institutions. Conversely, scores improve with renewed accreditation without conditions, clean audit findings, and improving outcome metrics.
Bottom line
Arapahoe Community College presents a strong compliance and accreditation profile but shows acceptable (not strong) student outcomes performance. A prospective student or employer should verify current graduation rates and employment outcomes via IPEDS and Colorado workforce data before making enrollment or hiring decisions, despite the college's overall solid regulatory standing.