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2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k

12 Ranked Colleges
2,027 Degrees Awarded
$11,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Physical Sciences is the 19th most popular major in the country with 50,306 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, physical sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $39,880 and had an average of $22,620 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Rocky Mountains region, there were 2,027 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,145 and $23,423 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 12 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in physical sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent physical sciences programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the physical sciences program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Physical Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region

1

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Idaho landed the #1 spot on the list. Rexburg, Idaho is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our rocky mountains region physical sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, BYU - I has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $3,357 for rocky mountains region physical sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Brigham Young University - Idaho Physical Sciences Report

2
UW crest
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wyoming. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW is located in Laramie, Wyoming and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 97 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

UW not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wyoming is $6,776 for rocky mountains region physical sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at UW

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Brigham Young University - Provo is located in Provo, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 122 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

BYU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend BYU is $10,333 for Rocky Mountains Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at BYU

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Colorado State University - Fort Collins is located in Fort Collins, Colorado and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 149 ’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

Colorado State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado State University - Fort Collins is $12,736 for rocky mountains region physical sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Colorado State

5

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Colorado Boulder landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Boulder, Colorado, this large public school awarded 375 diplomas to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.

CU - Boulder also took the #2 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Colorado Boulder is $13,901 for Rocky Mountains Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Colorado Boulder

6
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Utah is a large public school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 235 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

U of U also took the #5 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for U of U is $11,823 for Rocky Mountains Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Utah

7
U of I crest
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho

University of Idaho came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. U of I is a fairly large school located in Moscow, Idaho that handed out 56 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

U of I also made our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for University of Idaho is $11,148 for Rocky Mountains Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Idaho Physical Sciences Report

8
Mines crest
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

Colorado School of Mines did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Colorado School of Mines is a public institution located in Golden, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 82 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mines, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Colorado School of Mines is $13,690 for Rocky Mountains Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Colorado School of Mines

9

University of Northern Colorado ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Greeley, Colorado, this fairly large public school awarded 68 diplomas to qualified ’s physical sciences students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Northern Colorado, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Colorado is $13,774 for Rocky Mountains Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Northern Colorado

10

Boise State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Boise, Idaho, and it awarded 74 ’s physical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Boise State, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Boise State is $13,582 for rocky mountains region physical sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Boise State University

11
MSU Bozeman crest
Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana

Montana State University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bozeman, Montana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 122 students in 2020-2021.

MSU Bozeman also made our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Montana State University is $16,779 for Rocky Mountains Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Montana State University Physical Sciences Report

12

Metropolitan State University of Denver ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Denver, Colorado is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s physical sciences degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Denver, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $11,884 for Rocky Mountains Region Physical Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Read more about Physical Sciences at MSU Denver

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