Rocky Mountain College

rocky mountain college majors

Degree Programs Available at Rocky Mountain College

Rocky Mountain College appears in our ranking of 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the West.

Rocky Mountain College offers degree programs for undergrads and a few options for graduate students. Undergrads must complete the core curriculum, which consists of 40 semester hours of general education classes. Those classes include math, creative writing, communication, and fine arts courses. Students may have the chance to test out of some of those courses when they take the placement tests offered by the college. Undergrads in any major will take those classes as well as electives and the courses required in their degree programs.

Equestrian studies is just one of the majors available for undergrads. Students will work closely with real horses in this program. They can choose from concentrations such as equine business or equine science, which is the track designed for future veterinarians. An individualized program of study (IPS) allows students to study as many subjects as they want without picking a specific major. Those students will work with their advisors to make sure they take all required classes. Some of the other majors designed for undergrads include theater arts, psychology, geography, education, and health and human performance.

Though the college initially only offered bachelor’s degree programs, it now offers several graduate and post-graduate programs too. The Master of Accountancy program prepares students for working as accountants and for taking the CPA exam and similar tests. Graduate students can also enroll in education leadership and physician assistant programs. The college offers a Doctor of Occupational Therapy program too. It features three years of classes, but students only take classes during the first two years. During the final year, they’ll do clinical rotations and a capstone. Rocky Mountain College also offers study abroad programs every year.

About Rocky Mountain College

Rocky Mountain College is a private Christian college in Billings, Montana. A small college institute opened in the city in 1876 that later became the College of Montana. This was the first college in Montana and offered a liberal arts curriculum with an emphasis on Christian education. This school closed in 1916, but Intermountain Union College in Helena acquired the campus and its resources a few years later. The Billings Polytechnic Institute opened in Billings in 1908 and would become the home of Intermountain Union College after that campus suffered damage due to an earthquake. Though both schools operated separately, they would merge in 1947 and become Rocky Mountain College. Also called RMC, it now offers the same programs that those two schools once did as well as new options for students.

Primarily known for its undergrad programs, RMC offers more than 50 majors, which includes pre-professional programs in fields such as law. Three graduate programs and one doctoral program are also available. It offers some of the only equestrian programs in the state and has stables on-site for students majoring in one of those fields. The college has an affiliation with the United Methodist Church as well as the Presbyterian Church and the United Church of Christ. It is one of the only colleges in Montana to offer both religious studies and liberal arts programs. RMC is a small private college with an enrollment of more than 1,000 students.

Rocky Mountain College Accreditation Details

The NWCCU is responsible for accrediting colleges and schools in the northwest United States. This organization granted full accreditation to Rocky Mountain College and found that it maintained the standards necessary for accreditation during each of its past renewals. The physician assistant and aviation management programs offered by the college have accreditation too. As a religious college, RMC also sought and earned accreditation from the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE).

Rocky Mountain College Application Requirements

Prospective RMC students need to use the college’s application for first-year students. They can create accounts and use the admissions website to work on their applications. The main requirements for undergrads include a GPA of 2.5 or higher and a score of 1060/21 on the SAT/ACT. Students should submit an official test score and transcript. RMC accepts unofficial transcripts that show a student’s grades up through his or her junior year of high school. Those who have a lower GPA will need to provide two letters of recommendation and a personal essay.

The minimum requirements for students applying to a graduate program at RMC are a GPA of 3.0 or higher and a bachelor’s degree. Students can request an individual review if they have a lower GPA. The college’s review committee may accept students with lower grades based on certain circumstances. They must also provide transcripts that show they took all prerequisite courses. The college looks for those with a background in the same area they want to study and may require that some take prerequisites from the college. A GRE score is required for most graduate programs and the occupational therapy doctoral program too. This score cannot be older than five years. RMC also requires a completed application packet.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time RMC undergrads pay $14,481 per semester or $28,962 each year for tuition and close to $600 a year in fees. Their room and board cost varies based on the rooms and meal plans they choose, though the average amount they pay is $8,450 per year. Graduate and doctoral students pay more to attend the college. Those in a graduate program pay more than $40,000 a year for tuition and fees. Occupational therapy doctoral students pay $24,590 each year for tuition and fees.

Unsubsidized loans go to graduate and doctoral students and allow them to borrow $20,500 each year. PLUS loans go to those who have a higher financial need. Undergrads can also get loans, but any student who needs financial aid must submit the FAFSA. RMC will create a financial aid package that shows students how much aid they will get based on their estimated costs. There are five merit scholarships that go to students based on the strength of their test scores and grades. These prizes range from $9,000 to $17,000. Not only do students get scholarships for their first years, but they can renew those prizes for the remaining three years it takes to finish one of the college’s degree programs. Scholarships are just one of the awards found in a standard financial aid package granted to students attending Rocky Mountain College.