2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for nursing students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
The Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 92 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region to see which ones were the most popular programs for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Western Governors University the most popular school in the Rocky Mountains Region for nursing students working on their degree. Western Governors University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Salt Lake City, Utah that handed out 43,908 degrees 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. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
Out of the 92 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Weber State University landed the # 2 spot on the list. WSU is a large public school situated in Ogden, Utah. It awarded 6,620 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,931 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, WSU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,655 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend AmeriTech College - Draper. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. AmeriTech College - Draper is a small private for-profit school situated in Draper, Utah. It awarded 803 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $25,723 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $245, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, AmeriTech College - Draper graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,909 during the early year of their career. Around 88% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the Rocky Mountains Region . This large public school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 5,700 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $49,067 in loans while pursuing their degree. 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. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Full University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Report
The programs at Boise State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the Rocky Mountains Region . 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. Once they receive their degree, Boise State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,749 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Pikes Peak Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. PPCC is a fairly large public school situated in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It awarded 3,050 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from PPCC accumulate an average of $11,839 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, PPCC graduates make an average of $31,856 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
Mountainland Technical College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. Located in Lehi, Utah, the small public school awarded 2,277 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Mountainland Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $28,245 during the early year of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Davis Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Kaysville, Utah, the small public school handed out 1,523 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from Davis Tech, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $27,464 during the early years of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Denver College of Nursing did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. Denver College of Nursing is a small private for-profit school located in Denver, Colorado that handed out 467 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $21,967 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $411 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Denver College of Nursing, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $60,390 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 85% were women.
With a ranking of #10, Regis University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working. Regis U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Denver, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2,060 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $42,026 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $446. During the early years of their career, Regis U graduates make an average of $53,795 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
Dixie State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Saint George, Utah, and it awarded 3,216 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,329 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Dixie State College graduates make an average of $35,951 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
Front Range Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Westminster, Colorado, and it awarded 5,675 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,422 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from FRCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,174 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
With a ranking of #14, University of Utah did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the large public school awarded 9,223 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $35,904 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from U of U, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,388 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Pueblo Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Pueblo, Colorado, the medium-sized public school handed out 2,592 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,809 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Pueblo Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,357 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 44% were women.
Snow College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Ephraim, Utah, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,316 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $7,929 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Snow College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,782 during the early years of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Salt Lake Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the large public school awarded 5,181 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $9,867 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Salt Lake Community College graduates make an average of $36,151 annually. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
Colorado Mesa University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Colorado Mesa is a medium-sized public school situated in Grand Junction, Colorado. It awarded 1,939 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Colorado Mesa accumulate an average of $21,449 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $208, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Colorado Mesa, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,493 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
With a ranking of #19, Montana State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working. Located in Bozeman, Montana, the fairly large public school awarded 3,536 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $23,447 in loans while pursuing 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. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
Brigham Young University - Idaho did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students. It came in at #20 on the list. Rexburg, Idaho is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 8,121 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,277 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from BYU - I, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,650 during the early years of their career. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list. University of Colorado at Colorado Springs is a fairly large public school located in Colorado Springs, Colorado that handed out 2,750 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UCCS accumulate an average of $30,005 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $332, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UCCS graduates make an average of $44,256 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Nightingale College ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Nightingale College is a small private for-profit school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 300 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,636 in student loans.After graduating from Nightingale College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,873 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 87% were women.
University of Northern Colorado ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Greeley, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,848 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,656 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $346, assuming you 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. Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.
Idaho State University ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Pocatello, Idaho, the fairly large public school handed out 2,795 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,709 in student loans.After graduating from ISU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,640 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
With a ranking of #25, Lewis - Clark State College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working. Lewiston, Idaho is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 848 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Lewis - Clark State College accumulate an average of $20,676 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.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. Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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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