2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public health education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public health students.
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2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public health, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Health Schools
For return on investment in public health, no school beat Brigham Young University Idaho this year. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $13,048. Public Health graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $30,128 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,048 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Governors University earned it the #2 place for public health. Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,658. Public Health graduates carry a median of $23,277 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $74,771. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Utah Valley University earned it the #3 place for public health. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Public Health graduates carry a median of $14,541 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $38,102. Set against $14,541 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Weber State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public health, landing the #4 spot this year. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. Students borrow a median of $17,322 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $62,143. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in public health will find it at University Of Wyoming, which ranked #5. 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, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,283 to complete the public health program here. Public Health graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $85,547 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Utah State University landed the #6 spot for public health value this year. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $16,191. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Utah State University generally make around $76,451. Set against $16,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Utah came in at #7 for value in public health this year. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $47,787. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #8 for value in public health this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,688. Students borrow a median of $10,924 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $29,025. That is a strong return on a $10,924 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana placed #9 among the best values for public health. Set in the town of Butte, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,289, with out-of-state students paying around $26,094. Public Health graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $91,774. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
The University Of Montana came in at #10 for value in public health 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. Students borrow a median of $24,342 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $42,654. That is a strong return on a $24,342 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Idaho State University earned the #11 position for value in public health this year. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,610 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Public Health graduates carry a median of $24,640 in student loans. Public Health graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $51,446 early in their careers. Set against $24,640 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fort Lewis College placed #12 among the best values for public health. Located in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,958, while out-of-state students pay about $21,526. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $14,615. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Fort Lewis College generally make around $37,498. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fort Lewis College admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Denver ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Students borrow a median of $23,396 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $50,902. Set against $23,396 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Boise State University earned the #14 position for value in public health this year. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,048 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Public Health graduates carry a median of $22,758 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $51,323. Set against $22,758 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Westminster College Utah placed #15 among the best values for public health. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, Westminster College Utah is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $43,528 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $24,656. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Westminster College Utah generally make around $47,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Westminster College Utah admits about 67% of applicants.
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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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
