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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 are the graduation rates for students at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design?

RMCAD's reported six-year graduation rate is 32% for the measured cohort of first-time, full-time students. Its four-year rate is 24%. These figures follow a defined group of entrants; they do not measure every transfer student, part-time student, or student who eventually completes a degree elsewhere.

The college's reported first-year retention rate is 54%, meaning that just over half of the students in the measured entering cohort returned the following year. Retention and graduation rates identify outcomes worth examining, but they do not establish why individual students left, continued, or finished.

For an applicant, the practical follow-up is to map the intended program semester by semester. Ask how often required courses run, what happens if a course must be repeated, and whether a change between online and campus-based study affects course sequencing. Transfer students should also request completion estimates based on their evaluated credits rather than applying first-time-student graduation rates directly to their own plans.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design?

Federal College Scorecard field-of-study data report median earnings measured one year after completion for some RMCAD programs. The reported figures include $40,227 for computer software and media applications, $29,457 for graphic communications, and $27,370 for design and applied arts.

These are field-level estimates for the graduates represented in the federal earnings measure, not starting-salary offers or predictions for every student in a major. Broad federal program categories may also combine work that prospective students think of as distinct specialties. One year is a short window in creative occupations, where freelance work, portfolio development, further study, and changes in employment can affect income.

Students comparing programs should use the figures alongside completion costs, likely borrowing, and evidence about the specific work they want to pursue. RMCAD reports career support such as individual counseling, résumé assistance, interview preparation, job-search resources, employer contact, and alumni networking; the existence of those services is not itself an employment outcome.

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Graduation Rate

Avg. graduation
32%
4-year graduation
24%
6-year graduation
32%

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Retention and Employment

First-year retention, full-time students
54%
First-year retention, part-time students
28%
Employed 1 year after graduation
87%

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Median Alumni Salary Over Time

1 year after graduation
$39,020
4 years after graduation
$41,363
5 years after graduation
$45,517
7 years after graduation
$55,613
10 years after starting college
$45,764

Alumni Salary for Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Degrees

Degrees

Avg. salary

Computer Software and Media Applications

$40,227

Design and Applied Arts

$27,370

Graphic Communications

$29,457

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Graduations Per Degree

BACHELOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Visual and Performing Arts

14441185

Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services

321446

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

15924

Education

9110

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.