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2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region

95 Colleges
$55,650 Avg Salary*
36% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

When pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Rocky Mountains Region Colleges ranking - to help you make that decision.

We analyzed 95 colleges and universities across the Rocky Mountains Region to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. Our ranking methodology focuses on over 20 different objective factors - such as graduation rate, post graduate earnings, and a school's average expenditure per student - to make this determination.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

We've developed a number of other tools and rankings to help you make your college decision. Start by filtering this list by location or field of study and then explore our other rankings that feature schools great for different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.

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We've created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you're torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another!

Top Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1
Mines crest
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

Colorado School of Mines tops this year’s ranking as the best school in the Rocky Mountains Region for overall quality.Golden, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,676 students in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Mines is $90,060 during the early years of their career.

Full Colorado School of Mines Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. The school came in at #2 in the Rocky Mountains Region on this year’s overall quality ranking. This small private for-profit school is located in Provo, Utah, and it awarded 377 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions

3

Out of the 95 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #3 spot on the list. BYU is located in Provo, Utah and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8,028 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from BYU make an average of $70,785 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Brigham Young University - Provo

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Colorado Boulder. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Boulder, Colorado, the large public school awarded 9,728 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $60,740 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on University of Colorado Boulder

5
DU crest
University of Denver
Denver, Colorado

A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list means University of Denver is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Denver, Colorado, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 5,008 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from DU is $66,004 during the early years of their career.

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6
WGU crest
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, Utah

Western Governors University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #6. WGU is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 49,508 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from WGU is $48,210 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

7
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the large public school handed out 9,174 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from U of U make an average of $60,590 per year during the early years of their career.

Read More…

8

Colorado State University - Fort Collins did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, the large public school handed out 7,914 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State go into careers with an average salary of $54,983 during the early years of their career.

Full Colorado State University - Fort Collins Report

9

Denver College of Nursing landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Denver College of Nursing is a small private for-profit school situated in Denver, Colorado. It awarded 444 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Denver College of Nursing make an average of $59,585 a year.

Full Denver College of Nursing Report

10

AmeriTech College - Draper did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Draper, Utah, the small private for-profit school handed out 552 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from AmeriTech College - Draper go into careers with an average salary of $49,072 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

11
Nightingale College crest
Nightingale College
Salt Lake City, Utah

Nightingale College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Nightingale College is a small private for-profit school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 244 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Nightingale College go into careers with an average salary of $16,130 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

12

Utah Valley University landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking.Orem, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 12,591 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UVU go into careers with an average salary of $52,096 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

13

With a ranking of #13, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in Boulder, Colorado that handed out 2,419 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read More…

14

Colorado State University - Global Campus landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking.Aurora, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,895 students in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%

Read full report on Colorado State University - Global Campus

15

Utah State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Utah State University is a large public school located in Logan, Utah that handed out 6,936 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from USU make an average of $50,432 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Utah State University

16
Colorado College crest
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Colorado College is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 528 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

The 4-year grad rate at the school is 80%. That’s impressive when you compare it to the national rate of 33%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College go into careers with an average salary of $57,013 during the early years of their career.

Full Colorado College Report

17

With a ranking of #17, Neumont College of Computer Science did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Neumont is a private for-profit institution located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The school has a small population, and it awarded 109 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $89,164 during the early years of their career..

Read More…

18
MSU Bozeman crest
Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana

Montana State University landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. MSU Bozeman is located in Bozeman, Montana and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,410 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from MSU Bozeman is $49,066 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

19
U of I crest
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho

University of Idaho landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Moscow, Idaho, and it awarded 2,566 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from U of I make an average of $48,272 per year during the early years of their career.

Full University of Idaho Report

20
UW crest
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming

University of Wyoming did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Laramie, Wyoming, the fairly large public school awarded 3,170 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from UW make an average of $50,685 a year.

Read More…

21

With a ranking of #21, Boise State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Boise State is located in Boise, Idaho and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5,898 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Boise State is $43,100 during the early years of their career.

Full Boise State University Report

22

With a ranking of #22, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list. CU Anschutz is a large public school situated in Denver, Colorado. It awarded 5,658 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from CU Anschutz go into careers with an average salary of $57,987 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

23

With a ranking of #23, Weber State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Ogden, Utah, the large public school awarded 6,445 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from WSU make an average of $51,840 per year during the early years of their career.

Read More…

24
FRCC crest
Front Range Community College
Westminster, Colorado

With a ranking of #24, Front Range Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Front Range Community College is a fairly large public school located in Westminster, Colorado that handed out 6,238 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from FRCC make an average of $41,930 a year.

Read More…

25
Westminster College Salt Lake crest
Westminster College Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

Westminster College Utah landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 671 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty rate of 8 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Westminster College Salt Lake go into careers with an average salary of $56,565 during the early years of their career.

Full Westminster College Utah Report

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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