2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value public administration schools.
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2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
Our analysis ranked Utah Valley University the best value for a degree in public administration in the Rocky Mountains Region. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $51,242. 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 public administration. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $43,853. Set against $13,287 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Colorado Denver one of the best values for public administration. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $26,582. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $66,943. That is a strong return on a $26,582 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Utah University earned it the #4 place for public administration. Southern Utah University is a very large public school located in the town of Cedar City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,962, with out-of-state students paying around $21,192. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $55,757 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,886 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wyoming earned it the #5 place for public administration. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,768, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $20,283. Early-career public administration graduates make about $49,890. Set against $20,283 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #6 for value in public administration this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $12,184. Public Administration graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $58,390 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,184 median debt. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of Idaho ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Students borrow a median of $23,844 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $60,531. Set against $23,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earned the #8 position for value in public administration this year. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,906 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,039 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,559 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earn a median of $70,497 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Utah came in at #9 for value in public administration this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $20,798. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $67,318. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
The University Of Montana earned the #10 position for value in public administration this year. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. Students from in state pay about $8,552 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Students borrow a median of $24,342 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $49,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $51,693. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
Boise State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $24,311. Public Administration graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $55,582 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,311 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Montana State University earned the #13 position for value in public administration this year. Montana State University is a large public school located in the city of Bozeman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $23,635 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $47,703. That is a strong return on a $23,635 median debt. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 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.
