Rocky Mountain College
#2 Best Business Colleges in Montana- Graduation Rate
- 48% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $49,036 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $19,751 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 70% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.1 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Business Colleges in Montana.
Every $1 spent returns $15.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,110,596.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Earnings 20% above the national college median.
-
Social mobility rate of 3.60% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
-
Every $1 invested returns $15.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Rocky Mountain College Matters
Rocky Mountain College is a private university in Billings, MT and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 840
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 76
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Transportation, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Rocky Mountain College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 70% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 893–1133. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $19,751 a year after grants and scholarships — 15% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,036 ten years after enrolling — 20% above the typical college, against $26,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 5% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.45 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Rocky Mountain College is a good fit for students who thrive in a smaller, close-knit environment. With an enrollment of around 840, it offers a more personalized educational experience. Students often pursue degrees in Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Education, Transportation, and Psychology. This focus on practical fields means graduates are generally well-prepared for the job market.
Looking at life after graduation, students at Rocky Mountain College earn an average of $49,036 within ten years of completing their degree. This can be a solid starting point, especially considering the relatively affordable education offered here. The college has a 70% acceptance rate, so many students can find a place here without feeling overly pressured during the application process.
When it comes to costs, the net price after aid is about $19,751, and the median debt load stands at $26,000. This makes it manageable for many students, particularly those who take advantage of financial aid, with 31% receiving Pell Grants. Students who tend to thrive are often those who appreciate a supportive community and are committed to their studies, aiming for careers in fields that are both practical and fulfilling.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Rocky Mountain College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Rocky Mountain College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Billings, Montana, Rocky Mountain College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 70% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,083. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 70%
- Retention Rate
- 69%
- SAT Average
- 1083
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- SAT Range
- 893–1133
- ACT Range
- 18–24
- Full-Time Faculty
- 94%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,957
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.50
- First-Gen Students
- 32%
- Applicants
- 1,458
- Admitted
- 1,096
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Rocky Mountain College is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 28% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.
- Yield Rate
- 28%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 3%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 26%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 29% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Rocky Mountain College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Rocky Mountain College is $35,582, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,751. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,404 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $35,582
- Out-of-State
- $35,582
- Avg Net Price
- $19,751
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 31%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 55%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $15,404
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $13,781
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,957
- Family Income $110K+
- $25,150
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Rocky Mountain College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Rocky Mountain College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Rocky Mountain College earn a median of $49,036, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $41,783
- 8 Years
- $44,955
- 10 Years
- $49,036
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.53x
- Earning > $25K
- 63%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (79)
- 35%
- 100% (79)
- 35%
- 100% (79)
- 35%
- 100% (79)
- 35%
How Rocky Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Rocky Mountain College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Rocky Mountain College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $19,751/year ($79,004 total). Graduates earn $49,036 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,189,600 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,110,596 (15.1× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $79,004
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,189,600
- Net Return
- $1,110,596
- ROI Multiple
- 15.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $19,751
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 48%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Rocky Mountain College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Rocky Mountain College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.60%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.60%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 35.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $98,638
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,438,408
- Investment Income
- $-6,509,290
Top Programs
The fields Rocky Mountain College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 19% $43,146 early-career
- Transportation 19% $55,225 early-career
- Psychology 13%
- Biology & Biomedical 9% $32,668 early-career
- Social Sciences 6%
- Education 5% $47,548 early-career
- Physical Sciences 3%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Rocky Mountain College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Rocky Mountain College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Billings, Montana, Rocky Mountain College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 70% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,083. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Rocky Mountain College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Rocky Mountain College is $35,582, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,751. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,404 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
Is Rocky Mountain College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Rocky Mountain College earn a median of $49,036, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Rocky Mountain College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Rocky Mountain College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.60%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Rocky Mountain College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Rocky Mountain College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Rocky Mountain College offer Early Decision?
No. Rocky Mountain College does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Rocky Mountain College really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 29% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Rocky Mountain College (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Rocky Mountain College?
About 28% of admitted students choose to enroll at Rocky Mountain College — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Rocky Mountain College.
- Huntingdon CollegeMontgomery, AL · Close peer47% grad $49,601 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Thiel CollegeGreenville, PA · Close peer46% grad $49,714 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Spring Hill CollegeMobile, AL · Close peer54% grad $51,500 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Graceland University-LamoniLamoni, IA · Close peer40% grad $47,361 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeOwensboro, KY · Close peer49% grad $46,747 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Malone UniversityCanton, OH · Close peer48% grad $48,909 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Rocky Mountain College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Rocky Mountain College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note