2026 Best Value L& Use Planning & Management/Development Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[L& Use Planning & Management/Development](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/natural-resource-management/land-use-planning-and-management-development/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for l& use planning & management/development students.
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Featured L& Use Planning & Management/Development Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
2026 Best Value L& Use Planning & Management/Development Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in l& use planning & management/development, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value L& Use Planning & Management/Development Schools
University Of Wyoming tops our 2026 list of the best value l& use planning & management/development schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. L& Use Planning & Management/development graduates carry a median of $20,283 in student loans. Early-career l& use planning & management/development graduates make about $49,890. That is a strong return on a $20,283 median debt. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned it the #2 place for l& use planning & management/development. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Students borrow a median of $27,484 to complete the l& use planning & management/development program here. Soon after graduation, l& use planning & management/development degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $44,861. Set against $27,484 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins is a great value for students pursuing a degree in l& use planning & management/development, landing the #3 spot this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete the l& use planning & management/development program here. Early-career l& use planning & management/development graduates make about $43,262. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 6 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.
