When pursuing a college degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision.
After analyzing 51 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region , we came up with our list of those that offered the best bachelor's degree programs. Our ranking for the best schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. The following gives more info on what goes into our ranking factors and why we consider those factors.
Better Early-Career Average Salaries
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a bachelor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. A bachelor's degree holder from a school in the Rocky Mountains Region makes an average starting salary of $40,089, but the students who attended schools in the top 25 of our list make an average of $41,807.
Starting Salary ( 32028 to 48109 )
Student Loan Borrowing
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their bachelor's so we factor that into our rankings as well.
When attending a school in the Rocky Mountains Region , bachelor's degree students accumulate an average of $26,296 in student debt before graduation.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
Our Best Bachelor's Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Are you more interested in the top bachelor's degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list by location. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Our analysis found Colorado School of Mines to be the best school for bachelor’s degrees in the Rocky Mountains Region in this year’s ranking. Located in Golden, Colorado, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,066 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $66,901 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $24,861 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $549.
A rank of #2 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in the Rocky Mountains Region list means University of Colorado Boulder is a great place for students working on their degree. University of Colorado Boulder is a large public school located in Boulder, Colorado that handed out 7,404 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from CU - Boulder make an average of $41,884 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $21,305 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $566.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Brigham Young University - Provo helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Brigham Young University - Provo is a large private not-for-profit school located in Provo, Utah that handed out 6,871 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from BYU make an average of $42,763 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $12,330.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Utah helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 5,437 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from U of U make an average of $43,029 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $20,883 after getting their degree.
Out of the 51 bachelor’s degree schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Colorado State University - Fort Collins landed the #5 spot on the list. This large public school is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, and it awarded 5,528 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Colorado State make an average of $39,834 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $22,939 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $397 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Western Governors University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 26,612 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $54,735 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $23,431 after getting their degree.
University of Denver ranked #7 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Denver, Colorado is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,689 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from DU go into careers with an average salary of $40,227 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $22,738 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $579 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Colorado State University - Global Campus landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools 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 1,962 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,805 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $34,082.
Utah State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. USU is located in Logan, Utah and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,341 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from USU go into careers with an average salary of $38,343 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $17,337.
With a ranking of #10, Colorado College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 517 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Colorado College make an average of $29,468 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $18,289 in student loans.
With a ranking of #11, Montana State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. MSU Bozeman is a public institution located in Bozeman, Montana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,638 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from MSU Bozeman make an average of $39,051 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $24,284 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $305 for a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. This large public school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 2,889 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from CU Anschutz is $40,069 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,678 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $251 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Boise State University landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Boise State University is a large public school located in Boise, Idaho that handed out 3,935 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Boise State make an average of $39,542 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,835 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $259.
University of Wyoming came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. University of Wyoming is a fairly large public school located in Laramie, Wyoming that handed out 2,364 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from UW make an average of $38,538 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $20,793.
University of Idaho landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Moscow, Idaho is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,738 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from U of I go into careers with an average salary of $35,500 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $23,801. This translates to an average monthly payment of $241 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Utah Valley University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. UVU is located in Orem, Utah and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,996 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UVU make an average of $43,266 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $17,728.
With a ranking of #17, The University of Montana - Western did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Dillon, Montana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 197 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Montana Western make an average of $33,243 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,626 after getting their degree.
University of Northern Colorado did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #18. University of Northern Colorado is a public institution located in Greeley, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,032 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $34,005 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $23,901 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $281 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Westminster College Utah came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Westminster College Utah is a small private not-for-profit school located in Salt Lake City, Utah that handed out 434 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Westminster College Salt Lake go into careers with an average salary of $44,539 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $24,575 in student loans.
Brigham Young University - Idaho ranked #20 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. BYU - I is located in Rexburg, Idaho and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5,977 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from BYU - I go into careers with an average salary of $38,095 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $14,096 in student loans.
University of Providence ranked #21 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. University of Providence is located in Great Falls, Montana and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 224 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from University of Providence is $50,642 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $22,573.
Regis University landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Denver, Colorado, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 877 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Regis U make an average of $44,582 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $35,399. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $373.
Weber State University landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Ogden, Utah, the large public school handed out 2,700 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,553 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $19,377.
The University of Montana came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. The University of Montana is a medium-sized public school located in Missoula, Montana that handed out 1,365 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UM is $30,052 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $24,960. This translates to an average monthly payment of $275 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. UCCS is a public institution located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,114 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UCCS go into careers with an average salary of $39,506 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $23,875 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $289 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
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).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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