# Best Colleges in Rocky Mountains

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: By Region
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-rocky-mountains

## Methodology

Composite score for institutions in the Rocky Mountains region

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Choosing a college is a significant decision, especially in the Rocky Mountains region, where diverse opportunities await students. This list highlights 50 institutions that share a commitment to helping their students succeed academically and professionally. As families weigh their options, it's essential to consider not only the college experience but also the potential return on investment for their education.

The standout schools on this list are differentiated by key outcomes that matter for students and families, including post-graduation earnings, graduation rates, debt levels, and mobility. Understanding these metrics can help guide your decision-making process. For example, schools with higher earnings and graduation rates typically indicate strong support systems and successful programs.

Take Brigham Young University, which boasts an impressive $75,790 in average earnings and an 82% graduation rate. In contrast, Southern Utah University has lower earnings at $50,296 and a graduation rate of 60%. This comparison illustrates the trade-offs families may face as they consider factors like financial aid and program fit in their college search.

## Key Findings

- Brigham Young University has an average earning of $75,790, significantly higher than the average of $51,878.
- The graduation rate at Colorado School of Mines stands at 81%, while the University of Colorado Denver has just 47%.
- Southern Utah University has the lowest net price on this list at $10,462, but its average earnings are below the regional average.
- Average debt for graduates from Colorado School of Mines is $23,000, compared to Southern Utah University's $12,500.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Brigham Young University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brigham-young-university) | Provo, UT | 82% | $75,790 | $15,564 | $11,069 | 0.15x |
| 2 | [University of Utah](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-utah) | Salt Lake City, UT | 64% | $67,170 | $16,200 | $19,000 | 0.28x |
| 3 | [Colorado School of Mines](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-school-of-mines) | Golden, CO | 81% | $97,335 | $28,690 | $23,000 | 0.24x |
| 4 | [Southern Utah University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-utah-university) | Cedar City, UT | 60% | $50,296 | $10,462 | $12,500 | 0.25x |
| 5 | [Colorado College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-college) | Colorado Springs, CO | 87% | $65,222 | $33,375 | $18,257 | 0.28x |
| 6 | [University of Wyoming](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-wyoming) | Laramie, WY | 59% | $56,880 | $13,599 | $18,000 | 0.32x |
| 7 | [Regis University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/regis-university) | Denver, CO | 61% | $72,105 | $18,397 | $25,000 | 0.35x |
| 8 | [University of Denver](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-denver) | Denver, CO | 77% | $71,155 | $36,131 | $21,844 | 0.31x |
| 9 | [Weber State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/weber-state-university) | Ogden, UT | 45% | $56,287 | $10,258 | $15,113 | 0.27x |
| 10 | [Utah Valley University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/utah-valley-university) | Orem, UT | 43% | $55,486 | $6,376 | $14,750 | 0.27x |
| 11 | [University of Northern Colorado](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-northern-colorado) | Greeley, CO | 51% | $52,231 | $17,760 | $20,470 | 0.39x |
| 12 | [College of Southern Idaho](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-southern-idaho) | Twin Falls, ID | 34% | $40,916 | $6,095 | $8,000 | 0.2x |
| 13 | [Eastern Wyoming College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-wyoming-college) | Torrington, WY | 51% | $37,121 | $4,764 | $7,000 | 0.19x |
| 14 | [Metropolitan State University of Denver](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver) | Denver, CO | 31% | $52,093 | $15,327 | $21,500 | 0.41x |
| 15 | [University of Idaho](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-idaho) | Moscow, ID | 59% | $54,670 | $14,831 | $21,982 | 0.4x |
| 16 | [Western Wyoming Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-wyoming-community-college) | Rock Springs, WY | 33% | $40,939 | $6,591 | $9,000 | 0.22x |
| 17 | [Western Colorado University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-colorado-university) | Gunnison, CO | 51% | $46,833 | $16,425 | $20,250 | 0.43x |
| 18 | [Fort Lewis College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fort-lewis-college) | Durango, CO | 39% | $46,349 | $17,296 | $18,389 | 0.4x |
| 19 | [Snow College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/snow-college) | Ephraim, UT | 45% | $41,022 | $5,552 | $7,000 | 0.17x |
| 20 | [Northern Wyoming Community College District](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northern-wyoming-community-college-district) | Sheridan, WY | 43% | $40,477 | $9,346 | $8,622 | 0.21x |
