2026 Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[General Educational Leadership & Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/educational-leadership-and-administration-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools to find the best return on investment for general educational leadership & administration students.
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2026 Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general educational leadership & administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools
Our analysis ranked Utah Valley University the best value for a degree in general educational leadership & administration in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $51,242 early in their careers. 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 general educational leadership & administration. Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,658. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $23,277. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $71,905. Set against $23,277 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Weber State University one of the best values for general educational leadership & administration. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,557, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $19,176 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $53,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Utah University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general educational leadership & administration, landing the #4 spot this year. Southern Utah University is a very large public school located in the town of Cedar City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,962, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $44,998 early in their careers. Set against $12,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Utah University admits about 82% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Wyoming one of the best values for general educational leadership & administration. University Of Wyoming is a large public school located in the town of Laramie. Students from in state pay about $7,768 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,283 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $49,890. Set against $20,283 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Utah State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general educational leadership & administration schools. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $16,191. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $50,348. That is a strong return on a $16,191 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Utah landed the #7 spot for general educational leadership & administration value this year. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $20,798. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $88,013. Set against $20,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #8 for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,688. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $78,636 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Idaho came in at #9 for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. 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. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $23,844 in student loans. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $70,186. Set against $23,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Idaho admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earned the #10 position for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,906 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,039 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,559 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $49,605. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Montana came in at #11 for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,552, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Students borrow a median of $24,342 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $42,654. That is a strong return on a $24,342 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Idaho State University landed the #12 spot for general educational leadership & administration value this year. Idaho State University is a large public school located in the city of Pocatello. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,610, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Students borrow a median of $24,640 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $51,446. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Northern Colorado ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value general educational leadership & administration schools. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,901, with out-of-state students paying around $26,979. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $23,974 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado generally make around $59,991. That is a strong return on a $23,974 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Rocky Mountain College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value general educational leadership & administration schools. Located in the city of Billings, Rocky Mountain College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,582. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $25,666 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Rocky Mountain College generally make around $50,022. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Colorado Denver landed the #15 spot for general educational leadership & administration value this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $26,582. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $81,405 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,582 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Boise State University landed the #16 spot for general educational leadership & administration value this year. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. Students from in state pay about $9,048 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general educational leadership & administration graduates is $24,311. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $61,716. That is a strong return on a $24,311 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Montana State University earned the #17 position for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Located in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,460, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,635 to complete the general educational leadership & administration program here. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $63,672. Set against $23,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Regis University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value general educational leadership & administration schools. Located in the city of Denver, Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,140. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $31,773 in student loans. Early-career general educational leadership & administration graduates make about $75,168. That is a strong return on a $31,773 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Northwest Nazarene University earned the #19 position for value in general educational leadership & administration this year. Set in the suburb of Nampa, Northwest Nazarene University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,824 in tuition and fees. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $27,562 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Northwest Nazarene University earn a median of $68,610 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwest Nazarene University admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of Denver placed #20 among the best values for general educational leadership & administration. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,398. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $81,337 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,534 median debt. University Of Denver admits about 78% of applicants.
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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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
