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
601Thomas More UniversityCrestview Hills, KY · Private nonprofit
−40%−$106,670
602Carlow UniversityPittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit
−40%−$105,104
603Hallmark UniversitySan Antonio, TX · Private nonprofit
−40%−$92,012
604Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA · Public
−40%−$109,592
605Occidental CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
−40%−$133,392
606West Chester University of PennsylvaniaWest Chester, PA · Public
−40%−$109,594
607Midwestern State UniversityWichita Falls, TX · Public
−40%−$91,024
608University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL · Public
−40%−$89,684
609University of Houston-Clear LakeHouston, TX · Public
−40%−$98,042
610California State University, San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CA · Public
−41%−$80,306
611Park UniversityParkville, MO · Private nonprofit
−41%−$107,388
612North Park UniversityChicago, IL · Private nonprofit
−41%−$100,762
613Centre CollegeDanville, KY · Private nonprofit
−41%−$107,604
614Furman UniversityGreenville, SC · Private nonprofit
−41%−$123,242
615Walsh UniversityNorth Canton, OH · Private nonprofit
−41%−$107,222
616Washington CollegeChestertown, MD · Private nonprofit
−41%−$119,372
617Lebanon Valley CollegeAnnville, PA · Private nonprofit
−41%−$117,926
618Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham CampusMadison, NJ · Private nonprofit
−41%−$111,186
619Morgan State UniversityBaltimore, MD · Public
−41%−$98,440
620DeVry University-CaliforniaOntario, CA · Private for-profit
−41%−$129,366
621Universidad Politecnica de Puerto RicoHato Rey, PR · Private nonprofit
−41%−$102,820
622Madonna UniversityLivonia, MI · Private nonprofit
−41%−$103,330
623Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI · Public
−41%−$99,362
624Keuka CollegeKeuka Park, NY · Private nonprofit
−41%−$114,322
625California State University, Monterey BaySeaside, CA · Public
−41%−$96,792
626The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX · Public
−41%−$92,314
627University of WyomingLaramie, WY · Public
−41%−$97,066
628State University of New York at CortlandCortland, NY · Public
−41%−$111,790
629University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK · Public
−42%−$93,058
630Texas A&M University-Central TexasKilleen, TX · Public
−42%−$77,150
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