2026 Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-nursing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools
University Of Utah tops our 2026 list of the best value psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. 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 $22,106 to complete the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $60,527. Set against $22,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Colorado State University Pueblo one of the best values for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public school located in the city of Pueblo. In-state tuition and fees average $9,720, with out-of-state students paying around $17,944. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $27,562 in student loans. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $95,058. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado State University Pueblo admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Students from in state pay about $10,906 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,039. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $28,000. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $89,464. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Idaho State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Idaho State University is a large public school located in the city of Pocatello. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,610, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $33,699 to complete the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program here. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing 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.
Montana State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Montana State University is a large public school located in the city of Bozeman. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $47,703. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Regis University came in at #6 for value in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing this year. Set in the city of Denver, Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,140. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $29,427. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Regis University generally make around $94,010. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Nightingale College placed #7 among the best values for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. Nightingale College is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $27,875 in student loans. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $73,271. That is a strong return on a $27,875 median debt.
Narrow Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools by State
More Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Rankings
View All Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Rankings >
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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
