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
511Pennsylvania College of TechnologyWilliamsport, PA · Public
−33%−$91,620
512Empire State UniversitySaratoga Springs, NY · Public
−33%−$74,294
513Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA · Private nonprofit
−33%−$111,766
514Cedar Crest CollegeAllentown, PA · Private nonprofit
−33%−$83,826
515Connecticut CollegeNew London, CT · Private nonprofit
−33%−$107,180
516Pacific Union CollegeAngwin, CA · Private nonprofit
−33%−$114,032
517Bethel UniversitySaint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit
−33%−$97,524
518Heritage UniversityToppenish, WA · Private nonprofit
−33%−$79,052
519Monmouth UniversityWest Long Branch, NJ · Private nonprofit
−33%−$101,002
520Marietta CollegeMarietta, OH · Private nonprofit
−33%−$87,952
521Montana State University-NorthernHavre, MT · Public
−33%−$76,766
522University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, OH · Public
−33%−$94,142
523The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL · Public
−33%−$89,850
524University of Houston-DowntownHouston, TX · Public
−33%−$74,368
525Lamar UniversityBeaumont, TX · Public
−34%−$73,184
526Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan CampusTeaneck, NJ · Private nonprofit
−34%−$81,486
527California Baptist UniversityRiverside, CA · Private nonprofit
−34%−$96,320
528Saint Ambrose UniversityDavenport, IA · Private nonprofit
−34%−$94,214
529York College of PennsylvaniaYork, PA · Private nonprofit
−34%−$86,224
530Le Moyne CollegeSyracuse, NY · Private nonprofit
−34%−$91,348
531Barry UniversityMiami, FL · Private nonprofit
−34%−$92,012
532Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, WA · Public
−34%−$86,464
533Texas Woman's UniversityDenton, TX · Public
−34%−$77,632
534Aurora UniversityAurora, IL · Private nonprofit
−34%−$87,272
535University of ToledoToledo, OH · Public
−34%−$85,346
536Mercer UniversityMacon, GA · Private nonprofit
−34%−$94,648
537Concordia University TexasAustin, TX · Private nonprofit
−34%−$93,794
538Northwood UniversityMidland, MI · Private nonprofit
−34%−$99,678
539Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO · Public
−35%−$92,236
540Emmanuel CollegeBoston, MA · Private nonprofit
−35%−$99,814
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