2026 Best Value Finance Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Finance](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/finance/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value finance schools.
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2026 Best Value Finance Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in finance, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Finance Schools
Our analysis ranked Utah Valley University the best value for a degree in finance in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $12,750. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $60,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Western Governors University one of the best values for finance. Set in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $8,658 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $23,277. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Western Governors University generally make around $74,771. That is a strong return on a $23,277 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Weber State University one of the best values for finance. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,557, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $19,176. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $49,939. That is a strong return on a $19,176 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in finance will find it at University Of Utah, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,850 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $68,066. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Utah State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $9,720. Early-career finance graduates make about $61,371. That is a strong return on a $9,720 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Wyoming ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. University Of Wyoming is a large public school located in the town of Laramie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Finance graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans. Finance graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $57,777 early in their careers. Set against $15,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Utah University landed the #7 spot for finance value this year. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,962 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,192. Finance graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans. Finance graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $44,998 early in their careers. Set against $12,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Utah University admits about 82% of applicants.
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $11,750. Finance graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $83,876 early in their careers. Set against $11,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
University Of Idaho ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,084, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. Students borrow a median of $21,400 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of $46,428 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,400 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Global Campus placed #10 among the best values for finance. Located in the city of Denver, Colorado State University Global Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,361 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Colorado State University Global Campus generally make around $77,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #11 for value in finance this year. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,124, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,799 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $54,579 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,799 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Dixie State College Of Utah placed #12 among the best values for finance. Set in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,306 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,246. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $18,666. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Dixie State College Of Utah generally make around $42,266. Set against $18,666 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Montana earned the #13 position for value in finance this year. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,552, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Finance graduates carry a median of $24,342 in student loans. Finance graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $42,654 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,342 median debt. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Denver earned the #14 position for value in finance this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,383 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Students borrow a median of $26,582 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $100,324 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,582 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Idaho State University landed the #15 spot for finance value this year. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Students borrow a median of $24,640 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $49,121 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,640 median debt.
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #16 spot for finance value this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $51,693 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
Boise State University came in at #17 for value in finance this year. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,048 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,788. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $20,000. Finance graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $48,712 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #18 for value in finance this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $20,373. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $55,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Regis University placed #19 among the best values for finance. Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,140. Finance graduates carry a median of $31,773 in student loans. Finance graduates of Regis University earn a median of $72,028 early in their careers. Set against $31,773 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Westminster College Utah came in at #20 for value in finance this year. Westminster College Utah is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Salt Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $43,528. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $18,071. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Westminster College Utah generally make around $62,689. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Denver ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,398 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $19,650. Finance graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $61,986 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
