by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which grad school to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Master's Degree Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
What's on This Page: * Our Methodology
We analyzed 35 grad schools across the Rocky Mountains Region to determine which have the best master's 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.
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. While master's degree recipients from schools in the Rocky Mountains Region earn an average starting salary of $57,301, those from the top 25 school on this list made an average of $61,890.
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that graduate students take on while they are working on their master's degree. 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.
Our Best Master'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.
To learn more, visit our graduate school ranking methodology page.
If you plan to take your education even further, you may want to visit our Best Doctorate 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 master’s degrees in the Rocky Mountains Region for overall quality. Golden, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 456 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Mines make an average of $83,652 a year.
A rank of #2 on our Best Master’s Degree in the Rocky Mountains Region list means University of Denver is a great place for students working on their degree. Denver, Colorado is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 2,390 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from DU is $56,609 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 35 master’s degree schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Governors University landed the #3 spot on the list. WGU is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22,759 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from WGU make an average of $69,205 a year.
The excellent master’s degree programs at Brigham Young University - Provo helped the school earn the #4 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 961 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from BYU is $73,842 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #5 on our Best Master’s Degree in the Rocky Mountains Region list means University of Utah is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the large public school awarded 2,283 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from U of U go into careers with an average salary of $61,507 during the early years of their career.
Colorado State University - Fort Collins did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #6. Fort Collins, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 1,650 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Colorado State go into careers with an average salary of $53,850 during the early years of their career.
University of Colorado Boulder ranked #7 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Boulder, Colorado, the large public school handed out 1,745 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from CU - Boulder make an average of $67,933 a year.
Colorado State University - Global Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Colorado State University - Global Campus is a medium-sized public school situated in Aurora, Colorado. It awarded 1,473 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $66,563 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Colorado State University - Global Campus
University of Idaho did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #9. University of Idaho is a fairly large public school located in Moscow, Idaho that handed out 464 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from U of I is $50,131 during the early years of their career.
Utah State University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. USU is a public institution located in Logan, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 993 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from USU make an average of $60,666 a year.
University of Wyoming did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Laramie, Wyoming, the fairly large public school handed out 446 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from UW go into careers with an average salary of $52,215 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #12, Boise State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Boise State is a public institution located in Boise, Idaho. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,075 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Boise State make an average of $52,351 per year during the early years of their career.
Montana Technological University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Montana Technological University is a small public school located in Butte, Montana that handed out 80 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Montana Tech make an average of $107,850 per year during the early years of their career.
Westminster College Utah did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #14. Westminster College Salt Lake is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 215 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $67,389 during the early years of their career.
Montana State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #15. Bozeman, Montana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 408 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from MSU Bozeman go into careers with an average salary of $50,785 during the early years of their career.
Regis University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Denver, Colorado, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 996 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Regis U make an average of $57,931 per year during the early years of their career.
University of Providence landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. University of Providence is a private not-for-profit institution located in Great Falls, Montana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 51 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from University of Providence make an average of $46,201 per year during the early years of their career.
University of Northern Colorado landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Greeley, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 893 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from University of Northern Colorado make an average of $48,276 per year during the early years of their career.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus is a large public school located in Denver, Colorado that handed out 2,029 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $60,594 during the early years of their career.
Full University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Report
With a ranking of #20, Rocky Mountain College did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Rocky is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Billings, Montana. It awarded 55 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $82,161 during the early years of their career.
Northwest Nazarene University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Nampa, Idaho, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 215 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from NNU make an average of $58,552 a year.
Idaho State University landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Pocatello, Idaho, the fairly large public school handed out 452 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $64,037 during the early years of their career.
Weber State University landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Weber State University is a large public school located in Ogden, Utah that handed out 294 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from WSU make an average of $60,133 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #24, The University of Montana did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Missoula, Montana, and it awarded 465 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $47,292 during the early years of their career.
Colorado Christian University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Lakewood, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 330 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from CCU make an average of $47,526 a year.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.