| 21 | [Carroll College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/carroll-college) | Helena, MT | 68% | $61,772 | $23,960 | $25,757 | 0.42x |
| 22 | [The College of Idaho](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-college-of-idaho) | Caldwell, ID | 63% | $48,473 | $19,481 | $24,500 | 0.51x |
| 23 | [Lamar Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lamar-community-college) | Lamar, CO | 48% | $38,719 | $9,161 | $8,750 | 0.23x |
| 24 | [Casper College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/casper-college) | Casper, WY | 41% | $40,935 | $9,593 | $9,534 | 0.23x |
| 25 | [Salt Lake Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/salt-lake-community-college) | Salt Lake City, UT | 29% | $47,867 | $9,804 | $8,003 | 0.17x |
| 26 | [Colorado Mesa University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-mesa-university) | Grand Junction, CO | 41% | $45,823 | $15,103 | $22,000 | 0.48x |
| 27 | [Central Wyoming College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-wyoming-college) | Riverton, WY | 39% | $34,402 | $11,634 | $8,361 | 0.24x |
| 28 | [Boise State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/boise-state-university) | Boise, ID | 61% | $51,658 | $21,610 | $20,500 | 0.4x |
| 29 | [Northwest College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwest-college) | Powell, WY | 46% | $36,950 | $7,463 | $10,000 | 0.27x |
| 30 | [The University of Montana](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-montana) | Missoula, MT | 47% | $44,511 | $16,784 | $22,400 | 0.5x |
| 31 | [Flathead Valley Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/flathead-valley-community-college) | Kalispell, MT | 28% | $38,520 | $8,099 | $10,500 | 0.27x |
| 32 | [Rocky Mountain College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rocky-mountain-college) | Billings, MT | 48% | $49,036 | $19,751 | $26,000 | 0.53x |
| 33 | [Lewis-Clark State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lewis-clark-state-college) | Lewiston, ID | 43% | $46,001 | $15,635 | $18,500 | 0.4x |
| 34 | [Miles Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/miles-community-college) | Miles City, MT | 55% | $42,862 | $10,405 | $11,500 | 0.27x |
| 35 | [Laramie County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/laramie-county-community-college) | Cheyenne, WY | 35% | $44,783 | $7,287 | $11,000 | 0.25x |
| 36 | [Adams State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/adams-state-university) | Alamosa, CO | 36% | $44,372 | $12,980 | $19,500 | 0.44x |
| 37 | [Idaho State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/idaho-state-university) | Pocatello, ID | 39% | $45,608 | $12,193 | $20,039 | 0.44x |
| 38 | [Northwest Nazarene University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwest-nazarene-university) | Nampa, ID | 65% | $51,719 | $29,580 | $23,750 | 0.46x |
| 39 | [University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-colorado-denveranschutz-medical-campus) | Denver, CO | 47% | $64,270 | $11,900 | $20,500 | 0.32x |
| 40 | [Colorado Northwestern Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-northwestern-community-college) | Rangely, CO | 34% | $43,526 | $12,131 | $12,000 | 0.28x |
| 41 | [Western Governors University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-governors-university) | Salt Lake City, UT | 48% | $60,615 | $12,548 | $11,116 | 0.18x |
| 42 | [University of Colorado Boulder](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-colorado-boulder) | Boulder, CO | 75% | $69,738 | $25,346 | $19,500 | 0.28x |
| 43 | [Montana State University Billings](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/montana-state-university-billings) | Billings, MT | 29% | $44,296 | $16,524 | $18,209 | 0.41x |
| 44 | [Colorado State University-Fort Collins](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-state-university-fort-collins) | Fort Collins, CO | 67% | $60,543 | $21,279 | $20,000 | 0.33x |
| 45 | [Colorado Christian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-christian-university) | Lakewood, CO | 60% | $50,416 | $29,500 | $28,312 | 0.56x |
| 46 | [University of Colorado Colorado Springs](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-colorado-colorado-springs) | Colorado Springs, CO | 46% | $54,659 | $15,788 | $20,000 | 0.37x |
| 47 | [Westminster University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/westminster-university) | Salt Lake City, UT | 66% | $66,215 | $27,094 | $22,250 | 0.34x |
| 48 | [Colorado State University Pueblo](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-state-university-pueblo) | Pueblo, CO | 39% | $55,563 | $10,051 | $21,500 | 0.39x |
| 49 | [Montana Technological University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/montana-technological-university) | Butte, MT | 58% | $54,329 | $16,481 | $18,750 | 0.35x |
| 50 | [University of Providence](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-providence) | Great Falls, MT | 36% | $48,296 | $17,649 | $18,750 | 0.39x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Colleges in Rocky Mountains." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-rocky-mountains

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.