2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/criminology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for criminology students.
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2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminology Schools
Leading the list is Utah State University, our #1 best value for criminology in the Rocky Mountains Region. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Students borrow a median of $16,191 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $50,348. Set against $16,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Utah is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #2 spot this year. 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, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $20,798. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $60,527. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in criminology will find it at Colorado State University Pueblo, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,720, compared with $17,944 for out-of-state students. Criminology graduates carry a median of $25,325 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $49,098. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado State University Pueblo admits about 95% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Idaho earned it the #4 place for criminology. University Of Idaho is a large public school located in the town of Moscow. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,844 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of $43,246 early in their careers. Set against $23,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Fort Lewis College one of the best values for criminology. Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Durango. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,958, with out-of-state students paying around $21,526. Students borrow a median of $18,888 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Fort Lewis College generally make around $30,676. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fort Lewis College admits about 77% of applicants.
Regis University came in at #6 for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Denver, Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,140. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $39,337. Early-career criminology graduates make about $48,522. That is a strong return on a $39,337 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Denver placed #7 among the best values for criminology. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,398. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $22,000. Early-career criminology graduates make about $40,667. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.