2026 Best Best Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Best is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for best students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Best in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Best
Brigham Young University Provo tops our 2026 ranking of the best best schools. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 62 best degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent year. Best graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $58,390 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,184.
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University Of Utah is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #2. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. University Of Utah graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Utah awarded about 57 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Utah earn around $67,318 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,798.
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University Of Colorado Denver is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 132 best degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado Denver in the most recent year. Best graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $66,943 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,582.
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University Of Wyoming is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #4. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. There were roughly 14 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wyoming in the most recent data year. Best graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $49,890 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,283 to complete this degree.
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Colorado State University Fort Collins is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Collins. About 66% of students finish within six years. Colorado State University Fort Collins awarded about 14 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $51,693 in their early career. Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans.
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Boise State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Boise. About 59% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 best students who graduated with this degree at Boise State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Boise State University earn around $55,582 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,311.
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Utah Valley University landed the #7 spot for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Orem. Utah Valley University graduates 40% of students within six years. Utah Valley University awarded about 11 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Utah Valley University earn around $51,242 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,478.
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Southern Utah University placed #8 among the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Cedar City. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 46 best degrees were awarded at Southern Utah University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Southern Utah University generally make around $55,757. Southern Utah University graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans.
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University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public school located in the city of Colorado Springs. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $70,497 in their early career. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs graduates carry a median of $23,559 in student loans.
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Brigham Young University Idaho placed #10 among the best best schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Rexburg. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 15 best degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Idaho in the most recent year. Best graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $43,853 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,287 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Montana earned the #11 position for best this year. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. The University Of Montana graduates 49% of students within six years. About 38 best degrees were awarded at The University Of Montana in the most recent year. Best graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $49,746 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,342.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 20 schools evaluated.
- 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.
