2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region
97
Colleges
$55,108
Avg Salary*
33%
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.
Our analysis looked at 97 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region to determine which ones 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.
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:
Our 2023 rankings named Colorado School of Mines the best school in the Rocky Mountains Region in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Golden, Colorado, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,676 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Mines go into careers with an average salary of $90,060 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Colorado School of Mines
Out of the 97 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Colorado Boulder landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Boulder, Colorado, the large public school awarded 9,728 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from CU - Boulder make an average of $60,740 a year.
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A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list means Brigham Young University - Provo is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Provo, Utah, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 8,028 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, 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 $70,785 during the early years of their career..
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The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Denver helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Rocky Mountains Region . DU is located in Denver, Colorado and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5,008 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from DU go into careers with an average salary of $66,004 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on University of Denver
A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list means Western Governors University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. 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 low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $48,210 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Western Governors University
Colorado State University - Fort Collins landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking.Fort Collins, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 7,914 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.
Read full report on Colorado State University - Fort Collins
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. RMUoHP is located in Provo, Utah and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 377 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
Read full report on Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Colorado College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Colorado College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It awarded 528 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. During the early years of their career, graduates from Colorado College make an average of $57,013 a year.
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University of Utah came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. This large public school is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it awarded 9,174 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from U of U go into careers with an average salary of $60,590 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on University of Utah
With a ranking of #10, Colorado State University - Global Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Greenwood Village, Colorado, the fairly large public school handed out 3,895 bachelor’s degrees 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%
Full Colorado State University - Global Campus Report
Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the large private for-profit school awarded 6,864 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $35,877 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs
Westminster College Utah did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #12. Westminster College Salt Lake is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 671 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The low student loan default rate of 1.5% 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% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $56,565 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Westminster College Utah
With a ranking of #13, Utah State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list. USU is located in Logan, Utah and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6,936 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
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% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from USU go into careers with an average salary of $50,432 during the early years of their career.
Full Utah State University Report
Utah Valley University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list.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 low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 UVU go into careers with an average salary of $52,096 during the early years of their career.
Full Utah Valley University Report
Denver College of Nursing did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #15. Denver College of Nursing is located in Denver, Colorado and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 444 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $59,585 during the early years of their career..
Full Denver College of Nursing Report
University of Wyoming did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #16. This fairly large public school is located in Laramie, Wyoming, and it awarded 3,170 bachelor’s degrees 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% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $50,685 during the early years of their career..
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With a ranking of #17, Boise State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This large public school is located in Boise, Idaho, and it awarded 5,898 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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.
Read full report on Boise State University
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #18. This large public school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 5,658 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $57,987 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Brigham Young University - Idaho did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #19. Brigham Young University - Idaho is a large private not-for-profit school located in Rexburg, Idaho that handed out 7,639 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from BYU - I make an average of $49,281 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Brigham Young University - Idaho
Regis University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Regis U is located in Denver, Colorado and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,297 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Regis U make an average of $63,625 a year.
Read full report on Regis University
University of Idaho landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. University of Idaho is a fairly large public school located in Moscow, Idaho that handed out 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% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $48,272 during the early years of their career..
Full University of Idaho Report
With a ranking of #22, University of Northern Colorado did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Greeley, Colorado, and it awarded 3,009 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 University of Northern Colorado make an average of $47,112 a year.
Read full report on University of Northern Colorado
Montana State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. MSU Bozeman is a fairly large public school situated in Bozeman, Montana. It awarded 3,410 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from MSU Bozeman make an average of $49,066 a year.
Full Montana State University Report
With a ranking of #24, Weber State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This large public school is located in Ogden, Utah, and it awarded 6,445 bachelor’s degrees 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% During the early years of their career, graduates from WSU make an average of $51,840 a year.
Read full report on Weber State University
Salt Lake Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Salt Lake Community College is a large public school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 5,519 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Salt Lake Community College is $43,576 during the early years of their career.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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