Design at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
Lakewood, CO · Private for-profit · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
26
Optimistic
25
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings
$29,829/yr (-12% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
5.3x earnings multiple
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Design graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $501K | $500K | $475K |
| Earnings Multiple | 5.3x | 5.3x | 5.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 26 | 25 | 34 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$94,880
Median Debt at Graduation
$31,750
12.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,743
53% growth from Year 1
About Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
a compact campus enrolling 1,878 students in Lakewood, CO. With 46% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.
See all programs and financial aid at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design →Top Career Paths
Art directors
$111,040/yr
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
$101,480/yr
Special effects artists and animators
$99,800/yr
Compare & Explore
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Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design?
A score of 25/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Design at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design worth the student debt?
Median debt of $31,750 against $29,829/yr starting salary means roughly 1.1 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Will AI replace Design careers?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $474,580 in decade earnings vs $500,799 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →