2027 Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

[Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-nursing/) 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing students.
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2027 Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools
Our analysis ranked Colorado State University Pueblo the best value for a degree in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,720 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,944. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $27,562 in student loans. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $95,058. Set against $27,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Pueblo admits about 95% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Governors University earned it the #2 place for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $8,658 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,660 to complete the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Western Governors University generally make around $93,055. That is a strong return on a $22,660 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing will find it at Idaho State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $33,699 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Idaho State University generally make around $82,450. Set against $33,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,906, with out-of-state students paying around $25,039. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program here. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $89,464. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing will find it at University Of Utah, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $22,106. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $92,469 early in their careers. Set against $22,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Regis University landed the #6 spot for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing value this year. Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,140. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $29,427. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Regis University earn a median of $94,010 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Regis University admits about 86% of applicants.
Montana State University landed the #7 spot for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing value this year. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $28,000. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $86,654 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Nightingale College earned the #8 position for value in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, Nightingale College is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $27,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Nightingale College generally make around $73,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.