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
571Portland State UniversityPortland, OR · Public
−37%−$81,348
572Salem State UniversitySalem, MA · Public
−38%−$91,794
573University of Wisconsin-StoutMenomonie, WI · Public
−38%−$94,090
574Davenport UniversityGrand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit
−38%−$94,458
575Gustavus Adolphus CollegeSaint Peter, MN · Private nonprofit
−38%−$102,490
576King UniversityBristol, TN · Private nonprofit
−38%−$101,718
577Cabarrus College of Health SciencesConcord, NC · Private nonprofit
−38%−$94,692
578Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Public
−38%−$110,772
579Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL · Public
−38%−$97,532
580Minnesota State University-MankatoMankato, MN · Public
−38%−$97,146
581Dakota Wesleyan UniversityMitchell, SD · Private nonprofit
−38%−$98,170
582Mount Aloysius CollegeCresson, PA · Private nonprofit
−38%−$102,806
583University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL · Public
−38%−$97,616
584University of JamestownJamestown, ND · Private nonprofit
−38%−$99,278
585Clark UniversityWorcester, MA · Private nonprofit
−38%−$113,356
586University of VermontBurlington, VT · Public
−38%−$99,032
587University of St ThomasHouston, TX · Private nonprofit
−38%−$99,086
588University of KentuckyLexington, KY · Public
−39%−$98,374
589Charter Oak State CollegeNew Britain, CT · Public
−39%−$93,700
590Hood CollegeFrederick, MD · Private nonprofit
−39%−$101,522
591Baylor UniversityWaco, TX · Private nonprofit
−39%−$132,746
592Salisbury UniversitySalisbury, MD · Public
−39%−$96,752
593DeVry University-IllinoisLisle, IL · Private for-profit
−39%−$117,470
594Eastern Washington UniversityCheney, WA · Public
−39%−$92,104
595William Penn UniversityOskaloosa, IA · Private nonprofit
−39%−$106,264
596Bellarmine UniversityLouisville, KY · Private nonprofit
−39%−$104,686
597Mercy College of Health SciencesDes Moines, IA · Private nonprofit
−39%−$113,416
598Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ · Public
−40%−$106,602
599Hondros College of NursingColumbus, OH · Private for-profit
−40%−$112,706
600Concordia University Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI · Private nonprofit
−40%−$124,144
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