by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which grad school to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Doctor's Degree Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking is part of that endeavor.
What's on This Page: * Our Methodology
We analyzed 22 grad schools across the Rocky Mountains Region to determine which have the best doctorate degree programs. Our ranking for the best grad 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.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with a doctorate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue a doctorate degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that graduate students take on while pursuing their doctorate degree. The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
Our Best Doctorate 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.
To learn more, visit our graduate school ranking methodology page.
Not quite ready to work on your doctorate? Check out our Best Master's Degree Schools ranking.
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
Colorado School of Mines tops this year’s ranking as the best grad school for doctorate degrees in the Rocky Mountains Region for overall quality. Located in Golden, Colorado, the medium-sized public school awarded 88 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
Out of the 22 doctorate degree schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #2 spot on the list. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Provo, Utah, and it awarded 192 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from BYU is $57,293 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 22 doctorate degree schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Utah landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the large public school awarded 815 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $73,878 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Denver. The school came in at #4 in the Rocky Mountains Region on this year’s best doctorate degree schools ranking. Located in Denver, Colorado, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 396 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $74,834 during the early years of their career.
The excellent doctorate degree programs at University of Colorado Boulder helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Boulder, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate degrees to 579 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from CU - Boulder is $58,172 during the early years of their career.
Colorado State University - Fort Collins came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, the large public school awarded 368 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Colorado State make an average of $71,041 a year.
Northwest Nazarene University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Nampa, Idaho is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $87,445 during the early years of their career.
University of Idaho came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Moscow, Idaho, the fairly large public school awarded 226 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from U of I is $54,787 during the early years of their career.
The University of Montana came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. UM is a medium-sized public school situated in Missoula, Montana. It awarded 575 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from UM make an average of $77,990 per year during the early years of their career.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Denver, Colorado, the large public school handed out 740 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $111,417 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Montana State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. MSU Bozeman is a public institution located in Bozeman, Montana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 90 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $100,147 during the early years of their career.
Utah State University landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. USU is located in Logan, Utah and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 99 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Boise State University landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Boise State is located in Boise, Idaho and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Westminster College Utah landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
Weber State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #15. WSU is a public institution located in Ogden, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #16, University of Northern Colorado did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Greeley, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate degrees to 84 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $72,378 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #17, Regis University did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Denver, Colorado, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 160 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from Regis U make an average of $83,057 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #18, Idaho State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Pocatello, Idaho, and it awarded 193 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $82,555 during the early years of their career.
University of Wyoming came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. UW is a fairly large public school situated in Laramie, Wyoming. It awarded 230 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from UW make an average of $90,933 a year.
Rocky Mountain College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking.
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #21. UCCS is a public institution located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 39 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Adams State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Alamosa, Colorado, the small public school handed out 7 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.