Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design vs Adams State University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Adams State University comes closer — median earnings $44,372 against a $51,920 total, vs $42,958 at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | Adams State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,363 | $12,980 |
| Total net cost | $129,452 | $51,920 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,958 | $44,372 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $19,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$237,492 | -$131,680 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design or Adams State University?
Adams State University, at $12,980 a year after aid versus $32,363 — a gap of $19,383 a year, or $77,532 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design or Adams State University graduates earn more?
Adams State University graduates report a median $44,372 ten years after entry, $1,414 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, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design or Adams State University?
Adams State University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, a difference of $11,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
39% of students finish at Adams State University, 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.