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Despite its relatively low population density, the mountain state region of the United States has a wide range of options for higher education. My top picks vary in size from one of the country's largest public universities to a tiny Christian college with under 200 students. You'll find some familiar names here as well as a few less well-known schools. The 20 colleges and universities below were chosen based on factors such as retention rates, four- and six-year graduation rates, student engagement, and value. I have listed the schools alphabetically to avoid the often arbitrary distinctions that separate #1 from #2, and because of the futility of comparing a large research university to a small liberal arts college.
The Mountain State Region
The 20 colleges and universities below were selected from the Mountain State region of the United States: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
More Regions: New England | Middle Atlantic | Southeast | Midwest | South Central | West Coast
Arizona State University (ASU)
kevindooley / Flickr
- Location: Tempe, Arizona
- Enrollment: 68,064 (54,277 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: public university
- Distinctions: chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; one of the largest universities in the country; other campuses in Phoenix and Mesa; member of the NCAA Division I Pacific 12 Conference
- Explore the Campus: Arizona State Photo Tour
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Arizona State University profile
Brigham Young University
DOliphant / Flickr
- Location: Provo, Utah
- Enrollment: 34,130 (30,745 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: private university affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Distinctions: largest religious university in the U.S.; excellent value; large percentage of students do missionary work during college; member of the NCAA Division I West Coast Conference
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Brigham Young University profile
Carroll College
sheadonato / Flickr
- Location: Helena, Montana
- Enrollment: 1,462 (all undergraduate)
- Type of Institution: private Catholic liberal arts and pre-professional college
- Distinctions: excellent value; 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio; many options for outdoor activities; institutional focus on service and volunteerism; students can choose from 42 majors and 8 pre-professional programs
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Carroll College profile
College of Idaho
Photo Credit: The College of Idaho
- Location: Caldwell, Idaho
- Enrollment: 1,013 (1,002 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college
- Distinctions: creative curriculum allows students to earn one major and three minors in four years; 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio; average class size of 11; diverse student body from 30 states and 40 countries
- For more information and admissions data, visit the College of Idaho profile
Colorado College
Greverod / Wikimedia Commons
- Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Enrollment: 2,032 (2,000 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college
- Distinctions: chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; breathtaking location at the foot of the Rocky Mountains; creative one-class-at-a-time curriculum; 10 to 1 student / faculty ratio
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Colorado College profile
Colorado School of Mines
rkimpeljr / Flickr
- Location: Golden, Colorado
- Enrollment: 5,124 (3,672 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: public engineering school
- Distinctions: 14 to 1 student / faculty ratio; high average starting salaries for graduates; excellent value; highest admissions standards of any public university in Colorado
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Colorado School of Mines profile
Colorado State University
ecopolitologist / Flickr
- Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
- Enrollment: 28,902 (22,221 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: public university
- Distinctions: chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; 17 to 1 student / faculty ratio; students from all 50 states and 85 countries; member of the NCAA Division I Mountain West Conference
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Colorado State University profile
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott
Elliott P. / Flickr
- Location: Prescott, Arizona
- Enrollment: 1,672 (1,627 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: private aeronautical and aerospace institute
- Distinctions: 14 to 1 student / faculty ratio; average class size of 21; one of the world's top institutions for aeronautics and aerospace engineering; students from 50 states and 25 countries; facilities include many flight simulators and training aircraft
- For more information and admissions data, visit the ERAU Prescott profile
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech)
Hajor / Wikimedia Commons
- Location: Socorro, New Mexico
- Enrollment: 1,761 (1,322 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: public engineering school
- Distinctions: 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio; excellent value; high average salaries for graduates; many strong engineering programs; numerous research opportunities through affiliated science and engineering research centers
- For more information and admissions data, visit the New Mexico Tech profile
