2027 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for curriculum & instruction students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the curriculum & instruction degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
For return on investment in curriculum & instruction, no school beat Utah Valley University this year. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $65,419 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt.
University Of Colorado Denver came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $26,582. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $61,095. That is a strong return on a $26,582 median debt. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
Western Governors University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in curriculum & instruction, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $8,658 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $23,277. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $62,910. Set against $23,277 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Utah State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in curriculum & instruction, landing the #4 spot this year. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. In-state tuition and fees average $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $16,191 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $96,401 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Idaho came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,084, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Students borrow a median of $23,844 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of $47,187 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,844 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned the #6 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,124, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $27,484 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $44,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,906, compared with $25,039 for out-of-state students. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $23,559 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earn a median of $50,611 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Montana State University Billings earned the #8 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Billings, Montana State University Billings is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,280, compared with $22,897 for out-of-state students. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $25,465 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Montana State University Billings generally make around $49,430. That is a strong return on a $25,465 median debt.
The University Of Montana landed the #9 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,552 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $24,342. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $44,274. That is a strong return on a $24,342 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Boise State University came in at #10 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $24,311 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $50,643 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,311 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Montana State University came in at #11 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Montana State University is a large public school located in the city of Bozeman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,460, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $23,635 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $48,880. That is a strong return on a $23,635 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Colorado Boulder placed #12 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $51,379. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Denver landed the #13 spot for curriculum & instruction value this year. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. In-state tuition and fees average $61,398. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $58,137. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.