Frequently Asked Questions by Students and Parents
Admissions - Academics - Housing - Athletics - Financial Aid and Expenses - General Questions
Admissions
Is there an application deadline?
There is no deadline to apply. There is a deadline for the Early Action program of February 15, 2013. To be eligible for Early Action you will need to have completed the admissions process and submitted your new student deposit of $250.How long does it take to process an application and when will the acceptance letter be mailed?
Once your application and requested documentation have been received, you will be notified of an admissions decision within 2 weeks.Is there an application fee and if so, how much?
The application fee for first-year, transfers and non-traditional students is $35.00 if you submit a paper application. If you submit your application online our fee is waived. International students have a fee of $40.00 (USD).
What documents must be submitted to complete an application?
First-year students must submit a high school transcript (with 6 semesters completed) and an ACT/SAT test score.
Transfer students must submit college transcripts from all previously attended institutions.
International students must submit official or certified copies of secondary school transcripts, official post secondary transcripts (if applicable) and official ACT/SAT test scores.
Non-traditional students must submit a high school transcript/GED, a personal essay and 2 letters of recommendation.
Does the college require a minimum SAT/ACT for admission?
RMC requires a minimum ACT score of 21 and/or a minimum SAT score of 1000. Students not meeting one or more of the minimum criteria listed above may be considered for admission upon providing additional supporting information. These students should submit a personal essay, stating their academic and career goals and why they believe Rocky Mountain College will facilitate those goals; AND, two (2) letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a high school guidance counselor or teacher.
Is an interview, recommendation or essay required for admission?
No, but it can help strengthen your application and give the college a better idea of who you are. An essay and letters of recommendation will be required if minimum criteria is not met.
Is a physical examination required prior to admission?
No. Once you are admitted and have declared RMC as your final choice, we will need a copy of your medical history to make sure you are updated on all of your vaccines. However, if you are an athlete, you will have to have a sports physical before you can participate in practice.
Will the college accept the General Education Diploma (GED)?
Yes, we will, along with two letters of recommendation and an essay.
Will the college honor a home study program or diploma from an unaccredited private high school?
Applicant must provide documentation of their home school education, to include the following information:- The educational philosophy of the home school;
- The selection of instructional materials, curriculum, and textbooks;
- The time, place, and method of instruction;
- The evaluation of the home school instruction (transcript, test results, etc.);
- Applicant must submit scores from standardized test (ACT or SAT) - (Students who have not completed this test on national testing date may schedule a residual ACT test at RMC - contact Office of Admissions to schedule this);
- Applicant may be asked to submit a personal essay (1 pg. typed) on their educational and career goals and how Rocky Mountain College might assist them in attaining these goals.
What are the transfer admission requirements?
- Students who attempt 27 or more semester credits and have successfully passed a minimum of 27 that count towards RMC general education requirements or/and an RMC established major, and have a minimum of a 2.00 GPA meet the requirement for regular admission.
- Students who attempt 27 or more semester credits and have less than 27 credits that count towards RMC general education requirements or/and an RMC established major, will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and may be required to submit additional materials.
- Any student, regardless of number credits transferring, who has been dismissed, placed on probation, or documented as not being in good standing with any prior institution will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and may be required to submit additional materials.
- Students who have attempted less than 27 semester credits will need to submit their college transcripts, high school transcripts and test scores to meet regular admission requirements.
Is admission open for freshmen and transfers at any semester?
Yes.
Does the college offer a Post Secondary Education Option (PSEO)?
Yes.
Will the college honor AP or CLEP and if so what are the minimum scores to receive credit?
Yes. A student must receive at least a three or a four depending on test taken.
Will "D's" transfer in from other colleges?
No. We will only take C- and above.
What campus organizations emphasize religious activities?
RMC is committed to the concept that faith development and academic achievement go hand-in-hand. To that end, the college - along with students, faculty and staff - will strive to provide a variety of opportunities for people to study and grow. Throughout the college, the Christian spirit and Christian ideals are affirmed. Special emphasis is placed on the ministries of the three supporting denominations: the Presbyterian Church, the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ. The college currently has the following religious organizations:
- Intervasity Christian Fellowship
- Latter-Day Saint Student Association
- Newman Club (Catholic)
Is there a health facility on campus?
Yes. The college maintains a health service office in Fortin Center on a half-time basis under the direction of a nurse practitioner and consulting physician.
Academics
How many credits are required to complete the core curriculum or general education requirement?
50-56 credits.
What requirements must students meet in order to complete a degree at RMC?
