Rocky Mountains Colleges: Costs & Outcomes (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Rocky Mountains shows: median public in-state tuition $8,256 (+49.8% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $49,960 (-8.0% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 88.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $10,667 (-20.6% vs U.S.) 762,883 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 223 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 762,883 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $8,256 (+49.8% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $49,960 (-8.0% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 88.1% (+0.2 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $16,501 (+65.6% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $10,667 (-20.6% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $10,667. Debt rank: #2 nationally of 8 (lower debt = better rank)
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 46.2%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 73.3%
- Student debt rank: #2 nationally of 8 (lower debt = better rank)
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
EDsmart Data aggregates College Scorecard campus data across Rocky Mountains (Census region)—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and top institutions—vs U.S. benchmarks.
Rocky Mountains vs national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains (region) | $8,256 | $16,501 | $10,667 | 46.2% | 762,883 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Rocky Mountains vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $49,960 | 88.1% | 73.3% | 6.2% | — | 71.3% | 0.40 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
States in Rocky Mountains
Member states in this Census region (by enrollment).
| State | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $8,256 | $16,501 | $10,667 | 46.2% | 762,883 | $49,960 | 88.1% |
| Utah | $6,507 | $10,360 | $10,300 | 50.5% | 355,292 | $50,130 | 84.6% |
| Colorado | $5,140 | $12,045 | $11,338 | 47.9% | 256,174 | $52,231 | 88.1% |
| Idaho | $5,528 | $11,384 | $10,555 | 52.4% | 99,609 | $47,237 | 89.6% |
| Montana | $4,897 | $12,030 | $18,354 | 45.4% | 36,239 | $48,666 | 89.9% |
| Wyoming | $4,706 | $8,404 | $8,811 | 43.2% | 19,683 | $56,880 | 90.0% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Rocky Mountains
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private for-profit | 12 | $37,518 | 83.9% | 56.2% | 13.2% | — | 41.5% |
| Private nonprofit | 16 | $56,167 | 87.1% | 77.4% | 2.9% | — | 78.2% |
| Public | 26 | $52,162 | 88.6% | 75.2% | 7.0% | — | 72.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Rocky Mountains by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 87.7%, Colorado College
Colorado College
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 81.7%, Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 81.0%, Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 75.6%, University of Denver
University of Denver
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Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 74.2%, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
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Rank 6, Graduation Rate, 70.8%, Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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Rank 7, Graduation Rate, 69.3%, Carroll College
Carroll College
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Rank 8, Graduation Rate, 66.5%, Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
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Rank 9, Graduation Rate, 65.0%, University of Utah
University of Utah
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Rank 10, Graduation Rate, 64.4%, Colorado Christian University
Colorado Christian University
Top 10 colleges in Rocky Mountains by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 94.6%, Carroll College
Carroll College
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 93.2%, Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 92.2%, Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 92.1%, Denver College of Nursing
Denver College of Nursing
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 91.8%, Montana State University-Northern
Montana State University-Northern
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 91.7%, Rocky Mountain College
Rocky Mountain College
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 91.4%, The University of Montana-Western
The University of Montana-Western
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 91.3%, University of Providence
University of Providence
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 91.3%, The College of Idaho
The College of Idaho
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 90.7%, Boise State University
Boise State University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Rocky Mountains (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 18.5%, Colorado College
Colorado College
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 49.1%, The College of Idaho
The College of Idaho
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 50.3%, University of Providence
University of Providence
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 60.7%, Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines
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Rank 5, Admission Rate, 64.7%, Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University
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Rank 6, Admission Rate, 66.6%, Westminster University
Westminster University
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Rank 7, Admission Rate, 67.8%, Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
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Rank 8, Admission Rate, 69.6%, Rocky Mountain College
Rocky Mountain College
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Rank 9, Admission Rate, 70.9%, Carroll College
Carroll College
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Rank 10, Admission Rate, 74.7%, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Top 10 colleges in Rocky Mountains by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $101,187, University of Providence
University of Providence
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $95,292, Western Governors University
Western Governors University
-
Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $90,625, Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $90,282, University of Utah
University of Utah
-
Rank 5, Entry-Level Earnings, $88,957, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
-
Rank 6, Entry-Level Earnings, $87,579, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
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Rank 7, Entry-Level Earnings, $86,268, Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines
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Rank 8, Entry-Level Earnings, $85,596, Boise State University
Boise State University
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Rank 9, Entry-Level Earnings, $85,169, Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora
Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora
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Rank 10, Entry-Level Earnings, $85,169, Arizona College of Nursing-Salt Lake City
Arizona College of Nursing-Salt Lake City
Top 10 colleges in Rocky Mountains by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $142,800, Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $137,329, University of Utah
University of Utah
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $131,198, Western Governors University
Western Governors University
-
Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $127,217, Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines
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Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $122,998, Colorado College
Colorado College
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Rank 6, Early-Career Earnings, $121,993, University of Denver
University of Denver
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Rank 7, Early-Career Earnings, $121,952, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
-
Rank 8, Early-Career Earnings, $121,678, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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Rank 9, Early-Career Earnings, $119,206, University of Providence
University of Providence
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Rank 10, Early-Career Earnings, $114,098, Regis University
Regis University
Top 10 colleges in Rocky Mountains by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $82,950, Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $80,184, Denver College of Nursing
Denver College of Nursing
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $69,572, Western Governors University
Western Governors University
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $65,131, Colorado State University Global
Colorado State University Global
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $64,557, Regis University
Regis University
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $63,412, Nightingale College
Nightingale College
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $58,450, Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $57,118, University of Denver
University of Denver
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $55,239, University of Utah
University of Utah
