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
901Abilene Christian UniversityAbilene, TX · Private nonprofit
−60%−$171,098
902Dakota State UniversityMadison, SD · Public
−60%−$158,818
903West Virginia Wesleyan CollegeBuckhannon, WV · Private nonprofit
−60%−$151,812
904University of LynchburgLynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit
−60%−$161,940
905Cambridge CollegeBoston, MA · Private nonprofit
−60%−$183,238
906Saint Michael's CollegeColchester, VT · Private nonprofit
−60%−$169,336
907Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, NY · Private nonprofit
−60%−$203,412
908East Texas A&M UniversityCommerce, TX · Public
−60%−$137,384
909Seattle Central CollegeSeattle, WA · Public
−60%−$130,126
910University of Mount UnionAlliance, OH · Private nonprofit
−61%−$165,320
911Southwestern UniversityGeorgetown, TX · Private nonprofit
−61%−$180,076
912SUNY BrockportBrockport, NY · Public
−61%−$149,032
913Averett UniversityDanville, VA · Private nonprofit
−61%−$165,230
914Colorado Christian UniversityLakewood, CO · Private nonprofit
−61%−$181,400
915Saint Leo UniversitySaint Leo, FL · Private nonprofit
−61%−$161,472
916Southwestern CollegeWinfield, KS · Private nonprofit
−61%−$182,486
917Hardin-Simmons UniversityAbilene, TX · Private nonprofit
−61%−$157,610
918Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional StudiesFort Wayne, IN · Private nonprofit
−61%−$160,092
919Loras CollegeDubuque, IA · Private nonprofit
−61%−$160,864
920Pacific UniversityForest Grove, OR · Private nonprofit
−61%−$196,622
921St Petersburg CollegeSt. Petersburg, FL · Public
−61%−$113,944
922State University of New York at OswegoOswego, NY · Public
−61%−$150,554
923University of Wisconsin-ParksideKenosha, WI · Public
−61%−$139,658
924Southwestern Adventist UniversityKeene, TX · Private nonprofit
−62%−$166,912
925Columbus State UniversityColumbus, GA · Public
−62%−$143,150
926Lindenwood UniversitySaint Charles, MO · Private nonprofit
−62%−$159,492
927University of Nebraska at KearneyKearney, NE · Public
−62%−$151,778
928Marywood UniversityScranton, PA · Private nonprofit
−62%−$169,532
929La Roche UniversityPittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit
−62%−$163,146
930Augustana UniversitySioux Falls, SD · Private nonprofit
−62%−$170,846
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