A student must complete the general education requirements as well as the requirements for the desired major. A minimum of 124 credit hours is required prior to graduation.
How many areas of study and degrees are offered?
RMC has 47 defined majors that are available in 22 disciplines. In addition to choosing your major, you may opt to add one of our 31 minors to your degree.
Are internships, cooperatives, or study abroad opportunities available?
Internships are not required for all majors, although some to require an internship before completion. They are strongly encouraged for all disciplines.
How many courses are considered a full time?
12 credits.
When must an academic major be declared?
Your major must be declared by the fall semester of your junior year.
Does the college offer a tutorial service?
Yes we do. You can hire personal tutors, your professors can recommend people, or you can take full advantage of our free drop-in tutoring sponsored by Services for Academic Success (SAS). RMC also offers a peer-mentoring program, LEAP, through the Student Life Office.
Is physical education required? If so, can it be waived?
Yes it is required, but it can be waived by receiving an acceptable score on the challenge exam.
Are academic scholarships available?
Yes. RMC offers scholarships by taking into account your GPA and your ACT/SAT scores. Scholarships range from $7,000 to $12,000 and are renewable each year. Calculate your potential scholarship here.
What are the college's largest academic areas?
Business, Aviation, Equestrian Studies, Sciences, Education, and Physical Education and Health.
What is the percentage of graduates that gain admission to graduate schools?
97% of RMC graduates are accepted to graduate school or find employment in their field of study.
Does the college have a graduate program?
We have three graduate programs. RMC has a Masters of Physician Assistant, a Masters of Accountancy and a Masters in Educational Leadership.
How many credits does it take to graduate? How long on average does it take to accumulate these credits?
In order to graduate you must complete 124 semester hours, at least 40 upper division credits (including 12 in a major, 6 in a minor), a 2.0 cumulative GPA and a 2.25 cumulative GPA in a major. Most students graduate in four years, but it does take some students longer. Keep in mind, to graduate in 4 years a minimum of 15.5 semester hours need to be completed each semester.
What major agencies accredit the college?
RMC is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The Office of Public Instruction for the State of Montana accredits the education program for the preparation of elementary and secondary teachers. The Accreditation Review Commission on Education accredits the physician assistant program for the Physician Assistant ARC-PA.
What is the student-faculty ratio?
12:1
How many full-time faculty are employed and how many hold a doctorate or terminal degree?
RMC currently employs 63 full-time faculty and 38 part-time. 75% of the faculty have earned the highest degree in their field.
Does RMC have an honors program? What are the requirements to be in the program?
Yes, RMC has an honors program.The program is open to students who, at completion of the second semester of their sophomore year, have achieved a GPA of 3.40 or better and are recommended by a faculty member.
The requirements for RMC's honors program are the following:
- Spring semester junior year: Approved honors entrants enroll in HON309, Honors Proposal Development. A single leader will bring to this course faculty guests appropriate to the academic interests of the participants. Honors students will share development problems and other common concerns, producing honors proposals with research outlines and planning future course work germane to their proposals. Only well developed proposals will be approved for academic support and funding by the honors committee, although a student may submit a revised proposal during the semester.
- Spring semester junior year: Honors students with approved proposals will pursue courses relevant to their projects.
- Fall semester senior year: Honors students will commence work on their projects in HON490, Senior Honors Project, as well as participate in a leadership course, HON409.
- Spring semester senior year: Honors students will register for a second semester of HON490, Senior Honors Project as well as HON491, Project Presentation, a rehearsal seminar climaxing in the graded public presentation of the completed project. In cases of mid-year graduation, HON491 will also be provided for the fall semester.
What is the definition of a liberal arts education?
A liberal arts education is one that cultivates critical thinking, creative expression, ethical decision making, informed citizenship and professional excellence by requiring a student to take classes from a broad range of disciplines.
What is RFE?
RFE is the Rocky Freshmen Experience. This program was developed from research compiled by Dr. Ron Cochran and Dr. Jay Cassel, RMC professors. They found that students who associated with small groups enjoyed more academic and social success during their first year of college than those who did not. These findings suggested that small learning communities would benefit incoming freshmen. Incoming freshman choose from a variety of RFE groups ranging from six to eight semester hours and typically limited to around 20 students per RFE group. The primary RFE goals are to challenge students to think across disciplines, to use the liberal arts as a catalyst for improving writing, to create a sense of academic community, to engage in classroom activities that encourage collaboration in small groups and to be exposed to campus policies and resources.
How long are the holiday and term breaks?
For the 2012-13 school year, class breaks are the following:
- Labor Day - September 3
- Mid-term break - October 18 - 21
- Thanksgiving break - November 22 - 25
- Christmas holiday break - December 15 - January 6
- Martin Luther King Day - January 21
- Mid-term break - March 4 - 10
- Easter break - March 29 - April 1
- Last day of classes - April 26
Is there a job placement service or career day?
Yes. The career services office provides assistance to students in career awareness and decision-making, career-educational planning and job searching. Career services assists students in establishing credentials, developing resume-writing and interviewing skills, and making contact with employers.
Housing
Does the college offer an option between residence halls and apartment living?
Yes - Widenhouse, Rimview and Jorgenson offer suite style living with private baths.
Do co-ed residence halls exist?
All rooms are single sex - Anderson is single sex by floor.
Name the residence halls and briefly describe each.
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Anderson Hall
Anderson Hall offers traditional residence hall housing for up to 72 students. Anderson Hall includes community restrooms, showers and kitchens. The building is equipped with two student lounges, containing a large-screen TV and entertainment equipment for student use. Single, double and triple occupancy.
Amenities & Services:
High-Speed Internet
Furniture (bed, desk, dresser, wardrobe)
Laundry Facilities
Shared Kitchens -
Widenhouse Hall
Widenhouse Hall provides suite-style accommodations. Each room has a private restroom and kitchenette complete with refrigerator, sink and microwave oven. Three styles of rooms are available in Widenhouse: doubles, triples and quads (housing two, three and four students).
Amenities & Services:
High-Speed Internet
Furniture (desk, dresser, wardrobe)
Extra-long beds (36"x80")
Laundry Facilities (on each floor)
Individual bathroom
Kitchenettes (refrigerator, sink, microwave) -
Rimview Hall
Rimview Hall, built in 2004, is located on the west end of campus. It accommodates 200 students in suite-style units with four private bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms and shared living room and micro-kitchen areas. Upperclassmen have first priority.
Amenities & Services:
High-Speed Internet
Laundry Facilities
One and a half bathrooms
Kitchenettes (full size refrigerator/freezer, microwave, sink)
Extra-long beds (36"x80")
Furniture (bed, desk, dresser, wardrobe) -
Jorgenson Hall
Individual apartments with private entrances are available for family housing and non-traditional students. Single students of a junior or senior status are also eligible if space allows. Most apartments are 728 square feet with a bedroom, study room, living room, full kitchen and bathroom. Each unfurnished unit includes a full sized refrigerator/freezer, stove/oven, double sink, heating and air conditioning and window blinds. Heat, air, electricity, local phone and water are included.
Amenities & Services:
High-Speed Internet
Laundry Facilities
Single Bathroom
Kitchens (refrigerator, sink, stove/oven)
Are the residence halls staffed with a resident house director?
Yes - each residence hall has Residence Assistants and Resident Directors on staff and are housed in each hall.
Are students allowed to keep alcoholic beverages, firearms, or pets in their rooms?
Alcohol is only allowed in Jorgenson (apartment complex on campus) if over 21 years. No pets or firearms.
What appliances are permitted in the residence hall room?
Small appliances are allowed, but nothing with an exposed element such as a hotplate. Check with the housing director.
Are freshmen permitted to live off campus?
As a residential College, all first- and second-year students enrolled in nine semester hours or more are required to live on campus. Exceptions to this policy include married students, students 21 years of age or older on the first day of fall semester classes, or students living in the Billings area with their parents or close family relatives.
How many students share a room?
We have singles (limited), doubles, triples and quads.
Are the residence halls air-conditioned?
Rimview is the only hall that has air-conditioning.
Is there a tuition or room deposit required to reserve space?
Yes, a $250 new student deposit is required to reserve your space (your deposit is refundable up until May 1st).
Do the residence halls have laundry facilities and what does it cost to use them?
Yes - no charge.
Do the rooms have private or hall restrooms?
Anderson has community restrooms; Widenhouse, Rimview and Jorgensen have private restrooms.
Are students subject to curfew? And how are residence halls secured for the evenings?
There is not a curfew. Entry to the residence halls requires a student ID from 10pm-6am. Halls are monitored 8pm-4am Friday-Saturday.
Athletics
What athletic scholarships are available?
All sports offer scholarships at the coaches' discretion.
In what athletic association(s), division(s) and conferences does the college participate?
RMC is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Frontier Conference.
What intercollegiate sports does RMC offer (men and women)?