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $54,939, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
Top 10 colleges in Rocky Mountains by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $90,777, Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $81,283, Denver College of Nursing
Denver College of Nursing
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $73,820, Colorado State University Global
Colorado State University Global
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $70,052, Nightingale College
Nightingale College
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $69,937, Regis University
Regis University
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $68,924, Western Governors University
Western Governors University
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $66,055, Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $64,625, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $63,910, University of Denver
University of Denver
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $61,202, University of Utah
University of Utah
Top 10 colleges in Rocky Mountains by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $97,335, Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $81,809, Denver College of Nursing
Denver College of Nursing
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $76,813, Colorado State University Global
Colorado State University Global
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $75,790, Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $72,105, Regis University
Regis University
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $71,155, University of Denver
University of Denver
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $69,738, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $67,170, University of Utah
University of Utah
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $66,215, Westminster University
Westminster University
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Rank 10, 10-Yr Earnings, $65,222, Colorado College
Colorado College
Top 10 colleges in Rocky Mountains by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $305,782, Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $290,061, Colorado State University Global
Colorado State University Global
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $280,918, Western Governors University
Western Governors University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $276,495, Neumont College of Computer Science
Neumont College of Computer Science
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $261,035, Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $240,158, University of Utah
University of Utah
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $231,422, Regis University
Regis University
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $208,866, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $206,747, University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $198,760, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Rocky Mountains (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $7,945, Salish Kootenai College
Salish Kootenai College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $13,599, University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
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Rank 3, Net Price, $11,900, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
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Rank 4, Net Price, $10,051, Colorado State University Pueblo
Colorado State University Pueblo
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Rank 5, Net Price, $12,193, Idaho State University
Idaho State University
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Rank 6, Net Price, $12,980, Adams State University
Adams State University
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Rank 7, Net Price, $15,788, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
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Rank 8, Net Price, $12,664, Montana State University-Northern
Montana State University-Northern
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Rank 9, Net Price, $12,548, Western Governors University
Western Governors University
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Rank 10, Net Price, $14,831, University of Idaho
University of Idaho
Top 10 colleges in Rocky Mountains by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 93.6%, Colorado College
Colorado College
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 92.8%, Colorado School of Mines
Colorado School of Mines
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 91.0%, Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 90.1%, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 88.9%, University of Denver
University of Denver
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Rank 6, First-Year Retention, 86.2%, University of Utah
University of Utah
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Rank 7, First-Year Retention, 85.9%, Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
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Rank 8, First-Year Retention, 83.7%, Colorado Christian University
Colorado Christian University
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Rank 9, First-Year Retention, 82.3%, Salish Kootenai College
Salish Kootenai College
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Rank 10, First-Year Retention, 82.0%, Carroll College
Carroll College
In-state tuition: Rocky Mountains vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Rocky Mountains median in-state tuition is $8,256, +49.8% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Rocky Mountains vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Rocky Mountains is $10,667 (-20.6% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $10,667. Rank: #2 nationally of 8 (lower debt = better rank).
Median earnings (10 years out): Rocky Mountains vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Rocky Mountains center around $49,960 (-8.0% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Rocky Mountains vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 88.1% at the median Rocky Mountains campus (+0.2 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Rocky Mountains median public in-state tuition is $8,256, about +49.8% vs the national median.
Median graduate debt is $10,667 (-20.6% below the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #2 nationally of 8 (lower debt = better rank) (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Rocky Mountains are $49,960, about -8.0% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 88.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+0.2 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 73.3% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.2% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 71.3% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Carroll College (94.6%), Colorado School of Mines (93.2%), Northwest Nazarene University (92.2%), Denver College of Nursing (92.1%), Montana State University-Northern (91.8%), Rocky Mountain College (91.7%), The University of Montana-Western (91.4%), University of Providence (91.3%), The College of Idaho (91.3%), Boise State University (90.7%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Rocky Mountains, sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $37,518 (12 campuses); Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $56,167 (16 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $52,162 (26 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Rocky Mountains is 46.2% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in the Rocky Mountains region?
EDsmart Data analysis: the Rocky Mountains regional profile aggregates 223 campuses and about 762,883 reported enrollment across member states.
What does college cost in the Rocky Mountains region?
EDsmart Data analysis: regional median in-state tuition is $8,256 and median net price is $16,501 (+49.8% vs U.S. tuition median). National medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in the Rocky Mountains region?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings across Rocky Mountains campuses is $49,960 vs $54,323 nationally.
What is typical student debt in the Rocky Mountains region?
EDsmart Data analysis: regional median completer debt is $10,667 vs $13,432 nationally.
Which states are in the Rocky Mountains region?
EDsmart Data analysis: member states in this Census region include Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
How many public vs. private colleges are in the Rocky Mountains region?
EDsmart Data analysis: among reporting campuses: 26 public, 16 private nonprofit, and 12 private for-profit.
What are the top colleges in the Rocky Mountains region?
EDsmart Data analysis: standouts in regional Top 10 lists include Colorado School of Mines and Colorado College.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in the Rocky Mountains region?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 223 campuses in the Rocky Mountains region, 7 tribal colleges (IPEDS TRIBAL flag), including Blackfeet Community College, Chief Dull Knife College, and Aaniiih Nakoda College; 58 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Adams State University, Aims Community College, and Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology; 15 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (3), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (3), Undenominational (2).
Sources & related
- All college profiles
- All regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON