2023 Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for healthcare students. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools and bootcamps that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Healthcare Degree Search has created its Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 40 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for healthcare students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Colorado Northwestern Community College the best value school in the Rocky Mountains Region for healthcare students working on their associate degree. Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public school located in Rangely, Colorado that handed out 40 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CNCC are $6,596 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $17,852 in loans while pursuing their degree.
CNCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 25% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
CNCC did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend College of Southern Idaho. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Twin Falls, Idaho, and it awarded 258 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at College of Southern Idaho are $6,840 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,921 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at College of Southern Idaho. In 2019-2020 about 41% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
College of Southern Idaho excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Otero Junior College is a great place for healthcare students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Located in La Junta, Colorado, the small public school handed out 80 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Otero JC are $6,563 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,299 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Otero JC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 28% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Otero JC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means College of Eastern Idaho is a great place for healthcare students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. CEI is located in Idaho Falls, Idaho and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 83 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CEI are $6,222 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,007 in student loans.
CEI does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 76% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Out of the 40 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s value ranking, Trinidad State Junior College landed the # 5 spot on the list. This small public school is located in Trinidad, Colorado, and it awarded 48 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Trinidad State Junior College are $6,631 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $20,101 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Trinidad State Junior College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 17% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #6, North Idaho College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for healthcare students working on their associate degree. North Idaho College is a small public school located in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho that handed out 113 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NIC are $8,736 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,016 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at NIC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 80% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, NIC also did well on our Best Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
College of Western Idaho landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree healthcare programs. CWI is a fairly large public school situated in Nampa, Idaho. It awarded 138 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CWI are $7,344 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,617 in student loans.
Online courses are available at CWI, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 51% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #8, Northern Wyoming Community College District did quite well on this year’s best value schools for healthcare students working on their associate degree. Located in Sheridan, Wyoming, the small public school handed out 162 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northern Wyoming Community College District are $10,890 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,163 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Northern Wyoming Community College District, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 37% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Northern Wyoming Community College District also made our Best Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list, coming in at #1.
With a ranking of #9, Casper College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for healthcare students working on their associate degree. Casper College is a small public school situated in Casper, Wyoming. It awarded 154 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Casper College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,520 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,284 in student loans.
Casper College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 52% took at least some of their classes online.
Northeastern Junior College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This small public school is located in Sterling, Colorado, and it awarded 27 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at NJC are $7,544 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,100 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
NJC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 20% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #11, Miles Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for healthcare students working on their associate degree. Miles Community College is a very small public school situated in Miles City, Montana. It awarded 27 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Miles Community College are $9,840 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $22,682 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Miles Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 73% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Laramie County Community College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree healthcare programs. Located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the small public school awarded 161 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
LCCC undergraduate students pay an average of $10,913 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,970 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since LCCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 45% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
LCCC also made our Best Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list, coming in at #5.
With a ranking of #13, Helena College University of Montana did quite well on this year’s best value schools for healthcare students working on their associate degree. Helena, Montana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.
Helena College undergraduate students pay an average of $9,570 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,735 in student loans.
Helena College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 40% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Western Wyoming Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Rock Springs, Wyoming is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 59 students in 2020-2021.
WWCC undergraduate students pay an average of $8,640 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,238 in student loans.
WWCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 55% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Aims Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree healthcare programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Greeley, Colorado, and it awarded 88 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Aims Community College are $10,418 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,360 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Aims Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 83% took at least some of their classes online.
Salt Lake Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree healthcare programs. Salt Lake Community College is a public institution located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 545 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Salt Lake Community College are $12,734 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,550 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Salt Lake Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 48% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #17, Northwest College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for healthcare students working on their associate degree. Northwest College is a small public school located in Powell, Wyoming that handed out 41 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Northwest Community College are $11,162 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,640 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Northwest Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 55% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Colorado Mountain College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Colorado Mountain College is a medium-sized public school situated in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. It awarded 62 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Colorado Mountain College undergraduate students pay an average of $11,484 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,827 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Colorado Mountain College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 33% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Central Wyoming College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree healthcare programs. This small public school is located in Riverton, Wyoming, and it awarded 54 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CWC are $10,980 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,449 in student loans.
Online courses are available at CWC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 52% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Red Rocks Community College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree healthcare programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Lakewood, Colorado, and it awarded 63 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Red Rocks Community College are $15,811 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $17,755 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Red Rocks Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Red Rocks Community College is ranked #2 for overall quality in the Rocky Mountains Region .
Eastern Wyoming College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree healthcare programs. Located in Torrington, Wyoming, the small public school handed out 17 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Eastern Wyoming College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,590 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $10,650 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Eastern Wyoming College. In 2019-2020 about 34% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Weber State University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree healthcare programs. WSU is a public institution located in Ogden, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 793 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at WSU are $16,644 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $20,128 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at WSU. In 2019-2020 about 59% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
WSU excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
Arapahoe Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Littleton, Colorado, the fairly large public school handed out 71 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Arapahoe Community College are $15,502 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $22,064 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Arapahoe Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 33% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Morgan Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for healthcare students to get an associate degree. It came in at #24 on the list. Morgan Community College is a small public school situated in Fort Morgan, Colorado. It awarded 46 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Morgan Community College are $15,274 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,598 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Morgan Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Utah Valley University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Healthcare Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. UVU is a large public school situated in Orem, Utah. It awarded 112 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UVU are $17,092 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $14,381 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that UVU does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 70% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
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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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