ISU vs. RMC

Deciding between Idaho State University and Rocky Mountain College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Idaho State University
Rocky Mountain College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Pocatello, ID
  • RMC Billings, MT
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • RMC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 13,061
  • RMC 1,032
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • RMC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU
  • RMC #709
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • RMC United Church of Christ
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • RMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • RMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $8,610
  • RMC $35,582
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $27,720
  • RMC $35,582
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $7,882
  • RMC $10,152
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $12,174
  • RMC $20,791
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $9,217
  • RMC $25,508
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 91%
  • RMC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU -
  • RMC 1,405
  • Admitted
  • ISU -
  • RMC 978
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU Open
  • RMC 69.6%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU Open
  • RMC 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU
  • RMC 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU
  • RMC 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • RMC 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • RMC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Unavailable
  • RMC Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • RMC Low
  • ACT Range
  • ISU
  • RMC 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • ISU
  • RMC 893/1133
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Open admission
  • RMC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • RMC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 14:1
  • RMC 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • RMC
    • Business (17%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Transportation and Materials Moving (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 26%
  • RMC 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $42,300
  • RMC $46,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 47%
  • RMC 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,950
  • RMC $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $237
  • RMC $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 41%
  • RMC 50%
  • % Women
  • ISU 59%
  • RMC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Medium
  • RMC Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • RMC No
  • % White
  • ISU 67%
  • RMC 78%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 1%
  • RMC 1%
  • % Black
  • ISU 1%
  • RMC 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 10%
  • RMC 6%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 1%
  • RMC 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • RMC 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • RMC 4%
  • % International
  • ISU 14%
  • RMC 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 2%
  • RMC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 84%
  • RMC 50%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 8%
  • RMC 43%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ISU Yes
  • RMC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ISU No
  • RMC No
  • Meal Plan
  • ISU Yes
  • RMC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ISU Yes
  • RMC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ISU Yes
  • RMC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID with Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Idaho State University is larger than RMC based on total student enrollment (13,061 students vs. 1,032 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Idaho State University is located in Pocatello, ID (Small City setting); Rocky Mountain College is in Billings, MT (Midsize City setting).
  • Idaho State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rocky Mountain College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Idaho State University 14:1; Rocky Mountain College 14:1.

ISU vs. RMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or RMC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Idaho State University than RMC ($12,174 vs. $20,791).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Idaho State University are 22.4% lower than at Rocky Mountain College ($7,882 vs. $10,152).
  • Rocky Mountain College is 313.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $26,972 more per year; $35,582.00 vs. $8,610.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28.4% higher at RMC than at Idaho State University (about $7,862 more per year; $35,582.00 vs. $27,720.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rocky Mountain College than at Idaho State University (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rocky Mountain College students is 176.7% larger than aid received by Idaho State University students ($25,508 vs. $9,217).

ISU vs. RMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or RMC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between RMC and ISU.

  • Idaho State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRocky Mountain College 893/1133.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRocky Mountain College 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Open admission; RMC - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman RMC students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at ISU (3.41).

ISU vs. RMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and RMC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Rocky Mountain College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Idaho State University's (26%).
  • Graduates from Rocky Mountain College earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,800 vs. $42,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Idaho State University graduates have a $3,050 lower median loan debt than RMC graduates ($22,950 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RMC graduates ($237 vs. $268).
  • More RMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.