Skip to content
CollegeRanker
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design logo

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

Private for-profit Lakewood, CO · Suburban · Rocky Mountains · 87% data
B- Diversity C+ Earnings D Graduation
Graduation Rate
34% D
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$42,958 C+
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$32,363 F
89% more than the typical college
Enrollment
2,050
Earnings +5% vs avg
Graduation -41% vs avg
Net Price 89% vs avg

Bottom line: A D+ overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 10.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.9 over 20 years.

10.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $10.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,284,218.

What The Data Says

  1. A D+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 34% — 41% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $10.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private for-profit College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
2,050
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Visual & Performing Arts, Computer Science & IT, Education

Why students choose Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community
Strength in Visual & Performing Arts
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

D+
Top 69% overall
C+
Earnings
$42,958 median
F
Value
1.3× net price
F
Affordability
$32,363/yr net
D
Graduation
34% graduate
B-
Diversity
0.66 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

The average earnings for graduates of Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design after ten years is $42,958. This number reflects the potential return on investment for students pursuing degrees in fields like visual arts, computer science, and education. Despite a small enrollment of 2,050 students, the focus on specialized programs can attract those eager to enter creative and technical careers.

Data from Opportunity Insights indicates that 48% of students receive Pell Grants, suggesting a commitment to supporting lower-income students. However, the graduation rate stands at only 34%, which may raise concerns about completion and success for those who start their education here. Without mobility data, it's difficult to assess the overall economic impact on graduates, but the current earnings provide a glimpse into potential career pathways.

The net price of attendance is $32,363, with a median debt of $31,000 upon graduation. Students thrive here when they are passionate about their chosen fields and prepared for the challenges of a competitive job market. The financial situation warrants careful consideration, as graduates will need to balance their earnings against their debt load in the years following graduation.

Can I Get In?

How selective Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Lakewood, Colorado, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.

Retention Rate
54%
Full-Time Faculty
28%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$5,588
Student–Faculty Ratio
14:1
Diversity Index
0.66
First-Gen Students
33%

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 of Art and Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is $20,190, 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 $32,363. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $29,847 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $31,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$20,190
Out-of-State
$20,190
Avg Net Price
$32,363
Median Debt
$31,000
Pell Grant Rate
48%
Federal Loan Rate
60%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$29,847
Family Income $30K–$48K
$29,351
Family Income $48K–$75K
$32,387
Family Income $110K+
$36,201

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 of Art and Design — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design report median earnings of $42,958, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$30,280
8 Years
$37,813
10 Years
$42,958
Debt-to-Earnings
0.72x
Earning > $25K
50%

Earnings Trajectory

$30,280 6yr $37,813 8yr $42,958 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (3)
18%
100% (3)
18%
100% (3)
18%
100% (3)
18%

How Rocky Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation34%Earnings 10yr$43KNet Price$32KRetention54%Median Debt$31KPell Grant Rate48%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$30K$0-30K$29K$30-48K$32K$48-75K$36K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $32,363/year ($129,452 total). Graduates earn $42,958 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,413,670 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,284,218 (10.9× your investment). The median debt is $31,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 34% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$129,452
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,413,670
Net Return
$1,284,218
ROI Multiple
10.9×
Cost Per Year
$32,363
Median Debt
$31,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
34%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Top Programs

The fields Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Lakewood, Colorado, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is $20,190, 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 $32,363. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $29,847 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $31,000 in federal student loans.

Is Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design report median earnings of $42,958, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys