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
991Middle Georgia State UniversityMacon, GA · Public
−65%−$149,924
992Fairmont State UniversityFairmont, WV · Public
−65%−$141,228
993Luther CollegeDecorah, IA · Private nonprofit
−65%−$178,218
994Wittenberg UniversitySpringfield, OH · Private nonprofit
−66%−$166,936
995Springfield CollegeSpringfield, MA · Private nonprofit
−66%−$198,938
996The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN · Public
−66%−$156,020
997West Texas A&M UniversityCanyon, TX · Public
−66%−$169,788
998Ottawa University-SurpriseSurprise, AZ · Private nonprofit
−66%−$206,762
999Washburn UniversityTopeka, KS · Public
−66%−$159,030
1000Texas Lutheran UniversitySeguin, TX · Private nonprofit
−66%−$183,806
1001University of Southern IndianaEvansville, IN · Public
−66%−$152,872
1002Delaware State UniversityDover, DE · Public
−66%−$155,680
1003Trinity Christian CollegePalos Heights, IL · Private nonprofit
−66%−$169,520
1004Lubbock Christian UniversityLubbock, TX · Private nonprofit
−66%−$183,614
1005University of EvansvilleEvansville, IN · Private nonprofit
−66%−$167,876
1006Youngstown State UniversityYoungstown, OH · Public
−66%−$152,748
1007Texas Wesleyan UniversityFort Worth, TX · Private nonprofit
−66%−$183,044
1008Minnesota State University MoorheadMoorhead, MN · Public
−66%−$167,128
1009Hiram CollegeHiram, OH · Private nonprofit
−66%−$175,472
1010University of South Carolina-UpstateSpartanburg, SC · Public
−66%−$155,718
1011University of West FloridaPensacola, FL · Public
−67%−$145,076
1012Clarke UniversityDubuque, IA · Private nonprofit
−67%−$185,546
1013Texas A&M International UniversityLaredo, TX · Public
−67%−$129,938
1014Columbia CollegeColumbia, MO · Private nonprofit
−67%−$181,470
1015Nazareth UniversityRochester, NY · Private nonprofit
−67%−$199,298
1016Saint Norbert CollegeDe Pere, WI · Private nonprofit
−67%−$190,828
1017Wingate UniversityWingate, NC · Private nonprofit
−67%−$176,612
1018Eastern Mennonite UniversityHarrisonburg, VA · Private nonprofit
−67%−$187,252
1019University of North GeorgiaDahlonega, GA · Public
−67%−$147,522
1020Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock, PA · Public
−67%−$174,262
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