2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 67 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Providence to be the best school for nursing students in the Rocky Mountains Region . Located in Great Falls, Montana, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 391 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $24,621 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, University of Providence graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,532 during the early year of their career.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Western Governors University is a great place for nursing students. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 43,908 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from WGU accumulate an average of $14,535 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, WGU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $62,838 during the early year of their career.
Out of the 67 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Red Rocks Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Red Rocks Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Lakewood, Colorado that handed out 2,069 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Red Rocks Community College accumulate an average of $29,998 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Red Rocks Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,516 during the early year of their career.
Out of the 67 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Carroll College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Carroll Montana is located in Helena, Montana and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 255 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Carroll Montana accumulate an average of $22,163 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Carroll Montana graduates make an average of $33,212 annually.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This large public school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 5,700 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $49,067 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $325. Once they receive their degree, CU Anschutz graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $56,691 during the early year of their career.
Full University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Report
Lewis - Clark State College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Lewis - Clark State College is a small public school situated in Lewiston, Idaho. It awarded 848 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,676 in student loans.After graduating from Lewis - Clark State College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,943 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #7, University of Northern Colorado did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. University of Northern Colorado is located in Greeley, Colorado and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,848 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from University of Northern Colorado accumulate an average of $30,656 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $346 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, University of Northern Colorado graduates make an average of $40,180 annually.
University of Wyoming ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. UW is a public institution located in Laramie, Wyoming. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,198 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UW accumulate an average of $23,480 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, UW graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,258 during the early year of their career.
Westminster College Utah landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Westminster College Salt Lake is a private not-for-profit institution located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The school has a small population, and it awarded 634 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Westminster College Salt Lake accumulate an average of $35,143 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Westminster College Salt Lake graduates make an average of $58,249 annually.
Pikes Peak Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. PPCC is a fairly large public school situated in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It awarded 3,050 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,839 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, PPCC graduates make an average of $31,856 annually.
With a ranking of #11, Montana State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Montana State University is a fairly large public school located in Bozeman, Montana that handed out 3,536 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from MSU Bozeman accumulate an average of $23,447 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $312. During the early years of their career, MSU Bozeman graduates make an average of $42,198 annually.
Utah State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list. Logan, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 6,665 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $19,340 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, USU graduates make an average of $42,623 annually.
With a ranking of #13, North Idaho College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Located in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the small public school handed out 1,380 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,454 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, NIC graduates make an average of $35,512 annually.
University of Utah ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 9,223 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from U of U accumulate an average of $35,904 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, U of U graduates make an average of $51,388 annually.
Miles Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Miles City, Montana, the very small public school handed out 123 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $17,203 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Miles Community College graduates make an average of $57,867 annually.
Montana Technological University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Butte, Montana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 381 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,460 in student loans.After graduating from Montana Tech, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $63,042 during the early years of their career.
Northwest Nazarene University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #17 on the list. Northwest Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Nampa, Idaho that handed out 574 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from NNU accumulate an average of $37,456 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, NNU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,029 during the early year of their career.
Boise State University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Boise, Idaho, the large public school handed out 6,158 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,958 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $283.After graduating from Boise State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,749 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #19, Regis University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Located in Denver, Colorado, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 2,060 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $42,026 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $446, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Regis U, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,795 during the early years of their career.
Laramie County Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the small public school awarded 770 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,609 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, LCCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,717 during the early year of their career.
Brigham Young University - Provo ranked #21 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. BYU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Provo, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7,920 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from BYU accumulate an average of $16,349 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, BYU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,470 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #22, Otero Junior College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. This very small public school is located in La Junta, Colorado, and it awarded 349 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,460 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Otero JC graduates make an average of $47,585 annually.
Montana State University - Billings did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in Billings, Montana, the small public school awarded 795 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Montana State University - Billings accumulate an average of $23,456 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Montana State University - Billings, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,648 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #24, College of Eastern Idaho did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. This small public school is located in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and it awarded 382 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,544 in student loans.After graduating from CEI, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,002 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #25, Colorado State University - Pueblo did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Colorado State University - Pueblo is located in Pueblo, Colorado and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 974 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $23,860 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Colorado State University - Pueblo graduates make an average of $42,728 annually.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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