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
961Macalester CollegeSaint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit
−63%−$195,746
962Stetson UniversityDeLand, FL · Private nonprofit
−63%−$163,358
963Utah Tech UniversitySaint George, UT · Public
−63%−$154,956
964Kent State University at GeaugaBurton, OH · Public
−64%−$144,966
965Kent State University at AshtabulaAshtabula, OH · Public
−64%−$145,610
966Kent State University at TuscarawasNew Philadelphia, OH · Public
−64%−$146,958
967Reed CollegePortland, OR · Private nonprofit
−64%−$199,422
968Goucher CollegeBaltimore, MD · Private nonprofit
−64%−$172,520
969Bushnell UniversityEugene, OR · Private nonprofit
−64%−$168,326
970Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TX · Public
−64%−$151,690
971University of West AlabamaLivingston, AL · Public
−64%−$147,966
972Presbyterian CollegeClinton, SC · Private nonprofit
−64%−$168,232
973Florida Southern CollegeLakeland, FL · Private nonprofit
−64%−$188,924
974University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerque, NM · Public
−64%−$155,416
975Kent State University at East LiverpoolEast Liverpool, OH · Public
−64%−$150,358
976Lewis-Clark State CollegeLewiston, ID · Public
−64%−$156,210
977University of Wisconsin-River FallsRiver Falls, WI · Public
−64%−$152,316
978Husson UniversityBangor, ME · Private nonprofit
−65%−$170,340
979University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington, NC · Public
−65%−$168,096
980Kent State University at SalemSalem, OH · Public
−65%−$151,986
981University of West GeorgiaCarrollton, GA · Public
−65%−$149,544
982College of CharlestonCharleston, SC · Public
−65%−$165,730
983Fort Hays State UniversityHays, KS · Public
−65%−$149,626
984Truman State UniversityKirksville, MO · Public
−65%−$150,300
985Mount Holyoke CollegeSouth Hadley, MA · Private nonprofit
−65%−$185,914
986Harding UniversitySearcy, AR · Private nonprofit
−65%−$174,840
987Rhode Island School of DesignProvidence, RI · Private nonprofit
−65%−$249,008
988Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersville, PA · Public
−65%−$171,648
989Langston UniversityLangston, OK · Public
−65%−$147,516
990University of Hawaii-West OahuKapolei, HI · Public
−65%−$144,528
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