2026 Best Value Economics Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 40 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value economics schools.
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2026 Best Value Economics Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Economics Schools
Leading the list is Brigham Young University Idaho, our #1 best value for economics in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800. Students borrow a median of $13,287 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $43,853. That is a strong return on a $13,287 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Students looking for strong value in economics will find it at Weber State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $19,176. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $53,920. That is a strong return on a $19,176 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Utah earned it the #3 place for economics. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,642 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $64,386. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Utah State University one of the best values for economics. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. In-state tuition and fees average $8,560, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $15,250. Early-career economics graduates make about $60,472. Set against $15,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Students looking for strong value in economics will find it at University Of Wyoming, which ranked #5. University Of Wyoming is a large public school located in the town of Laramie. Students from in state pay about $7,768 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Economics graduates carry a median of $20,283 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $49,890. Set against $20,283 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Utah University placed #6 among the best values for economics. Set in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,962 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans. Economics graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $43,266 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #7 for value in economics this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Economics graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Economics graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $63,332 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public school located in the city of Colorado Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,906, with out-of-state students paying around $25,039. Economics graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $46,748. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Montana landed the #9 spot for economics value this year. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,552, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $24,342. Early-career economics graduates make about $42,654. That is a strong return on a $24,342 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Fort Lewis College came in at #10 for value in economics this year. Set in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,958, compared with $21,526 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $18,888 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $30,676. That is a strong return on a $18,888 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Colorado came in at #11 for value in economics this year. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,901, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Economics graduates of University Of Northern Colorado earn a median of $45,257 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Colorado Denver came in at #12 for value in economics this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $23,049 in student loans. Economics graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $56,201 early in their careers. Set against $23,049 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Boise State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $24,675 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $46,137. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Economics graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $48,462. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #15 position for value in economics this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Economics graduates carry a median of $17,119 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $51,521. That is a strong return on a $17,119 median debt. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Montana State University earned the #16 position for value in economics this year. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $25,500. Early-career economics graduates make about $47,098. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #17 for value in economics this year. Located in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. Students borrow a median of $24,521 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Colorado School Of Mines generally make around $76,298. Set against $24,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado School Of Mines admits about 61% of applicants.
Colorado College earned the #18 position for value in economics this year. Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Students from in state pay about $70,734 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $18,250. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Colorado College generally make around $58,082. Set against $18,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado College admits about 18% of applicants.
University Of Denver came in at #19 for value in economics this year. University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. Students from in state pay about $61,398 in tuition and fees. Economics graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Denver generally make around $60,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Denver admits about 78% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
