Design Institute of San Diego vs. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Design Institute of San Diego in San Diego, CA with Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Lakewood, CO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is larger than Design Institute of San Diego based on total student enrollment (2,061 students vs. 94 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Design Institute of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is in Lakewood, CO (Large Suburban setting).
• Design Institute of San Diego is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Design Institute of San Diego 8:1; Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design 13:1.

Design Institute of San Diego vs. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Design Institute of San Diego or Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design than Design Institute of San Diego ($31,752 vs. $44,010).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design are 0.6% lower than at Design Institute of San Diego ($21,944 vs. $22,086).
• Design Institute of San Diego is 45.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (about $9,110 more per year; $29,300.00 vs. $20,190.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.1% higher at Design Institute of San Diego than at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (about $9,110 more per year; $29,300.00 vs. $20,190.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Design Institute of San Diego than at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (100% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Design Institute of San Diego students is 119.2% larger than aid received by Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design students ($11,901 vs. $5,429).

Design Institute of San Diego vs. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Design Institute of San Diego or Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design and Design Institute of San Diego.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Design Institute of San Diego - Open admission; Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design - Open admission.

Design Institute of San Diego vs. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Design Institute of San Diego and Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Design Institute of San Diego's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design's (56%).
• Graduates from Design Institute of San Diego earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,900 vs. $32,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design graduates have a $9,897 lower median loan debt than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($30,688 vs. $40,585).
• Among borrowers, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $102 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($317 vs. $419).
• More Design Institute of San Diego graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.