Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

As a Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design student, you can rely on us to educate, guide, and encourage you on your artistic journey. Since 1963, we’ve been prepping students for exhilarating careers in a variety of fields and we’re not looking to slow down.

Our commitment was, is, and will always be to you and your future. Whether you study fashion design, animation, game art, graphic design, or any other of our renowned programs, you can expect a quality, well-rounded education in an innovative atmosphere.

Whether pursuing your art and design education on campus or online, you’ll take accredited program courses taught by passionate and experienced educators that are dedicated to helping you evolve your craft.

We’re big on critical thinking, passion, and stirring up change in the community, the creative realm, and the world.

Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is an innovative, rigorous, and community-oriented global learning environment that inspires passion for critical thinking and prepares learners to be forces of change in the creative industries, our communities, and the world.

We embrace forward-thinking and are proud to provide students a safe place to learn, practice, and grow.

We believe in originality. Creativity happens outside the lines. And passion, talent, and groundbreaking innovation live inside these walls. Welcome to RMCAD.

At RMCAD, you’ll be taught by real artists, designers, and liberal arts professionals who have lived and worked in their respective industries. Are you ready to explore your creativity with plenty of room to grow? You’ll find it here. You’ll learn to transform your talent into a career that fuels your passion.

With both on-campus and online programs, we balance real-world connections and hands-on learning with the high-tech resources and accessibility you expect in a digital world.

Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is dedicated to creating the best possible experience for students by providing the support they need and creating a culture that supports personal growth.

Want to get to know your peers and explore your interests? Check out Student Life activities or join a club. Need some help with your studies? Our campus resources are here to aid in your success.

Even if you just need to find a roommate, we have tools to assist you with that too. At RMCAD, we’re always here to help. Our student services help you adjust to life at rmcad while providing you the quintessential art and design school experience.

From student to graduate to alumni, we want you to enjoy your time here and stay engaged with our community when you’ve graduated. From joining clubs and organizations to ensuring all your questions are answered; your time here should be both professionally and personally beneficial.

We provide advising in many subjects, career coaching, and multiple services and discounts, including our one-of-a-kind RMCAD Renew Program, which gives you lifetime audit privileges within your original major—completely tuition free.

It’s time to find the future that fits you. Our admissions process focuses on getting to know you while you learn about RMCAD to make sure that we’re the best fit for each other.

We invite you to take a tour of RMCAD’s campus; you can even sit in on a class or two and meet the Chair of your selected department. You’ll work closely with an Admissions Counselor to develop a path to get you from your first day of classes to graduation and, ultimately, to a successful future in the world of art in design.

You’re passionate about art + design, and you want to get a jump start on your future before graduation. RMCAD has high school programs that include workshops offered throughout the year and art camps during the summer months. Through year-round programs, you can access our talented faculty, experience college life, and prepare for your creative future.

RMCAD offers the opportunity for exceptional junior and senior high school students to enroll for college credit while still completing their high school degree. RMCAD’s Dual Enrollment credits may be used to satisfy high school subject or credit requirements, as determined by the student’s high school. Dual Enrollment students may take online courses and register for one class in an 8-week term and up to six credits per semester for a total of 12 credits in an academic year.

Financial Aid is not available and cannot be used to cover the cost of attendance, books, or supplies—although students may receive financial support from their high school.

In 1963, Philip J. Steele founded Rocky Mountain School of Art in the foothills of Colorado. Already a well-known illustrator and educator himself, Phil wanted to develop an art training program based on the traditional, academic method of drawing and painting that dates back to the Renaissance.

His mission was to make RMCAD a ‘community of creatives’ that would instill in all students a passion for creativity, innovation, and a desire for lifelong learning—both in the fine arts and applied arts. He sought to nurture the individual talents of each student, to integrate critical thinking and analysis into their skills, and to contribute in socially responsible ways to the local, global, and professional communities.