Red Rocks Community College vs Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Red Rocks Community College comes closer — median earnings $46,288 against a $36,176 total, vs $42,958 at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Red Rocks Community College | Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,044 | $32,363 |
| Total net cost | $36,176 | $129,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,288 | $42,958 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$77,616 | -$237,492 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Red Rocks Community College or Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design?
Red Rocks Community College, at $9,044 a year after aid versus $32,363 — a gap of $23,319 a year, or $93,276 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Red Rocks Community College or Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design graduates earn more?
Red Rocks Community College graduates report a median $46,288 ten years after entry, $3,330 more than the $42,958 at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Red Rocks Community College or Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design?
Red Rocks Community College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, a difference of $21,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
32% of students finish at Red Rocks Community College, against 32% at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.