Men's Athletics: Football, Varsity/Junior Varsity Basketball, Golf, Ski Racing, Cross Country, Distance Track and Soccer. Women's Athletics: Varsity/Junior Varsity Basketball, Volleyball, Golf, Ski Racing, Soccer, Cross Country, Distance Track and Cheerleading.
Does the college offer an intramural program and if so, which sports are the most popular?
Yes, the intramural athletics program offers both individual and team sport activities that include soccer, basketball, tennis, golf, racquetball, softball and volleyball. Leisure and informal recreation such as open swimming, an indoor climbing wall and kayak pool sessions are also offered.
What general athletic facilities exist for general student use?
- Cardiovascular training equipment
- Free weight room
- Heated pool (25 yard indoor)
- Walking/running track (indoor) 11 laps = 1 mile
- Racquetball and Squash courts
- Aerobics (air-conditioned dance room)
- Gymnasiums (large and small) - limited availability during school season
- Hot tub (pool deck), dry saunas (in each men's and women's locker rooms)
Financial Aid and Expenses
What are current tuition and fees? What is the current cost for room and board?
For the 2011 - 2012 academic year:
- Tuition - $21,684
- Fees - $450 average
- Room and Board - $6,848
Does out-of-state tuition apply?
No. RMC is a private college therefore we do not have out-of-state tuition.
Are jobs available on the college campus?
Yes. RMC offers many work-study positions.
How much are books on average per year?
Plan on spending $1,200 per year on books.
How do I apply for financial aid?
Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for need-based federal and RMC financial aid. The enrollment application is also the application for RMC scholarships.
What scholarship may be available for my situation? Will the college bill me for tuition and fees and when are fees due?
RMC students obtaining their first baccalaureate degree who are in good academic standing and enrolled full-time are eligible for institutionally funded financial assistance for up to four years (unless enrolled in a five-year program). Scholarships range from $7,000 to $12,000 for first-year students based on GPA and test scores. Transfer student scholarships range from $5,000 to $11,000. You will receive your first bill mid-July and the first payment (Validation) is due August 1.
What types of payment plans does the college offer?
The College offers two payment methods:
- Full payment at time of validation.
- Installment Payment Plan - charges will be divided into 4 payments.
General Questions
How much is the new student deposit and when is it due?
$250 deposit prior to enrollment, nonrefundable after May 1.How many buildings are located on the campus?
There are 15 buildings on campus.
What year was the college founded?
RMC is the oldest college in Montana, founded in 1878.
Are there scheduled visit events prospective students?
Yes. RMC hosts several Visit Day opportunitiesfor prospective students, and we are also happy to accommodate individuals visits that work best with your schedule.
Is there a mini-term or summer school?
There is a summer semester. Summer session 1 runs from May 7 - May 25 and session 2 runs from May 29 - June 29.
From what geographical area does the college get most of its students?
52% are from Montana. The rest come from all 50 states and over 20 foreign countries.
What is the size of the community?
The RMC community is just under 1000 students. Billings has just over 120,000.
What attractions are in reasonable distance to the college?
Billings has a new state-of-the-art movie theater, Yellowstone County Museum, Alberta Bair Theater, Billings Studio Theatre, Venture Theatre Billings Symphony, Montana Zoo, Red Lodge Ski Mountain, Metra Park concerts and exhibitions, etc. The Billings downtown area has several great restaurants and shops.
In what ways has the campus been adapted for people with handicaps?
Most buildings are handicap accessible. Classrooms are scheduled accordingly.
What is the minority enrollment and international enrollment?
11% domestic ethnicity and 3% International.
Where can students cash out-of-town checks?
On campus in the Business Office (for checks <$50).
What is the ratio of enrolled males to females?
50% male, 50% female.
Does the college offer a first-year orientation program?
There is an optional camping trip for first-year and transfer students and a mandatory orientation for all students.
Does the college have a campus security force?
There is no security force, but the College does have a Campus Safety director and program.
Does the college provide overnight housing for prospective student visits?
No.
Will the college accommodate special service needs such as diets, medications, psychological counseling, etc.?
Yes. Rocky Mountain College counseling services are available to all students. The counseling center provides support for students experiencing personal, social, or adjustment difficulties. The campus counselors also sponsor special events and programming within the College community and provide referrals to community resources. Certain dietary needs can be met as well.
Who are some well known graduates/alumni?
- Chris Horn - NFL
- Bill Bowers - Broadway
- Jason Earls - Disney's Hannah Montana TV show
Does the college have a toll free phone number or will it accept collect phone calls from prospective students?
1.800.87.ROCKY
