2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminology Schools
Utah State University earned the #1 spot for value among criminology schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Criminology graduates carry a median of $16,191 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $50,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Utah earned it the #2 place for criminology. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $60,527. That is a strong return on a $20,798 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Pueblo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #3 spot this year. Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public school located in the city of Pueblo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,720, compared with $17,944 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $25,325. Criminology graduates of Colorado State University Pueblo earn a median of $49,098 early in their careers. Set against $25,325 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Students looking for strong value in criminology will find it at University Of Idaho, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,084, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $23,844. Early-career criminology graduates make about $43,246. That is a strong return on a $23,844 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Fort Lewis College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,958, while out-of-state students pay about $21,526. Students borrow a median of $18,888 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $30,676. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Regis University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,140. Students borrow a median of $39,337 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Regis University earn a median of $48,522 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Denver ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,398. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $40,667 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
