2026 Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Mental & Social Health Services](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong mental & social health services education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 40 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for mental & social health services students.
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2026 Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mental & social health services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools
Utah Valley University tops our 2026 list of the best value mental & social health services schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $51,242 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt.
Community College Of Denver is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental & social health services, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,058, with out-of-state students paying around $17,658. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $13,541 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Community College Of Denver generally make around $45,202. Set against $13,541 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pueblo Community College earned it the #3 place for mental & social health services. Located in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,049, with out-of-state students paying around $17,649. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $14,106. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $59,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Utah one of the best values for mental & social health services. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $60,527 early in their careers. Set against $20,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in mental & social health services will find it at Brigham Young University Provo, which ranked #5. 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. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $54,507. Set against $12,184 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned the #6 position for value in mental & social health services this year. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $27,484 in student loans. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $44,861 early in their careers. Set against $27,484 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Montana came in at #7 for value in mental & social health services 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, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $24,342. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $42,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Idaho State University landed the #8 spot for mental & social health services value this year. Idaho State University is a large public school located in the city of Pocatello. Students from in state pay about $8,610 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $24,640 in student loans. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $43,455. Set against $24,640 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Colorado Denver came in at #9 for value in mental & social health services this year. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $26,582. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $66,022 early in their careers. Set against $26,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
Boise State University came in at #10 for value in mental & social health services this year. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,311 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $49,059 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $51,693. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Montana State University placed #12 among the best values for mental & social health services. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Students borrow a median of $23,635 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $47,703 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Regis University came in at #13 for value in mental & social health services this year. Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. Students from in state pay about $28,140 in tuition and fees. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $31,773 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Regis University generally make around $72,028. That is a strong return on a $31,773 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Colorado Christian University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lakewood. In-state tuition and fees average $28,846. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $36,092. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $47,333. Set against $36,092 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Nazarene University landed the #15 spot for mental & social health services value this year. Northwest Nazarene University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Nampa. In-state tuition and fees average $40,824. Students borrow a median of $27,562 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Northwest Nazarene University earn a median of $39,097 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Westminster College Utah earned the #16 position for value in mental & social health services this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, Westminster College Utah is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,528. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $23,090. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $55,433. That is a strong return on a $23,090 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
