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
1081Tennessee State UniversityNashville, TN · Public
−71%−$173,844
1082Hastings CollegeHastings, NE · Private nonprofit
−72%−$198,748
1083Colorado Technical University-Colorado SpringsColorado Springs, CO · Private for-profit
−72%−$176,810
1084The Master's University and SeminarySanta Clarita, CA · Private nonprofit
−72%−$222,718
1085Davis & Elkins CollegeElkins, WV · Private nonprofit
−72%−$182,162
1086Tennessee Wesleyan UniversityAthens, TN · Private nonprofit
−72%−$172,334
1087Anderson UniversityAnderson, IN · Private nonprofit
−72%−$201,824
1088Mercyhurst UniversityErie, PA · Private nonprofit
−72%−$185,886
1089Southern Oregon UniversityAshland, OR · Public
−72%−$178,158
1090Tennessee Technological UniversityCookeville, TN · Public
−72%−$170,994
1091McNeese State UniversityLake Charles, LA · Public
−72%−$166,182
1092Emerson CollegeBoston, MA · Private nonprofit
−72%−$272,250
1093University of Northwestern OhioLima, OH · Private nonprofit
−72%−$193,178
1094University of North AlabamaFlorence, AL · Public
−72%−$165,670
1095Union UniversityJackson, TN · Private nonprofit
−72%−$209,224
1096University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezMayaguez, PR · Public
−73%−$182,954
1097Appalachian State UniversityBoone, NC · Public
−73%−$180,064
1098Southwest Baptist UniversityBolivar, MO · Private nonprofit
−73%−$194,578
1099Graceland University-LamoniLamoni, IA · Private nonprofit
−73%−$185,636
1100Longwood UniversityFarmville, VA · Public
−73%−$187,294
1101University of New OrleansNew Orleans, LA · Public
−73%−$167,806
1102Alma CollegeAlma, MI · Private nonprofit
−73%−$192,116
1103Montreat CollegeMontreat, NC · Private nonprofit
−73%−$211,094
1104Northern State UniversityAberdeen, SD · Public
−73%−$178,158
1105Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelaware, OH · Private nonprofit
−73%−$193,188
1106Rasmussen University-MinnesotaSt. Cloud, MN · Private for-profit
−74%−$185,248
1107Western Carolina UniversityCullowhee, NC · Public
−74%−$171,730
1108New Mexico Highlands UniversityLas Vegas, NM · Public
−74%−$176,262
1109Midland UniversityFremont, NE · Private nonprofit
−74%−$210,068
1110Pennsylvania Western UniversityCalifornia, PA · Public
−74%−$186,774
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