2026 Best Value Nursing Practice Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Nursing Practice](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nursing-practice/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing practice education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for nursing practice students.
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2026 Best Value Nursing Practice Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nursing practice, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Nursing Practice Schools
For return on investment in nursing practice, no school beat Weber State University this year. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $15,741 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $72,187. Set against $15,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Wyoming one of the best values for nursing practice. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,768 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,178. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $22,185 in student loans. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $94,975. That is a strong return on a $22,185 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Utah one of the best values for nursing practice. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Students borrow a median of $22,106 to complete the nursing practice program here. Nursing Practice graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $92,469 early in their careers. Set against $22,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Colorado State University Pueblo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nursing practice, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,720, compared with $17,944 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $27,562. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Colorado State University Pueblo generally make around $95,058. Set against $27,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Pueblo admits about 95% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs earned it the #5 place for nursing practice. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $30,319 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs generally make around $112,460. Set against $30,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mesa State College landed the #6 spot for nursing practice value this year. Located in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,927 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $27,000. Nursing Practice graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $43,617 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Idaho State University landed the #7 spot for nursing practice value this year. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $33,699 in student loans. Nursing Practice graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $82,450 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $33,699 median debt.
Boise State University landed the #8 spot for nursing practice value this year. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $27,220. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $102,076. That is a strong return on a $27,220 median debt. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Regis University landed the #9 spot for nursing practice value this year. Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,140. Students borrow a median of $29,427 to complete the nursing practice program here. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Regis University generally make around $94,010. That is a strong return on a $29,427 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Colorado Christian University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing practice schools. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,846. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $54,709. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $71,388. That is a strong return on a $54,709 median debt.
Westminster College Utah earned the #11 position for value in nursing practice this year. Westminster College Utah is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,528. Students borrow a median of $26,875 to complete the nursing practice program here. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $90,552. Set against $26,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Eagle Gate College Murray earned the #12 position for value in nursing practice this year. Set in the city of Murray, Eagle Gate College Murray is a small private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,548. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $52,292. Nursing Practice graduates of Eagle Gate College Murray earn a median of $66,420 early in their careers. Set against $52,292 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eagle Gate College Boise Campus placed #13 among the best values for nursing practice. Set in the city of Boise, Eagle Gate College Boise Campus is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $19,068 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $52,292. Nursing Practice graduates of Eagle Gate College Boise Campus earn a median of $66,420 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $52,292 median debt.
Provo College Idaho Falls Campus placed #14 among the best values for nursing practice. Set in the city of Idaho Falls, Provo College Idaho Falls Campus is a small private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,068. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $51,285 in student loans. Nursing Practice graduates of Provo College Idaho Falls Campus earn a median of $63,317 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $51,285 median debt.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
