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
31Missouri University of Science and TechnologyRolla, MO · Public
+82%+$200,318
32Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, VA · Private nonprofit
+81%+$222,696
33California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA · Public
+80%+$197,470
34Colorado School of MinesGolden, CO · Public
+80%+$235,530
35Kettering UniversityFlint, MI · Private nonprofit
+79%+$252,430
36New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNewark, NJ · Public
+79%+$194,114
37Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroy, NY · Private nonprofit
+78%+$252,728
38Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT · Private nonprofit
+77%+$210,512
39New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologySocorro, NM · Public
+76%+$167,628
40Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-WorldwideDaytona Beach, FL · Private nonprofit
+76%+$193,490
41Chamberlain University-NevadaLas Vegas, NV · Private for-profit
+75%+$215,098
42University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN · Private nonprofit
+74%+$211,880
43Michigan Technological UniversityHoughton, MI · Public
+72%+$171,272
44Chamberlain University-MichiganTroy, MI · Private for-profit
+72%+$211,210
45University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · Public
+72%+$166,050
46Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PA · Private nonprofit
+72%+$235,586
47Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL · Private nonprofit
+72%+$213,182
48University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI · Public
+71%+$164,008
49Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MA · Private nonprofit
+70%+$244,856
50West Coast University-OntarioOntario, CA · Private for-profit
+68%+$258,610
51Helene Fuld College of NursingNew York, NY · Private nonprofit
+68%+$249,906
52Western Governors UniversitySalt Lake City, UT · Private nonprofit
+66%+$152,998
53Chamberlain University-LouisianaJefferson, LA · Private for-profit
+66%+$200,226
54Chamberlain University-FloridaJacksonville, FL · Private for-profit
+65%+$198,314
55Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC · Private nonprofit
+65%+$222,940
56Chamberlain University-IllinoisAddison, IL · Private for-profit
+64%+$196,042
57Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA · Private nonprofit
+63%+$191,620
58Chamberlain University-TexasHouston, TX · Private for-profit
+63%+$194,554
59West Coast University-TexasRichardson, TX · Private for-profit
+62%+$244,890
60Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL · Private nonprofit
+62%+$156,360
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