2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Value](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/veterinary-animal-health-technologies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Eastern Wyoming College earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Eastern Wyoming College is a small public school located in the town of Torrington. Students from in state pay about $4,290 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Typical student debt for value graduates is $8,430. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Eastern Wyoming College generally make around $33,208. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at College Of Southern Idaho, which ranked #2. College Of Southern Idaho is a large public school located in the city of Twin Falls. Students from in state pay about $3,360 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,840. Students borrow a median of $11,175 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $35,829. Set against $11,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Bridgerland Technical College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Logan, Bridgerland Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Value graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Value graduates of Bridgerland Technical College earn a median of $21,361 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Community College Of Denver, which ranked #4. Community College Of Denver is a large public school located in the city of Denver. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,058, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $38,655. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Delta Montrose Technical College earned it the #5 place for value. Located in the rural area of Delta, Delta Montrose Technical College is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $11,244 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Delta Montrose Technical College generally make around $32,742. That is a strong return on a $11,244 median debt.
Pikes Peak Community College earned the #6 position for value in value this year. Set in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,510, with out-of-state students paying around $17,110. Value graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $41,037. That is a strong return on a $16,066 median debt.
Pickens Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Aurora, Pickens Technical College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,140, compared with $9,250 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Pickens Technical College earn a median of $35,622 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Front Range Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Front Range Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Westminster. In-state tuition and fees average $4,663, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Typical student debt for value graduates is $22,228. Early-career value graduates make about $35,040. That is a strong return on a $22,228 median debt.
Pima Medical Institute Aurora placed #9 among the best values for value. Pima Medical Institute Aurora is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Aurora. Typical student debt for value graduates is $13,584. Early-career value graduates make about $32,842.
Pima Medical Institute Denver landed the #10 spot for value value this year. Located in the suburb of Denver, Pima Medical Institute Denver is a small private for-profit university. Value graduates carry a median of $8,227 in student loans. Value graduates of Pima Medical Institute Denver earn a median of $25,638 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Medical Institute Colorado Springs earned the #11 position for value in value this year. Pima Medical Institute Colorado Springs is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Students borrow a median of $14,689 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Pima Medical Institute Colorado Springs earn a median of $30,864 early in their careers. Set against $14,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $19,691. Students borrow a median of $19,917 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology generally make around $29,194.
Bel Rea Institute Of Animal Technology came in at #13 for value in value this year. Located in the suburb of Denver, Bel Rea Institute Of Animal Technology is a small private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $13,819 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,772 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Bel Rea Institute Of Animal Technology generally make around $38,899. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Medical Institute Dillon ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Pima Medical Institute Dillon is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Dillon. Value graduates carry a median of $14,273 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $31,470. That is a strong return on a $14,273 median debt.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
