Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Rocky Mountain College #1108 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $60,523, placing Rocky Mountain College in the 45.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Rocky Mountain College sits in the 55.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduates who earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Rocky Mountain College #1108 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Billings, Montana, Rocky Mountain College enrolls roughly 840 undergraduates. The six-year graduation rate is 48.4% and first-year retention stands at 69.0%, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Rocky Mountain College performs strongest on return on investment. Azimuth ranks Rocky Mountain College #698 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $60,523, and Rocky Mountain College sits in the 55.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program mix is anchored in Business, which aligns with regional labor-market demand and contributes to the strong earnings outcomes graduates achieve. Access and affordability shape the remaining pillars of the composite. Rocky Mountain College enrolls 31.1% Pell-eligible students and 31.5% first-generation undergraduates, positioning the institution in the 23.7 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 47.9 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the tuition and aid dynamics typical of private master's institutions in the region. Mobility outcomes place the institution in the 4.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students prioritizing strong early-career earnings and a focused academic environment in the Northern Rockies, Rocky Mountain College offers a reliable path to solid financial outcomes.
Rocky Mountain College's published cost of attendance is $46,093. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $15,404, middle-income families pay around $14,957, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,150. Azimuth ranks Rocky Mountain College #743 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Rocky Mountain College's aid structure combines need-based grants with federal and institutional loan options. The institution participates in federal aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and offers institutional scholarships to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the college works to meet demonstrated financial need through a combination of grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,971; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,523, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Rocky Mountain College is a strong fit for students seeking a private liberal arts college experience in MT with a focus on Business programs and regional career pathways. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $60,523, placing Rocky Mountain College in the 45.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 55.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 31.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.5% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Rocky Mountain College in the 51.9 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 69.6% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business fields over STEM or health sciences. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package competitive for the region.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Rocky Mountain College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Air Transportation
18 graduates
Biology, General
28 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
17 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
18 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
8 graduates
Rocky Mountain College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private liberal arts college serving the Northern Plains region. Biology, General is the largest program with 28 graduates, followed by Kinesiology, Air Transportation, Psychology, General, and Business Administration.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 151 students annually, the institution concentrates strength in applied business, education, and health-related fields. The highest-earning programs at Rocky Mountain College cluster in business and professional disciplines.
Air Transportation leads with median earnings of $77,374 four years after enrollment across 18 graduates, followed by Biology, General with $60,305 and Business Administration with $59,499. Kinesiology rounds out the top earners with $46,839.
This earnings pattern reflects the institution's program-mix signature: Business represents 17% of degrees, Education comprises 7%, and Social Sciences accounts for 5%, positioning Rocky Mountain College as a career-focused institution aligned with regional labor-market demand. Most of Rocky Mountain College's dominant programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes.
Business, accounting, and education fields typically lead to stable employment and predictable early-career pay. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national wage trends and regional hiring patterns in Montana and the Northern Plains.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Corban University Higher acceptance rate (16.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | OR | 90% | $48,917 | Compare |
Eastern Oregon University Higher acceptance rate (25.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | OR | 99% | $50,112 | Compare |
The University Of Montana Same state with similar earnings and similar program focus | MT | 96% | $44,511 | Compare |
Corban University Same region with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | OR | 90% | $48,917 | Compare |
Saint Leo University Similar admission rate (0.8 percentage points difference) and similar test scores (0 point difference) with similar program focus | FL | 72% | $48,364 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Upper Iowa University Similar quality tier (#29478 ranked) | IA | 96% | $52,766 | #29478 | Compare |
Sweet Briar College Similar quality tier (#29473 ranked) | VA | 76% | $51,943 | #29473 | Compare |
Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses Similar quality tier (#29472 ranked) | IN | 40% | $57,165 | #29472 | Compare |
Westmont College Similar quality tier in West (#29480 ranked) | CA | 77% | $64,778 | #29480 | Compare |
Otterbein University Similar quality tier (#29471 ranked) | OH | 85% | $53,313 | #29471 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Rocky Mountain College's published cost of attendance is $46,093. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $15,404, middle-income families pay around $14,957, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,150.
Azimuth ranks Rocky Mountain College #743 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Rocky Mountain College's aid structure combines need-based grants with federal and institutional loan options. The institution participates in federal aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and offers institutional scholarships to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the college works to meet demonstrated financial need through a combination of grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,971; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,523, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Rocky Mountain College earn median 4-year earnings of $60,523, placing Rocky Mountain College in the 45.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Rocky Mountain College in the 55.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Rocky Mountain College #698 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Rocky Mountain College's concentration in business and professional fields.
Biology, General is the largest program with 28 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $60,305, representing 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. Kinesiology follows with 18 graduates earning $46,839, and the The Air Transportation program graduates 18 students earning $77,374.
Business Administration rounds out the major programs with 17 graduates earning $59,499. This program mix anchors Rocky Mountain College's long-term financial outcomes in fields with steady employer demand and clear career pathways.
