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
931Eastern Connecticut State UniversityWillimantic, CT · Public
−62%−$163,928
932Purdue University Fort WayneFort Wayne, IN · Public
−62%−$144,544
933The University of OlivetOlivet, MI · Private nonprofit
−62%−$165,182
934East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaEast Stroudsburg, PA · Public
−62%−$157,086
935Alfred UniversityAlfred, NY · Private nonprofit
−62%−$175,740
936Doane UniversityCrete, NE · Private nonprofit
−62%−$177,626
937Pittsburg State UniversityPittsburg, KS · Public
−62%−$151,346
938Colby-Sawyer CollegeNew London, NH · Private nonprofit
−62%−$180,724
939Northwest Nazarene UniversityNampa, ID · Private nonprofit
−62%−$186,190
940Idaho State UniversityPocatello, ID · Public
−62%−$142,852
941Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN · Public
−62%−$149,750
942Bay Path UniversityLongmeadow, MA · Private nonprofit
−62%−$148,084
943Capital UniversityColumbus, OH · Private nonprofit
−63%−$169,354
944Simpson CollegeIndianola, IA · Private nonprofit
−63%−$167,764
945Coe CollegeCedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofit
−63%−$159,810
946Indiana Institute of TechnologyFort Wayne, IN · Private nonprofit
−63%−$171,024
947Tiffin UniversityTiffin, OH · Private nonprofit
−63%−$179,360
948Kent State University at StarkNorth Canton, OH · Public
−63%−$140,378
949Smith Chason CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Private for-profit
−63%−$199,388
950Campbell UniversityBuies Creek, NC · Private nonprofit
−63%−$174,644
951Southern Utah UniversityCedar City, UT · Public
−63%−$139,348
952Vermont State UniversityRandolph, VT · Public
−63%−$158,908
953Kent State University at TrumbullWarren, OH · Public
−63%−$141,330
954Concordia College at MoorheadMoorhead, MN · Private nonprofit
−63%−$176,248
955John Brown UniversitySiloam Springs, AR · Private nonprofit
−63%−$165,138
956Spelman CollegeAtlanta, GA · Private nonprofit
−63%−$212,108
957Biola UniversityLa Mirada, CA · Private nonprofit
−63%−$193,350
958Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand Junction, CO · Public
−63%−$152,062
959Tarleton State UniversityStephenville, TX · Public
−63%−$166,572
960Ottawa University-OttawaOttawa, KS · Private nonprofit
−63%−$185,042
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