Best ROI colleges in America
Ten years of reported earnings premium, measured against four years of net price plus earnings forgone while studying.
1,616eligible colleges$45kcomparison earnings
LOWER10-YEAR ROIHIGHER
301Strayer University-Global RegionWashington, DC · Private for-profit
−10%−$25,172
302Galen Health Institutes-GainesvilleGainesville, FL · Private for-profit
−10%−$30,186
303Strayer University-South CarolinaGreenville, SC · Private for-profit
−10%−$25,756
304Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA · Public
−10%−$31,860
305California State University, SacramentoSacramento, CA · Public
−10%−$22,402
306Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN · Private nonprofit
−11%−$29,708
307Kettering CollegeKettering, OH · Private nonprofit
−11%−$28,140
308Cleary UniversityHowell, MI · Private nonprofit
−11%−$28,502
309The College of New JerseyEwing, NJ · Public
−11%−$31,004
310Strayer University-GeorgiaChamblee, GA · Private for-profit
−11%−$27,112
311Galen Health Institutes-Austin CampusRound Rock, TX · Private for-profit
−11%−$32,698
312Galen Health Institutes-HoustonHouston, TX · Private for-profit
−11%−$32,838
313Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalMarion, IN · Private nonprofit
−11%−$27,152
314California State University, San MarcosSan Marcos, CA · Public
−11%−$24,426
315Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY · Private nonprofit
−11%−$37,082
316University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY · Public
−11%−$29,610
317Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied HealthOmaha, NE · Private nonprofit
−11%−$30,052
318Curry CollegeMilton, MA · Private nonprofit
−11%−$33,798
319Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN · Public
−11%−$28,006
320St. John's University-New YorkQueens, NY · Private nonprofit
−11%−$34,406
321University of Massachusetts-DartmouthNorth Dartmouth, MA · Public
−12%−$30,768
322Ohio State University-Newark CampusNewark, OH · Public
−12%−$27,928
323Galen Health Institutes-DallasRichardson, TX · Private for-profit
−12%−$35,942
324Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health ScienceCincinnati, OH · Private nonprofit
−12%−$30,678
325James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, VA · Public
−12%−$32,628
326Nova Southeastern UniversityFort Lauderdale, FL · Private nonprofit
−12%−$37,454
327Strayer University-VirginiaArlington, VA · Private for-profit
−12%−$32,152
328Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park, CA · Public
−13%−$29,040
329Haverford CollegeHaverford, PA · Private nonprofit
−13%−$35,496
330Weber State UniversityOgden, UT · Public
−13%−$28,392
The ranking includes currently operating colleges with reported bachelor’s-level programs, at least 500 students and annual average net price of $1,000 or more. It does not model taxes, wage growth, living costs or completion risk.
Best ROI colleges by state
Every state page uses the same data-quality screen and economic-investment formula as the national ranking.
ALAlabamaAKAlaskaAZArizonaARArkansasCACaliforniaCOColoradoCTConnecticutDEDelawareDCDistrict of ColumbiaFLFloridaGAGeorgiaHIHawaiiIDIdahoILIllinoisINIndianaIAIowaKSKansasKYKentuckyLALouisianaMEMaineMDMarylandMAMassachusettsMIMichiganMNMinnesotaMSMississippiMOMissouriMTMontanaNENebraskaNVNevadaNHNew HampshireNJNew JerseyNMNew MexicoNYNew YorkNCNorth CarolinaNDNorth DakotaOHOhioOKOklahomaOROregonPAPennsylvaniaRIRhode IslandSCSouth CarolinaSDSouth DakotaTNTennesseeTXTexasUTUtahVTVermontVAVirginiaWAWashingtonWVWest VirginiaWIWisconsinWYWyoming