Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design vs. NCA

Comparable Facts

Compare Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Lakewood, CO with Northwest College of Art & Design in Tacoma, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is larger than NCA based on total student enrollment (2,061 students vs. 139 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is located in Lakewood, CO (Large Suburban setting); Northwest College of Art & Design is in Tacoma, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. Northwest College of Art & Design is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design 13:1; Northwest College of Art & Design 34:1.

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design vs. NCA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design or NCA? 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 Northwest College of Art & Design than Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design ($14,818 vs. $31,752).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest College of Art & Design are 29.9% lower than at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design ($15,384 vs. $21,944).
• Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design is 11.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than NCA (about $2,090 more per year; $20,190.00 vs. $18,100.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.5% higher at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design than at Northwest College of Art & Design (about $2,090 more per year; $20,190.00 vs. $18,100.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest College of Art & Design than at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (87% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest College of Art & Design students is 165.4% larger than aid received by Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design students ($14,406 vs. $5,429).

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design vs. NCA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design or NCA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NCA and Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.

• Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design - Open admission; NCA - Test-free.

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design vs. NCA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design and NCA? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Northwest College of Art & Design's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design's (56%).
• Graduates from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than NCA graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,200 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design graduates have a $312 lower median loan debt than NCA graduates ($30,688 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NCA graduates ($317 vs. $320).
• More Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NCA students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 47%)

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.