2026 College Rankings

Top Hidden Gem Colleges in the Rocky Mountain Region

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Rocky Mountains (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

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The Rocky Mountain region is a dream come true for students who would love to spend their study breaks exploring national parks and the beautiful landscapes. If pairing your love for the outdoors with a stellar education sounds good to you, check out these Hidden Gem colleges in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.

Methodology

Each of these rankings is based on an analysis of data about the school's selectivity, financial health, graduation rates, student success, and more. We've outlined our full methodology here.

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Rank	Institution	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Carroll College	72.64	1,110 – 1,310	26103	43507	#1 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in the Rocky Mountain Region Carroll College Helena, MT Though the school seal features two lions, Carroll College’s mascot is actually a St. Bernard named Halo. Student athletes compete as the Fighting Saints in Football, Basketball, and Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), among others....Read more Acceptance Rate 72.6% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $26,103 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,507
2	Westminster University	66.57	1,130 – 1,340	28156	52994	#2 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in the Rocky Mountain Region Westminster University Salt Lake City, UT Westminster College became Westminster University in 2023. Over 50 Olympians have studied at the school. During the 2014 Olympics, 23 Westminster students were part of Team USA – 18 in 2018. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse is the most sought after program at the school. Acceptance Rate 66.6% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $28,156 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,994
3	Northwest Nazarene University	71.59	1,040 – 1,250	27291	45488	#3 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in the Rocky Mountain Region Northwest Nazarene University Nampa, ID 99% of students receive grant aid to help them afford their education at Northwest Nazarene University. A NCAA Division II without football school, there are also athletic scholarships available, averaging $23,126 each. NNU has a 14 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 77% first year retention rate. Acceptance Rate 71.6% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $27,291 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,488
4	The College of Idaho	47.22	1,070 – 1,270	22602	42097	#4 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in the Rocky Mountain Region The College of Idaho Caldwell, ID Founded in 1891, The College of Idaho is the oldest private liberal arts college in the state. The school offers up to Master's degrees, and graduates have entered impressive careers in business, politics, law, and sports. Many students pursue degrees in Business Administration and Management, General. Acceptance Rate 47.2% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $22,602 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,097

School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.

2026 College Rankings

Top Hidden Gem Colleges in the Rocky Mountain Region

About

Methodology