Art Institute

Transfer Students

Let’s Design Your Future

The Art Institute’s various campus closures have undoubtedly created a stressful experience, which is why Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) has worked to provide an easy transition for you. We have developed a Teach-Out Agreement as well as an Articulation Agreement with The Art Institute of Colorado for the transfer of credits to benefit those students who wish to continue their education at RMCAD.

Through the Teach-Out Agreement, RMCAD will accept AI earned credits towards our BFA related degree. To qualify for the Teach-Out, you must have a year or less to completing your program. Those who do not qualify for the Teach-Out can still transfer up to 60 credit hours to RMCAD through the Articulation Agreement. Credit transfers will be evaluated individually through the submission of your official transcripts and a portfolio review. RMCAD will also waive your application fee. 

We’ve opened our Denver campus to the most promising artists and designers in a variety of creative disciplines. We’re thrilled to do the same for you.

In addition to a $5,000 grant from AI (valid through July 2019), RMCAD offers AI transfer students a scholarship reducing tuition by $1,500 per semester for on-campus students, and $800 per semester for online students. See below for breakdown…

Creativity Lives Here

Yes! tell me more about RMCAD

Of the many benefits of transitioning to RMCAD, one of the most relevant is that RMCAD is regionally accredited by the same academic accrediting body that AI was a candidate for - the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Scholarships

RMCAD is offering AI transfer students a scholarship, reducing tuition by $1,500 per semester for on-campus students and $800 per semester for online students. Here’s the breakdown:

$1,500 SCHOLARSHIP
PER SEMESTER

On-campus

  • At least 12 Credits taken in Fall and Spring
  • At least 6 Credits taken in Summer (one course per 8-week term)
  • 2.5 Minimum GPA
  • Student cannot stack multiple scholarships

Student cannot stack multiple scholarships

$800 SCHOLARSHIP
PER SEMESTER

Online

  • At least 12 Credits taken in Fall and Spring
  • At least 6 Credits taken in Summer (one course per 8-week term)
  • 2.5 Minimum GPA
  • Student cannot stack multiple scholarships

Student cannot stack multiple scholarships

OUR PROGRAMS

Animation
Art Education
Fashion Design
Fine Arts
Game Art
Graphic Design
Illustration
Interior Design
Photography

online degree program

Animation

ANIMATE YOUR FUTURE

RMCAD – WHERE YOUR CREATIVITY COMES TO LIFE

The field of animation merges the arts of acting, design, illustration, sculpture, and filmmaking with today’s technology. To be successful, animators must understand how to use technical tools and professional production techniques to create strong narratives.

That’s why RMCAD’s curriculum is focused on creating compelling content to tell stories. Whether you’re using hand-drawn, computer, stop-motion, or experimental animation, you’ll be focused on storytelling through your craft. Whether you choose to pursue 2D or 3D animation, you’ll graduate with a portfolio reel that will set you apart by showcasing your unique artistic voice, a strong visual style, and the ability to communicate through animation.

Yes! tell me more about RMCAD

Student Work

Animation is the art of bringing life to an otherwise lifeless form. It is the merger of technology, artistry, and storytelling at its finest. Throw in today’s advanced technology and you have virtually unlimited possibilities to create something special.

OPEN THE DOOR TO YOUR NEW CAREER.

An online animation degree from RMCAD prepares graduates to be independent, creative leaders in the industry, equipping them with highly technical drawing skills and an aptitude for developing animation that has purpose, direction, and imaginative storylines.
Our alumni have gone on to work with cutting-edge companies such as Pixar, Blue Sky Studios, Lola VFX, and Industrial Light and Magic, to name just a few.

Program Highlights

Drawing (2D) or advanced software (3D) concentrations
Stop-motion
Storyboarding
Modeling
Character design
Line of action

Get to know our Grads

Play Video
What’s really nice about the RMCAD community is that it is a community. We’re all good friends and we keep in contact. A lot of the people that I was here with are working in the industry, so that says how important those relationships are.

Brian Nugent

Senior Compositor, Los Angeles California

Art Institute

Transfer Students

Not an Art Institute student looking to transfer, but still interested in learning more about RMCAD? Click here »

complete your education at rmcad

The Art Institute’s campus closures have undoubtedly created a stressful experience, which is why Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) has worked to provide an easy transition for you. RMCAD offers campus and online degree formats so that you can continue to work toward your degree, without relocating.

RMCAD has entered into an articulation agreement with Ai to help you transfer your credits as smoothly as possible, with a potential start date as soon as January 8, 2024. Credit transfers will be evaluated individually through the submission of your official transcripts and a portfolio review.

Why You Should Choose RMCAD:

  • Online and campus programs – learn from anywhere!
    • RMCAD is proud to celebrate 60 years as a college, 20 years on our historic campus in Lakewood, CO, just minutes away from the Rocky Mountains and downtown Denver, and 10+ years as a leader in online learning.
  • $1,500/semester grant eligibility
  • Affordable tuition
    • RMCAD is one of the most affordable art + design colleges in the U.S.
  • Institutional and national accreditation
    • RMCAD is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and nationally accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Learn more here!
  • Exceptional student support services
    • Including tech support, financial aid and advising, free mental health services for students, and RMCAD Renew, which allows alumni to audit current course offerings within their original degree at no cost.

RMCAD’s campus and online programs have helped develop the most promising artists and designers in a variety of creative disciplines, and we’re thrilled to do the same for you.

HEAR WHAT OTHER Ai TRANSFER STUDENTS SAY ABOUT RMCAD

*Actual Colorado Ai transfer students (2018)

Yes! tell me more about RMCAD

82.6% of students agree or strongly agree that they would recommend RMCAD to someone wanting to study art or design. (2022 Annual Student Satisfaction Survey)

ART INSTITUTE GRANT ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

To assist students affected by the recent Ai closures, RMCAD is offering additional financial aid assistance.

RMCAD ART INSTITUTE TRANSFER GRANT

CAMPUS OR ONLINE

Full Time Student
Fall, Spring or Summer
$1,500/semester

Part or ¾ Time Student
Available Summer Only
$750/semester

*Summer semesters are dependent on your initial start date.

ELIGIBILITY

  • Must come in with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA and maintain a minimum at RMCAD for semesterly renewal.
  • Must have been enrolled, started, or applied to Ai (with proof of application) within the last year (September 1, 2022).
  • Must attend RMCAD full-time (if part-time due to Academic Success Program (ASP) or course availability, grant amount will be prorated).
  • Eligible for starts in 2023 and through Fall start on October 30, 2024.
  • Eligibility extends to Ai students at any of the affected branches.
  • The Ai Grant is not stackable with other RMCAD internal grants and scholarships.
  • No separate renewal application needed for Ai students, RMCAD will automatically apply the grant each semester based on meeting eligibility requirements.

Degree comparison

Art Institute

RMCAD

*Art Institute students currently pursuing an associates degree, certificate, or diploma are eligible to apply for a BFA at RMCAD. This list only includes programs with direct transferability. You can access RMCAD’s full program list here.