2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Value](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/general/) 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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Value Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Utah Valley University tops our 2027 list of the best value value schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Typical student debt for value graduates is $16,478. Value graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $51,242 early in their careers. Set against $16,478 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brigham Young University Idaho earned it the #2 place for value. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Value graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans. Value graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $43,853 early in their careers. Set against $13,287 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brigham Young University Idaho admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Colorado Denver earned it the #3 place for value. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,383 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,582. Early-career value graduates make about $66,943. That is a strong return on a $26,582 median debt. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Utah University earned it the #4 place for value. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,962 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,192. Value graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans. Value graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $55,757 early in their careers. Set against $12,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Utah University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Wyoming came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,768, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,283. Early-career value graduates make about $49,890. Set against $20,283 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo earned the #6 position for value in value this year. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Typical student debt for value graduates is $12,184. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $58,390. That is a strong return on a $12,184 median debt. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of Idaho earned the #7 position for value in value this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. Students borrow a median of $23,844 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $60,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earned the #8 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,906, while out-of-state students pay about $25,039. Students borrow a median of $23,559 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $70,497. Set against $23,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Utah placed #9 among the best values for value. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,798. Early-career value graduates make about $67,318. Set against $20,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
The University Of Montana ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Value graduates carry a median of $24,342 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $49,746. That is a strong return on a $24,342 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #11 for value in value this year. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $51,693. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
Boise State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,311 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $55,582 early in their careers. Set against $24,311 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Montana State University landed the #13 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. Value graduates carry a median of $23,635 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $47,703. That is a strong return on a $23,635 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
