by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many RMCAD first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at RMCAD. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 54% students making it past their freshmen year, RMCAD has freshmen retention rates below the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Colorado, the average is 70.70%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| RMCAD | 54% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Colorado | 70.70% |
There were approximately 161 students in the class of 2023. How many of them actually completed their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 30% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 37% of the students had graduated and after eight years 39% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical RMCAD graduation rate 37%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 130 | 30% |
| Six Years | 161 | 37% |
| Eight Years | 5 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 264 | 61% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 264 students or 61% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 264 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
117 transferred to another institution.
RMCAD lost contact with the remaining 146 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 117 | 44.3% |
| Dropped Out | 146 | 55.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 33% |
| Asian | 50% |
| Hispanic | 42% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 100% |
| Unknown | 25% |
| White | 35% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
A meaningful share of students at RMCAD are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design represent 23.72% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RMCAD graduation rate was 38%, and by the eight year mark, 40% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | RMCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 38% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 47.82% |
61 first-time / full-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
25 transferred to another institution.
RMCAD lost contact with the remaining 36 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 25 | 40.98% |
| Dropped Out | 36 | 59.02% |
First-time / part-time students at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design represent 11.40% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RMCAD graduation rate was 14%, and by the eight year mark, 14% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | RMCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 6% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 14% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 14% | 23.72% |
42 first-time / part-time students or 86% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
17 transferred to another institution.
RMCAD lost contact with the remaining 25 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 17 | 40.48% |
| Dropped Out | 25 | 59.52% |
Returning / full-time students at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design represent 39.77% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RMCAD graduation rate was 56%, and by the eight year mark, 56% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | RMCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 56% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 56% | 55.07% |
75 non first-time / part-time students or 44% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
34 transferred to another institution.
RMCAD lost contact with the remaining 41 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 34 | 45.33% |
| Dropped Out | 41 | 54.67% |
Returning / part-time students at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design represent 25.12% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the RMCAD graduation rate was 19%, and by the eight year mark, 20% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | RMCAD | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 13% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 19% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 20% | 37.80% |
86 non first-time / part-time students or 80% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
1 are still enrolled.
41 transferred to another institution.
RMCAD lost contact with the remaining 44 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 1 | 1.16% |
| Transferred | 41 | 47.67% |
| Dropped Out | 44 | 51.16% |
