by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. A school that typically has a high sticker price may actually be very affordable, depending on how much need-based financial aid you receive.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
We analyzed 52 schools across the Rocky Mountains Region to determine which have the best value Associate Degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $30-$48k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Brigham Young University - Idaho the best value (income $30-$48k) school in the Rocky Mountains Region for students working on their associate degree. BYU - I is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rexburg, Idaho.
Brigham Young University - Idaho has the honor of being ranked #1 in Idaho for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $3,635.
Out of the 52 associate degree schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Utah Valley University landed the #2 spot on the list. Utah Valley University is a large public school located in Orem, Utah.
Utah Valley University has the honor of being ranked #1 in Utah for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,392.
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list means Salt Lake Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. Salt Lake Community College is a large public school located in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Salt Lake Community College has the honor of being ranked #4 in Utah for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,141.
The quality degree programs at Colorado Mountain College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region. This medium-sized public school is located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Colorado Mountain College is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Colorado. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,286.
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list means Weber State University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Ogden, Utah, the school is a large public institution.
Not only is Weber State University a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Utah for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,103.
With a ranking of #6, Community College of Aurora did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. CCA is a public institution located in Aurora, Colorado.
Not only is Community College of Aurora a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Colorado for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $7,025.
North Idaho College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. This small public school is located in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Not only is North Idaho College a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Idaho for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,394.
Utah State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This large public school is located in Logan, Utah.
Utah State University has the honor of being ranked #2 in Utah for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,008.
Southern Utah University did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #9. This fairly large public school is located in Cedar City, Utah.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Southern Utah University is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Utah. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,796.
Front Range Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #10. Front Range Community College is a fairly large public school located in Westminster, Colorado.
Not only is Front Range Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Colorado for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,215.
Laramie County Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. LCCC is a public institution located in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Laramie County Community College is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Wyoming. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,693.
College of Southern Idaho did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #12. College of Southern Idaho is located in Twin Falls, Idaho and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is College of Southern Idaho a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Idaho for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,498.
Morgan Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This small public school is located in Fort Morgan, Colorado.
Not only is Morgan Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #12 in Colorado for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $7,884.
Casper College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #14. Casper College is a public institution located in Casper, Wyoming.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Casper College is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Wyoming. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,825.
With a ranking of #15, Snow College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Snow College is a medium-sized public school located in Ephraim, Utah.
Not only is Snow College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Utah for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,234.
Pikes Peak Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. PPCC is a fairly large public school situated in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Pikes Peak Community College is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Colorado. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $9,145.
Western Wyoming Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Rock Springs, Wyoming, the school is a small public institution.
Western Wyoming Community College has the honor of being ranked #2 in Wyoming for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,989.
College of Western Idaho came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. CWI is located in Nampa, Idaho and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
College of Western Idaho has the honor of being ranked #5 in Idaho for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,716.
Aims Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Greeley, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Aims Community College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Colorado. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $9,737.
Otero Junior College landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. La Junta, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Otero Junior College a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Colorado for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $10,869.
Red Rocks Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Red Rocks Community College is located in Lakewood, Colorado and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Red Rocks Community College has the honor of being ranked #11 in Colorado for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,168.
Northern Wyoming Community College District landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Northern Wyoming Community College District is located in Sheridan, Wyoming and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Northern Wyoming Community College District a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Wyoming for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,920.
Read full value report on Northern Wyoming Community College District
Arapahoe Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Littleton, Colorado, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Arapahoe Community College has the honor of being ranked #16 in Colorado for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $7,892.
LDS Business College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. LDS Business College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Not only is LDS Business College a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Utah for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,843.
With a ranking of #25, Community College of Denver did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Denver, Colorado.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Community College of Denver is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Colorado. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,172.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
