Rocky Mountain College
#1 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 #1 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
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 20% above the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 3.60% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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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, Biology & Biomedical, Education, Transportation
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 6% 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
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.
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
- $72,600
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. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 18%
- Biology & Biomedical 17%
- Education 12%
- Transportation 11%
- Psychology 10%
- Social Sciences 5%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
- English & Literature 2%
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
- 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
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% 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.
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