2027 Best Value Individualized Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Individualized Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/individualized-studies/) 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 21 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value individualized studies schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Individualized Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the individualized studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Individualized Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Colorado Mountain College the best value for a degree in individualized studies in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,616, while out-of-state students pay about $12,840. Typical student debt for individualized studies graduates is $7,541. Soon after graduation, individualized studies degree recipients from Colorado Mountain College generally make around $32,551. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pikes Peak Community College earned it the #2 place for individualized studies. Pikes Peak Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Colorado Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,510, compared with $17,110 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the individualized studies program here. Soon after graduation, individualized studies degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $26,779. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Community College Of Aurora came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value individualized studies schools. Community College Of Aurora is a large public school located in the city of Aurora. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,470, with out-of-state students paying around $17,070. Individualized Studies graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, individualized studies degree recipients from Community College Of Aurora generally make around $38,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Red Rocks Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value individualized studies schools. 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 $11,913 to complete the individualized studies program here. Individualized Studies graduates of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $27,242 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in individualized studies will find it at Morgan Community College, which ranked #5. Morgan Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Fort Morgan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,252, with out-of-state students paying around $16,852. Students borrow a median of $6,250 to complete the individualized studies program here. Early-career individualized studies graduates make about $70,412. That is a strong return on a $6,250 median debt.
Community College Of Denver landed the #6 spot for individualized studies value this year. Set in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,445 to complete the individualized studies program here. Individualized Studies graduates of Community College Of Denver earn a median of $29,078 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar Community College placed #7 among the best values for individualized studies. Set in the town of Lamar, Lamar Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,550, while out-of-state students pay about $7,260. Students borrow a median of $9,300 to complete the individualized studies program here. Early-career individualized studies graduates make about $25,669. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colorado State University Pueblo came in at #8 for value in individualized studies this year. Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public school located in the city of Pueblo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,720, with out-of-state students paying around $17,944. Typical student debt for individualized studies graduates is $25,750. Soon after graduation, individualized studies degree recipients from Colorado State University Pueblo generally make around $38,502. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Aims Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value individualized studies schools. Set in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,258, while out-of-state students pay about $11,786. Typical student debt for individualized studies graduates is $9,152. Individualized Studies graduates of Aims Community College earn a median of $29,845 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trinidad State Junior College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value individualized studies schools. Set in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,608 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,318 for out-of-state students. Individualized Studies graduates carry a median of $9,995 in student loans. Individualized Studies graduates of Trinidad State Junior College earn a median of $30,532 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,995 median debt.
Arapahoe Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value individualized studies schools. Set in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,434, compared with $17,034 for out-of-state students. Individualized Studies graduates carry a median of $15,125 in student loans. Early-career individualized studies graduates make about $38,592. Set against $15,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Otero Junior College earned the #12 position for value in individualized studies this year. Located in the town of La Junta, Otero Junior College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $7,270 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete the individualized studies program here. Early-career individualized studies graduates make about $66,338. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colorado Northwestern Community College came in at #13 for value in individualized studies this year. Located in the rural area of Rangely, Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,594, compared with $7,304 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the individualized studies program here. Individualized Studies graduates of Colorado Northwestern Community College earn a median of $56,978 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pueblo Community College came in at #14 for value in individualized studies this year. Set in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,049, compared with $17,649 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,962 to complete the individualized studies program here. Individualized Studies graduates of Pueblo Community College earn a median of $30,640 early in their careers. Set against $14,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Great Falls College Montana State University landed the #15 spot for individualized studies value this year. Set in the city of Great Falls, Great Falls College Montana State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,028 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,911. Median earnings reach $38,034 ten years out.
Adams State College came in at #16 for value in individualized studies this year. Set in the town of Alamosa, Adams State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,824, while out-of-state students pay about $21,944. Typical student debt for individualized studies graduates is $24,879. Early-career individualized studies graduates make about $39,546. That is a strong return on a $24,879 median debt.
Front Range Community College earned the #17 position for value in individualized studies this year. Front Range Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Westminster. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,663, compared with $17,263 for out-of-state students. Individualized Studies graduates carry a median of $14,750 in student loans. Early-career individualized studies graduates make about $35,023. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt.
Northeastern Junior College came in at #18 for value in individualized studies this year. Located in the town of Sterling, Northeastern Junior College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,730, with out-of-state students paying around $8,267. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the individualized studies program here. Soon after graduation, individualized studies degree recipients from Northeastern Junior College generally make around $24,287. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa State College earned the #19 position for value in individualized studies this year. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Individualized Studies graduates carry a median of $23,485 in student loans. Soon after graduation, individualized studies degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $37,298. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
Lewis Clark State College landed the #20 spot for individualized studies value this year. Set in the city of Lewiston, Lewis Clark State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,610 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,028. Students borrow a median of $22,099 to complete the individualized studies program here. Early-career individualized studies graduates make about $36,271. That is a strong return on a $22,099 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The University Of Montana earned the #21 position for value in individualized studies 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, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the individualized studies program here. Early-career individualized studies graduates make about $30,794. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Individualized Studies Schools by State
More Individualized Studies Rankings
View All Individualized Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
