by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a degree. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Rocky Mountains Region Schools For The Money For Those Making $30-$48k ranking - to help you make that decision. You may be surprised that some normally high-priced schools offer very generous financial aid packages to those who qualify.
In This Year's Value Report:
After analyzing 88 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region , we came up with our list of those that offered the best value programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best value schools. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, we first look at its average net price of a student coming from a family that makes $30-$48k a year. The net price is defined as the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that the student receives. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University of Wyoming tops this year’s ranking as the best value (income $30-$48k) school in the Rocky Mountains Region for overall quality. This fairly large public school is located in Laramie, Wyoming.
University of Wyoming has the honor of being ranked #1 in Wyoming for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,508.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. BYU is located in Provo, Utah and has a large student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Brigham Young University - Provo is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Utah. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,087.
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list means Brigham Young University - Idaho is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Rexburg, Idaho, the school is a large private not-for-profit institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Brigham Young University - Idaho is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Idaho. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,635.
The quality degree programs at Utah Valley University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region. UVU is a public institution located in Orem, Utah.
Not only is Utah Valley University a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Utah for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,392.
The quality degree programs at Salt Lake Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Salt Lake Community College is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Utah. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,141.
University of Utah did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #6. University of Utah is a large public school located in Salt Lake City, Utah.
University of Utah has the honor of being ranked #2 in Utah for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $11,276.
Western Governors University landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Western Governors University is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Utah. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $11,447.
Colorado School of Mines did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #8. Mines is a public institution located in Golden, Colorado.
Colorado School of Mines has the honor of being ranked #1 in Colorado for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $15,701.
Colorado State University - Fort Collins came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Fort Collins, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Colorado State University - Fort Collins a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Colorado for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,221.
Colorado Mountain College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Colorado Mountain College is ranked #19 for quality in the state of Colorado. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,286.
Community College of Aurora landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. CCA is a medium-sized public school situated in Aurora, Colorado.
Community College of Aurora has the honor of being ranked #13 in Colorado for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $7,025.
University of Idaho ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. U of I is a fairly large public school situated in Moscow, Idaho.
University of Idaho has the honor of being ranked #1 in Idaho for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,744.
North Idaho College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. NIC is a small public school situated in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Not only is North Idaho College a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Idaho for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,394.
Weber State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. WSU is a public institution located in Ogden, Utah.
Not only is Weber State University a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Utah for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,103.
Colorado College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Not only is Colorado College a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Colorado for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $12,489.
With a ranking of #16, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. CU Anschutz is a large public school situated in Denver, Colorado.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Colorado. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,701.
Full University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Value Report
Utah State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. USU is a large public school situated in Logan, Utah.
Utah State University has the honor of being ranked #5 in Utah for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,008.
With a ranking of #18, Laramie County Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Cheyenne, Wyoming is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Laramie County Community College is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Wyoming. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,693.
Front Range Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Front Range Community College is a fairly large public school located in Westminster, Colorado.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Front Range Community College is ranked #12 for quality in the state of Colorado. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $9,215.
University of Colorado Boulder ranked #20 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. CU - Boulder is a public institution located in Boulder, Colorado.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Colorado Boulder is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Colorado. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $15,194.
College of Southern Idaho ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Not only is College of Southern Idaho a great value, but it is also ranked #10 in Idaho for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,498.
With a ranking of #22, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Boulder, Colorado, the school is a medium-sized private for-profit institution.
Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,379.
Read full value report on Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder
Morgan Community College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Morgan Community College is located in Fort Morgan, Colorado and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Morgan Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #21 in Colorado for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,884.
Casper College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Casper College is a small public school situated in Casper, Wyoming.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Casper College is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Wyoming. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,825.
Colorado State University - Global Campus ranked #25 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Colorado State University - Global Campus is located in Aurora, Colorado and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Colorado State University - Global Campus has the honor of being ranked #6 in Colorado for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $13,415.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.