2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value curriculum & instruction schools.
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2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in curriculum & instruction, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
Leading the list is Utah Valley University, our #1 best value for curriculum & instruction in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $65,419. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Governors University earned it the #2 place for curriculum & instruction. 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. Students borrow a median of $23,277 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Western Governors University generally make around $62,910. That is a strong return on a $23,277 median debt.
Salish Kootenai College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Salish Kootenai College is a small public school located in the rural area of Pablo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,311, while out-of-state students pay about $11,583. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $52,607.
Utah State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,191 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $96,401 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,191 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Idaho one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. University Of Idaho is a large public school located in the town of Moscow. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,084, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $23,844. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from University Of Idaho generally make around $47,187. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $27,484. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $44,861 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,484 median debt. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earned the #7 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $25,039. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $23,559. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $50,611. 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. Montana State University Billings is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Billings. Students from in state pay about $7,280 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,897. 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.
University Of Colorado Denver placed #9 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $26,582 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $61,095 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
The University Of Montana ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Students borrow a median of $24,342 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $44,274. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants.
Boise State University earned the #11 position for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $24,311 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $50,643. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Montana State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $23,635. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $48,880. Set against $23,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder placed #13 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. Students from in state pay about $15,214 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Students borrow a median of $20,373 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $51,379. Set against $20,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Colorado Christian University came in at #14 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,846. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $36,092 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Colorado Christian University generally make around $53,567. Set against $36,092 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Nazarene University placed #15 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Northwest Nazarene University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Nampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,824. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $27,562 in student loans. Curriculum & Instruction graduates of Northwest Nazarene University earn a median of $47,049 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,562 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Denver placed #16 among the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,398. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $58,137. That is a strong return on a $22,534 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
