2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/other-general-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for general engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Engineering Schools
Snow College earned the #1 spot for value among general engineering schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,338, with out-of-state students paying around $14,288. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $10,440. General Engineering graduates of Snow College earn a median of $42,776 early in their careers. Set against $10,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general engineering will find it at Weber State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,557, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,176 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $53,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general engineering will find it at Red Rocks Community College, which ranked #3. Red Rocks Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lakewood. Students from in state pay about $4,859 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,459. Students borrow a median of $14,471 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $76,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,471 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Western Idaho earned it the #4 place for general engineering. Set in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,446 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,454. Students borrow a median of $12,497 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $40,963.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Colorado Denver one of the best values for general engineering. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $26,582. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $66,288. Set against $26,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Front Range Community College placed #6 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,663, with out-of-state students paying around $17,263. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,384 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $40,414. Set against $17,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earned the #7 position for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,906, compared with $25,039 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,559 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs generally make around $114,220. That is a strong return on a $23,559 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Dixie State College Of Utah earned the #8 position for value in general engineering this year. Set in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,306, compared with $18,246 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,666 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Dixie State College Of Utah generally make around $42,266. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana landed the #9 spot for general engineering value this year. Located in the town of Butte, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,289, compared with $26,094 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,962 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $68,773. Set against $23,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #10 for value in general engineering this year. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $93,602. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Fort Lewis College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,958 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,526. Students borrow a median of $28,450 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Fort Lewis College earn a median of $50,985 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Boise State University earned the #12 position for value in general engineering 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, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,311 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $49,059. Set against $24,311 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #13 spot for general engineering value this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,373 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $115,924. Set against $20,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #14 for value in general engineering this year. Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $24,521. General Engineering graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $76,298 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,521 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Northwest Nazarene University earned the #15 position for value in general engineering this year. Northwest Nazarene University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Nampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,824. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $27,562. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Northwest Nazarene University generally make around $50,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.