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
811University of Sioux FallsSioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit
−54%−$143,992
812Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL · Public
−54%−$126,518
813Otis College of Art and DesignLos Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
−55%−$210,142
814Fashion Institute of TechnologyNew York, NY · Public
−55%−$140,020
815Austin CollegeSherman, TX · Private nonprofit
−55%−$144,598
816Drew UniversityMadison, NJ · Private nonprofit
−55%−$151,570
817Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS · Public
−55%−$137,070
818Clayton State UniversityMorrow, GA · Public
−55%−$117,060
819Whittier CollegeWhittier, CA · Private nonprofit
−55%−$155,328
820Winston-Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem, NC · Public
−55%−$128,436
821University of ProvidenceGreat Falls, MT · Private nonprofit
−55%−$137,856
822Indiana University-NorthwestGary, IN · Public
−55%−$110,440
823St. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's City, MD · Public
−55%−$139,914
824Bemidji State UniversityBemidji, MN · Public
−55%−$132,974
825Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaShippensburg, PA · Public
−55%−$151,734
826Plymouth State UniversityPlymouth, NH · Public
−55%−$141,864
827Texas A&M University-Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, TX · Public
−55%−$133,050
828Calumet College of Saint JosephWhiting, IN · Private nonprofit
−55%−$149,014
829University of DubuqueDubuque, IA · Private nonprofit
−55%−$151,324
830Ithaca CollegeIthaca, NY · Private nonprofit
−55%−$175,184
831Spalding UniversityLouisville, KY · Private nonprofit
−55%−$156,474
832Georgia Southwestern State UniversityAmericus, GA · Public
−56%−$126,796
833Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg, PA · Public
−56%−$135,226
834Samford UniversityBirmingham, AL · Private nonprofit
−56%−$173,168
835Touro UniversityNew York, NY · Private nonprofit
−56%−$166,658
836LaGrange CollegeLagrange, GA · Private nonprofit
−56%−$147,180
837Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL · Public
−56%−$129,828
838Waynesburg UniversityWaynesburg, PA · Private nonprofit
−56%−$141,960
839Wayland Baptist UniversityPlainview, TX · Private nonprofit
−56%−$147,430
840Champlain CollegeBurlington, VT · Private nonprofit
−56%−$182,110
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