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Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

#2021 in US ranking Lakewood, CO
Type:
Private for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$39,446
Tuition & fees
$20,190
Avg. aid
$5,170
Receiving aid
90%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
32%
Median salary
$39,020
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design?

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Institutional accreditation evaluates the college as a whole; it is not a guarantee that every course will transfer elsewhere or that a degree will satisfy every professional licensing requirement.

Accreditation matters because attendance at an eligible accredited institution is one condition for access to federal student aid. Transfer-credit decisions still belong to the receiving college, which may also consider course content, grades, and how recently the work was completed. Students pursuing a regulated profession - particularly those considering teaching or interior design - should separately check the requirements of the state where they expect to work and the current status of any program-specific approvals or accreditations.

What are the admission requirements at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design?

RMCAD reports an open-admission policy for entering students, but applicants still need to complete the college's admissions process and establish eligibility for degree study. A high school diploma or recognized equivalent is the central educational credential for a first-time undergraduate applicant.

Applicants should be prepared to submit an application and official academic records and to identify the program and study format they want. An open-admission designation should not be read as a promise of immediate entry into every course or program: prerequisites, start dates, documentation requirements, and capacity can matter. Applicants with prior college work follow the transfer process, while graduate applicants should use the requirements for their specific degree.

Before applying, ask admissions whether the intended program currently requires a portfolio or other supplemental material, how prior academic records should be sent, and what deadline applies to the preferred start term. Those answers are more useful than assuming that one general admissions description covers every applicant category.

What are the application fees and waivers at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design?

Applicants should confirm the current application-fee policy in RMCAD's application before submitting it. An application fee, if charged, is separate from tuition, mandatory student fees, and any payment associated with enrolling after admission.

Anyone for whom a fee would be a barrier should ask admissions about waiver eligibility and the request procedure before submitting a payment. Transfer, graduate, and other applicant categories may have different instructions, so the amount and waiver terms shown for one application route should not be assumed to apply to another.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design?

RMCAD is not presented as an institution with its own on-campus Army, Air Force, or Navy ROTC unit. Students interested in officer training should not assume that attending a college in the Denver area automatically makes cross-enrollment available.

A workable ROTC arrangement would require confirmation from both RMCAD and a host ROTC detachment. Ask whether the host accepts RMCAD students, whether military-science courses can fit the degree plan, and how travel to training would work. Scholarship eligibility and a potential service obligation are separate matters governed by the relevant military branch; applicants should review those terms before making an enrollment decision.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design?

RMCAD generally accepts transfer credit from other accredited institutions and enrolls transfer students in fall, spring, and summer. Admission as a transfer student and acceptance of particular courses toward a chosen degree are separate decisions.

Applicants should submit official transcripts from every college attended and request a program-specific credit evaluation. The key question is not simply how many credits transfer, but which requirements they satisfy: general education, major courses, electives, or none of those categories. Studio and design classes may require a closer review of course content or completed work than a broadly comparable general education course.

The college reports acceptance of credit through general CLEP examinations and awards Advanced Placement credit, subject to its applicable rules. It does not report accepting dual-enrollment credit as a general admissions feature. Before committing to enroll, transfer students should obtain a written degree plan showing remaining requirements and ask whether any residency rule limits how much prior work can count toward the RMCAD degree.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design?

Students considering international study should determine whether a proposed experience can count toward their RMCAD degree before applying to an outside program or paying a deposit. Credit approval is especially important in sequential studio and design majors, where missing a required course can delay the next course in a series.

Ask academic advising whether the college currently offers an approved international course, faculty-led experience, exchange, or route for evaluating third-party study. A useful written approval should identify the courses that would transfer, the degree requirements they would meet, and any effect on the expected graduation date. Financial aid eligibility also depends on the arrangement and should be checked with the financial aid office separately from academic approval.

How to Apply to Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

Early Decision

No

Early Action

No

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 63
Out-of-state: 171

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 234
Transfer: 402

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Admission Requirements

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

Yes

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

Yes

Open admission policy

Yes

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

Study abroad

No

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.