2027 Best Value General Education Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/education-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general education schools.
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2027 Best Value General Education Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Snow College the best value for a degree in general education in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,338, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. Students borrow a median of $10,440 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Snow College generally make around $42,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Brigham Young University Idaho, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,287 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $43,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brigham Young University Idaho admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Colorado Mountain College earned it the #3 place for general education. Set in the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,616, with out-of-state students paying around $12,840. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $12,953. Early-career general education graduates make about $48,694. Set against $12,953 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Southern Utah University, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,962, with out-of-state students paying around $21,192. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $8,000. General Education graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $71,314 early in their careers. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Colorado State University Pueblo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,720, compared with $17,944 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $25,325. Early-career general education graduates make about $48,078. Set against $25,325 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Pueblo admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Wyoming came in at #6 for value in general education this year. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,768 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,178. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $20,283. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Wyoming generally make around $80,930. Set against $20,283 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Colorado Denver ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Students from in state pay about $10,383 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. General Education graduates carry a median of $27,936 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $44,479. That is a strong return on a $27,936 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Idaho State University earned the #8 position for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,610, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $24,640 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $51,446. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Idaho landed the #9 spot for general education value this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,844 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $43,246. Set against $23,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Idaho admits about 76% of applicants.
Mesa State College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,310 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $52,796. That is a strong return on a $22,310 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned the #11 position for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. General Education graduates carry a median of $27,484 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $49,122. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants.
Western State College Of Colorado earned the #12 position for value in general education this year. Located in the town of Gunnison, Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,318 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,434 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $23,455. Early-career general education graduates make about $51,949. That is a strong return on a $23,455 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Montana Western landed the #13 spot for general education value this year. Located in the town of Dillon, The University Of Montana Western is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,669, compared with $20,130 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $22,484 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from The University Of Montana Western generally make around $36,924. That is a strong return on a $22,484 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Fort Lewis College placed #14 among the best values for general education. Set in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,958, compared with $21,526 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $18,888. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Fort Lewis College generally make around $30,676. That is a strong return on a $18,888 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Northern Colorado came in at #15 for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,901 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $23,974 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $46,262. That is a strong return on a $23,974 median debt. University Of Northern Colorado admits about 86% of applicants.
Boise State University earned the #16 position for value in general education this year. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $24,311. Early-career general education graduates make about $49,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #17 for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $20,373. General Education graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $55,861 early in their careers. Set against $20,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
