2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Physical Sciences in the Rocky Mountains Region
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2019-2020, 52,879 people earned their degree in physical sciences, making the major the 18th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, physical sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $38,122 and had an average of $22,339 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Rocky Mountains region, there were 2,198 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,575 and $22,911 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,477 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,111 and $23,874 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree 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.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the physical sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. 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 for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students.
Top 22 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Physical Sciences in the Rocky Mountains Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This large school is located in Rexburg, Idaho, and it awarded 45 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
BYU - I also made our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $7,167 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students per year to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho.
The low student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Brigham Young University - Idaho Physical Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region. Provo, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to 75 students in 2019-2020.
BYU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $13,322 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students per year to attend Brigham Young University - Provo.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wyoming. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in Laramie, Wyoming, this fairly large public school awarded 88 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.
UW also made our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $12,159 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students per year to attend UW.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Weber State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. WSU is a public institution located in Ogden, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 44 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
WSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Weber State University is $11,968 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Utah. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region. University of Utah is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 175 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.
U of U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for U of U is $14,773 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students.
The low 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
University of Northern Colorado ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. University of Northern Colorado is a public institution located in Greeley, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 66 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Northern Colorado, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Colorado is $15,714 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students.
Full University of Northern Colorado Physical Sciences Report
With a ranking of #7, University of Idaho did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Moscow, Idaho is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to 40 students in 2019-2020.
U of I also took the #7 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend U of I is $14,132 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students.
Utah State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. USU is a large school located in Logan, Utah that handed out 42 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at USU, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $13,634 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students per year to attend Utah State University.
Fort Lewis College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #9. Fort Lewis College is located in Durango, Colorado and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.
FLC also took the #16 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Fort Lewis College is $16,274 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students.
Montana State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. MSU Bozeman is a fairly large school located in Bozeman, Montana that handed out 70 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
MSU Bozeman not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $19,202 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students per year to attend Montana State University.
Western Colorado University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #11. Western is a small public school situated in Gunnison, Colorado. It awarded 19 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Western not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Colorado University is $17,282 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students.
With a ranking of #12, Utah Valley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. UVU is a large public school situated in Orem, Utah. It awarded 34 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
UVU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UVU is $9,159 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students.
With a ranking of #13, Colorado State University - Fort Collins did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Fort Collins, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to 84 students in 2019-2020.
Colorado State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado State is $18,668 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 Colorado State University - Fort Collins
The University of Montana came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Missoula, Montana, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
UM also took the #10 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UM is $15,246 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students.
Read more about Physical Sciences at The University of Montana
Metropolitan State University of Denver did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #15. Metropolitan State University of Denver is a public institution located in Denver, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 43 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
MSU Denver also took the #15 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $14,257 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students per year to attend Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Read full report on Physical Sciences at Metropolitan State University of Denver
Idaho State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Pocatello, Idaho, this fairly large public school handed out 33 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.
ISU also made our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $16,810 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students per year to attend ISU.
Read full report on Physical Sciences at Idaho State University
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Denver, Colorado, this large public school awarded 22 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.
CU Anschutz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus is $15,358 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Physical Sciences at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Boise State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Boise State is a large school located in Boise, Idaho that handed out 56 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Boise State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Boise State is $15,787 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students.
Montana Technological University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. This small school is located in Butte, Montana, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
Montana Tech also made our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for Montana Tech is $15,023 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students.
Colorado Mesa University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Colorado Mesa University is located in Grand Junction, Colorado and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.
Colorado Mesa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado Mesa University is $15,569 for Rocky Mountains Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students.
With a ranking of #21, University of Colorado Boulder did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. CU - Boulder is a large public school situated in Boulder, Colorado. It awarded 239 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.
CU - Boulder also made our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend CU - Boulder is $21,680 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #22, Colorado School of Mines did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Colorado School of Mines is a public institution located in Golden, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Mines not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Colorado School of Mines is $26,750 for rocky mountains region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students.
The low student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to NASA.
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