by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in the Rocky Mountains Region, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks 197 programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated graduate schools using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
The best graduate school for you depends on what you want to study. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Start by picking a degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our tool College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Leading the list is Colorado School Of Mines, our #1 graduate school in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in Golden, CO, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $76,298. Students borrow a median of $24,521 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at University Of Denver, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Denver, CO, University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,398. University Of Denver graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,999. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Colorado Boulder one of the top graduate schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. University Of Colorado Boulder is a public school based in Boulder, CO. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,861. The median student debt is $20,373.
The strong outcomes at University Of Utah earned it the #4 place in the Rocky Mountains Region. University Of Utah is a public school based in Salt Lake City, UT. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,527. The median student debt is $20,798.
A rank of #5 makes Colorado State University Fort Collins one of the top graduate schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates 66% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,693. The median student debt is $22,843.
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #6 spot in the Rocky Mountains Region this year. Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit school based in Provo, UT. About 81% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Median early-career earnings reach $54,507. Students borrow a median of $12,184 to complete a degree here.
Colorado College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, Colorado College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,734. Median early-career earnings reach $37,342. Colorado College students take on a median of $17,921 in debt.
Neumont University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private for-profit school is set in Salt Lake City, UT. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,360.
Western Governors University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Salt Lake City, UT, Western Governors University is a private not-for-profit institution. Western Governors University graduates 46% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,658. Median early-career earnings reach $74,771. Western Governors University students take on a median of $23,277 in debt.
University Of Wyoming landed the #10 spot in the Rocky Mountains Region this year. University Of Wyoming is a public school based in Laramie, WY. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,768, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. University Of Wyoming graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,890. University Of Wyoming students take on a median of $20,283 in debt.
University Of Colorado Denver landed the #11 spot in the Rocky Mountains Region this year. Located in Denver, CO, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,022 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,582.
Regis University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Denver, CO, Regis University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. In-state tuition and fees average $28,140. Early-career graduates earn a median of $72,028. Graduates carry a median of $31,773 in student loans.
Westminster College Utah ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Salt Lake City, UT, Westminster College Utah is a private not-for-profit institution. Westminster College Utah posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Students from in state pay about $43,528 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $55,433. Students borrow a median of $23,090 to complete a degree here.
Denver School Of Nursing ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Denver, CO, Denver School Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,458. Median early-career earnings reach $80,304. Students borrow a median of $32,832 to complete a degree here.
Weber State University landed the #15 spot in the Rocky Mountains Region this year. This public school is set in Ogden, UT. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. Weber State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,920. Students borrow a median of $19,176 to complete a degree here.
Utah State University placed #16 among the best graduate schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in Logan, UT, Utah State University is a public institution. Utah State University graduates 57% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,348 early in their careers. The median student debt is $16,191.
Boise State University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Boise, ID, Boise State University is a public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,048, while out-of-state students pay about $27,788. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,059. Typical student debt is $24,311.
Carroll College did well this year, earning the #18 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Helena, MT. About 69% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $41,484. Carroll College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,797. Typical student debt is $24,912.
Rocky Vista University landed the #19 spot in the Rocky Mountains Region this year. Located in Parker, CO, Rocky Vista University is a private for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,332.
Montana State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Bozeman, MT, Montana State University is a public institution. Montana State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,460, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. Montana State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,703. Montana State University students take on a median of $23,635 in debt.
University Of Northern Colorado placed #21 among the best graduate schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in Greeley, CO, University Of Northern Colorado is a public institution. University Of Northern Colorado graduates 51% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,901, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,705 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,974.
Utah Valley University placed #22 among the best graduate schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Based in Orem, UT, Utah Valley University is a public institution. Utah Valley University posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,242. The median student debt is $16,478.
Colorado State University Global Campus placed #23 among the best graduate schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Based in Denver, CO, Colorado State University Global Campus is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $68,936. Colorado State University Global Campus students take on a median of $31,361 in debt.
Nightingale College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Nightingale College is a private for-profit school based in Salt Lake City, UT. The six-year graduation rate is 26%. Nightingale College graduates report median early-career earnings of $73,271. The median student debt is $27,875.
Salt Lake Community College placed #25 among the best graduate schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in Salt Lake City, UT, Salt Lake Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,426, while out-of-state students pay about $14,244. Median early-career earnings reach $42,031. Typical student debt is $10,855.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.
