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
421Ramapo College of New JerseyMahwah, NJ · Public
−23%−$58,742
422California State University, Long BeachLong Beach, CA · Public
−23%−$51,710
423Drake UniversityDes Moines, IA · Private nonprofit
−23%−$69,178
424University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash CollegeBlue Ash, OH · Public
−23%−$57,582
425University of HoustonHouston, TX · Public
−23%−$55,494
426Waldorf UniversityForest City, IA · Private nonprofit
−24%−$61,092
427CUNY York CollegeJamaica, NY · Public
−24%−$47,084
428University of California, Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA · Public
−24%−$59,940
429Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA · Private nonprofit
−24%−$67,654
430Worcester State UniversityWorcester, MA · Public
−24%−$56,214
431University of Wisconsin-PlattevillePlatteville, WI · Public
−24%−$58,968
432University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR · Public
−24%−$61,306
433Metropolitan State UniversitySaint Paul, MN · Public
−24%−$60,062
434DePauw UniversityGreencastle, IN · Private nonprofit
−24%−$65,486
435Central Connecticut State UniversityNew Britain, CT · Public
−24%−$60,478
436University of La VerneLa Verne, CA · Private nonprofit
−25%−$64,014
437University of Alaska AnchorageAnchorage, AK · Public
−25%−$59,304
438Muhlenberg CollegeAllentown, PA · Private nonprofit
−25%−$72,720
439Salve Regina UniversityNewport, RI · Private nonprofit
−25%−$80,918
440Ursuline CollegePepper Pike, OH · Private nonprofit
−25%−$60,436
441Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional CampusesAngola, IN · Private nonprofit
−25%−$60,372
442California State University, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · Public
−25%−$48,718
443Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI · Public
−25%−$58,004
444Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa, CA · Private nonprofit
−25%−$68,218
445University of Maine at Fort KentFort Kent, ME · Public
−25%−$53,288
446Bluefield State UniversityBluefield, WV · Public
−26%−$60,406
447University of Michigan-FlintFlint, MI · Public
−26%−$53,768
448California State University, FresnoFresno, CA · Public
−26%−$54,000
449Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth, TX · Private nonprofit
−26%−$85,560
450California State University, ChicoChico, CA · Public
−26%−$62,830
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