Rocky Mountain College traces its history back to 1878, when it began as the Montana Collegiate Institute in Deer Lodge. In 1947, Billings Institute of Technology merged with Intermountain Union College to formally establish what is now Rocky Mountain College.
The college’s founding is closely tied to religious traditions such as the Presbyterian and Methodist denominations. The values of “the pursuit of knowledge, religious tolerance, and free inquiry” continue to this day, guiding the college in cultivating future leaders equipped with critical thinking, innovative expression, and ethical decision-making skills. Display copy of a Canadian university diploma
Strong Academic Strength and Rankings
Rocky Mountain College ranked 86th in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings of Western Regional Universities and 70th in the “Lowest Acceptance Rate” category.
The college’s core strength lies in its small-class, elite education model:
- A student-to-faculty ratio of just 14:1
- 63% of classes have fewer than 20 students
- Offers 52 undergraduate majors, spanning fields such as liberal arts, business, and health sciences
Flagship Programs Overview:
- Aviation: One of the first institutions in the U.S. to offer drone certification courses, featuring a nationally recognized aviation curriculum
- Business and Management: The most popular undergraduate major (accounting for 17% of graduates), with a median starting salary for alumni of $56,170
- Physician Assistant Studies: Offers a master’s degree and is one of the university’s most popular graduate programs
- Equestrian Studies: Leverages Montana’s ranch resources to offer tracks in equine management and riding instruction
Exceptional Student Experience and Career Prospects
Rocky Mountain College’s student-centered educational philosophy has yielded significant results:
- 99% of students receive financial aid, with an average award of approximately $24,000 per year
- 97% of graduates go on to graduate school or secure employment in their desired fields
- 90% of students participate in experiential learning, including internships, undergraduate research, and community engagement projects
The college maintains close partnerships with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and the Montana Audubon Education Center, and students gain valuable internship experience at local hospitals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Six years after graduation, the median alumni salary is $41,783.
A beautiful campus environment with state-of-the-art facilities
Rocky Mountain College spans 60 acres and is situated in a park-like suburban setting beneath the sandstone “rim-rocks” of Billings. The campus blends traditional red-brick architecture with modern facilities, including:
- A multi-million-dollar science building (completed in 2018)
- The “Battlin’ Bears” athletic teams compete in the NAIA Frontier Conference and the Cascade Collegiate Conference, offering sports such as skiing, soccer, basketball, and football
Billings is Montana’s largest and most economically vibrant city, and has been named one of the top ten best cities in the U.S. for retirement by Kiplinger. Students can easily access nearby Red Lodge Mountain for skiing and enjoy rafting on the Yellowstone River in the summer.
