Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design

About Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design

RMCAD is a specialized undergraduate institution rather than a comprehensive university. Its identity centers on visual art, design, creative technology, and preparation for creative practice. Philip J. Steele founded its predecessor, the Rocky Mountain School of Art, in 1963 as a private, for-profit art school. RMCAD later expanded its curriculum and moved to its present Lakewood campus in 2002. The college remains a for-profit institution owned by Rocky Mountain College, LLC. Students can choose between campus and online pathways, although availability varies by subject. Campus study is the better fit for applicants who want regular access to physical production spaces, equipment, exhibitions, and face-to-face creative communities. RMCAD identifies facilities including a darkroom, ceramics studio, wood and metal shop, fashion workspaces, galleries, and technology resources. Online study is designed around asynchronous access, allowing students to view course materials throughout the week while still meeting specified activity and project deadlines. Online courses use accelerated eight-week terms. This format creates a focused environment for students who already know they want an art or design education. It is less suitable for applicants seeking a broad selection of unrelated majors, graduate research programs, varsity athletics, or a residential campus experience. Prospective students should examine the curriculum and required technology or materials for their intended discipline, because studio demands and software needs differ substantially among programs. RMCAD is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and authorized to award degrees in Colorado.

RMCAD’s published admissions sequence begins with an artist meeting with an admissions representative, followed by an online application. Applicants then submit official academic records. The college’s general admissions page specifically calls for official high-school transcripts and, for transfer applicants, official college transcripts. A portfolio is used for scholarship consideration; the current public instructions do not describe it as a universal admission requirement. Applicants should therefore follow the checklist issued for their particular program and student category rather than assuming portfolio rules are identical across all majors. The public admissions page does not state one universal application deadline or standardized-test policy. Students should confirm the applicable start date, document deadline, and decision timeline directly with admissions. Transfer applicants should also obtain a formal evaluation rather than assuming previous studio or general-education courses will transfer. International applicants face additional requirements. Foreign academic credentials must be evaluated by a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. RMCAD may require evidence of English proficiency; current minimum scores and possible alternatives are directed to the academic catalog rather than stated on the public international page. The college issues I-20 documentation for eligible international students studying full-time on campus, not for online-only attendance. Accepted applicants seeking an I-20 must also provide required passport and financial documentation. Since RMCAD does not offer English-language preparation classes, applicants who need such instruction should plan accordingly.

RMCAD’s current academic portfolio is concentrated in creative fields. Campus degree areas listed by the college are animation, art education, fashion design, fine arts, game art, graphic design, illustration, illustrative design, interior design, and photography. Online offerings include those fields except campus-only fine arts, while adding music production. Applicants should verify that both the major and preferred delivery format are available for their intended start term. The college awards bachelor’s degrees, principally the Bachelor of Fine Arts. Its Fine Arts BFA illustrates the broader educational model: students combine foundations and liberal arts with discipline-specific work, explore media such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, and photography, and develop professional practices and a portfolio. Program structures differ, so this example should not be treated as the curriculum for every major. RMCAD also advertises a digital photography certificate, but that credential is separate from its bachelor’s degrees. Campus education emphasizes making and critique in specialized spaces. Available resources identified by RMCAD include galleries, a darkroom, ceramics facilities, fashion workspaces, wood and metal fabrication, technology facilities, and equipment checkout through TECHBAR. Online programs use an asynchronous learning model with course access at any time, live instructor office hours, and weekly participation and project requirements. Courses are delivered in accelerated eight-week blocks. Online students receive academic advising, tutoring, library access, and technical support, while local online learners may also use campus facilities. Because creative programs can require capable computers, software, cameras, tools, or consumable materials, students should review the college’s program-material specifications before enrolling.

Key Highlights

• Specialized private, for-profit art and design college founded in 1963
• Institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
• Offers both Lakewood campus study and fully online undergraduate study
• Current owner is Rocky Mountain College, LLC

Student Life & Environment

Student life is organized around a small creative-college community rather than a conventional residential university. Campus students can participate in exhibitions, events, clubs, and organizations, and the college says involvement opportunities may be social, professional, cultural, or educational. Galleries provide places to view and present work, while Spivak Student Studios offers a competitive opportunity for qualifying undergraduates to use dedicated workspace. TECHBAR supports equipment checkout and on-campus technical needs. Academic and personal support includes a dedicated academic adviser, tutoring through the Student Learning Center, library resources, technical assistance, accessibility services, and short-term counseling through RMCAD’s partnership with Uwill. Online students can participate through discussion boards, virtual events, clubs, and the RMCAD Connect app, so remote study is not limited to accessing course files. Nevertheless, students seeking frequent in-person collaboration should compare the campus experience with the more self-directed rhythm of asynchronous online learning. RMCAD does not provide institution-operated housing. The Office of Student Life offers guidance on nearby apartments, student-oriented properties, and roommate searches, but the housing providers are independent third parties. Students are responsible for assessing leases, costs, transportation, and vendor policies. A campus shuttle serves at least one nearby student-living community, but applicants should confirm the schedule and route for their term before relying on it.

Location & Surroundings

RMCAD’s campus is at 1600 Pierce Street in Lakewood, Colorado, within the Denver metropolitan area. This setting gives campus students access to a major regional arts market while placing them outside downtown Denver. The college’s own materials emphasize the area’s galleries, music venues, and outdoor recreation, but students should evaluate travel time to internships, events, employment, and housing rather than assuming all Denver-area destinations are close to campus. The campus occupies a historically significant property formerly associated with the Jewish Consumptives’ Relief Society and the American Medical Center. RMCAD acquired the site in 2002 and adapted its existing buildings for classrooms, studios, galleries, common areas, and student services. The combination of older structures and specialized creative facilities gives it a distinctive physical character. Because no on-campus housing is available, location decisions are closely tied to transportation and rent. Some students live in student-oriented properties in the wider metropolitan area, while others use conventional apartments or live with family or friends. Applicants should compare actual commute options and obtain current prices directly from independent housing providers.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For students beginning in Fall A 2026, RMCAD publishes tuition of $850 per credit for campus and online study, or $875 per credit for the Fashion Design BFA. At a 12-credit load, the college presents two-semester academic-year tuition of $20,400, or $21,000 for Fashion Design. RMCAD states that semester and equipment fees are included in these new rates. It also notes that students may attend three semesters in a calendar year, so calendar-year spending can exceed the two-semester figure. These rates differ from those applicable through Summer B 2026. Tuition is only part of the budget. Campus students must independently pay for housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses because RMCAD has no residence halls. Creative programs may also involve computers, software, tools, supplies, or consumables. Applicants should use the college’s net-price calculator, review program-material requirements, and request an individualized aid offer. RMCAD participates in federal aid through the FAFSA and lists institutional scholarships, work-study possibilities, grants, and loans; eligibility varies by student. Career + Alumni Services supports students and graduates with résumé and interview critiques, workshops, networking events, internship assistance, advising, and job-search tools. Its PASSPORT portal carries employment, internship, and freelance listings and professional-development resources. These services can assist a search but do not guarantee employment or a particular salary. Prospective students should examine current program-level outcomes and portfolio expectations when assessing return on cost.