2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Value](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/veterinary-animal-health-technologies/veterinary-animal-health-technology-technician-and-veterinary-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
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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
For return on investment in value, no school beat Eastern Wyoming College this year. Set in the town of Torrington, Eastern Wyoming College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,290, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,430 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Eastern Wyoming College earn a median of $33,208 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Southern Idaho came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. College Of Southern Idaho is a large public school located in the city of Twin Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,360, while out-of-state students pay about $6,840. Students borrow a median of $11,175 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from College Of Southern Idaho generally make around $35,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,058, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $38,655. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Delta Montrose Technical College, which ranked #5. Located in the rural area of Delta, Delta Montrose Technical College is a small public university. Value graduates carry a median of $11,244 in student loans. Value graduates of Delta Montrose Technical College earn a median of $32,742 early in their careers. Set against $11,244 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pikes Peak Community College placed #6 among the best values for value. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,510 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,110. Students borrow a median of $16,066 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Pikes Peak Community College earn a median of $41,037 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pickens Technical College earned the #7 position for value in value this year. Pickens Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Aurora. Students from in state pay about $5,140 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,250 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. 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. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,663 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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 landed the #9 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of Aurora, Pima Medical Institute Aurora is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $13,584 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Pima Medical Institute Aurora earn a median of $32,842 early in their careers.
Pima Medical Institute Denver landed the #10 spot for value value this year. Pima Medical Institute Denver is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Denver. Students borrow a median of $8,227 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Pima Medical Institute Denver earn a median of $25,638 early in their careers. Set against $8,227 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pima Medical Institute Colorado Springs earned the #11 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, Pima Medical Institute Colorado Springs is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for value graduates is $14,689. Early-career value graduates make about $30,864. Set against $14,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology landed the #12 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology is a small private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $19,691 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,917 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology earn a median of $29,194 early in their careers.
Bel Rea Institute Of Animal Technology earned the #13 position for value in value this year. Bel Rea Institute Of Animal Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,819. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,772. Early-career value graduates make about $38,899. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Medical Institute Dillon earned the #14 position for value in value this year. Set in the town of Dillon, Pima Medical Institute Dillon is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $14,273 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Pima Medical Institute Dillon earn a median of $31,470 early in their careers. 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. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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.
