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
1141Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit
−76%−$225,988
1142Chicago State UniversityChicago, IL · Public
−76%−$174,370
1143Troy UniversityTroy, AL · Public
−76%−$187,258
1144SUNY Buffalo State UniversityBuffalo, NY · Public
−76%−$171,694
1145Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro, TN · Public
−76%−$178,136
1146Lesley UniversityCambridge, MA · Private nonprofit
−76%−$232,558
1147William Jessup UniversityRocklin, CA · Private nonprofit
−76%−$223,298
1148University of Louisiana at MonroeMonroe, LA · Public
−76%−$178,784
1149Chadron State CollegeChadron, NE · Public
−77%−$176,306
1150Central CollegePella, IA · Private nonprofit
−77%−$209,658
1151Louisiana State University-ShreveportShreveport, LA · Public
−77%−$159,578
1152Heidelberg UniversityTiffin, OH · Private nonprofit
−77%−$201,464
1153Seton Hill UniversityGreensburg, PA · Private nonprofit
−77%−$206,946
1154Peru State CollegePeru, NE · Public
−77%−$174,608
1155Lincoln UniversityLincoln University, PA · Public
−77%−$185,218
1156Oakwood UniversityHuntsville, AL · Private nonprofit
−77%−$218,386
1157Mount Marty UniversityYankton, SD · Private nonprofit
−77%−$208,248
1158Adrian CollegeAdrian, MI · Private nonprofit
−78%−$218,332
1159Belmont UniversityNashville, TN · Private nonprofit
−78%−$242,628
1160Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green, OH · Public
−78%−$214,508
1161Lewis & Clark CollegePortland, OR · Private nonprofit
−78%−$252,112
1162University of the Virgin IslandsCharlotte Amalie, VI · Public
−78%−$163,536
1163SUNY College of Technology at DelhiDelhi, NY · Public
−78%−$193,980
1164Culver-Stockton CollegeCanton, MO · Private nonprofit
−78%−$209,102
1165Spring Arbor UniversitySpring Arbor, MI · Private nonprofit
−78%−$201,002
1166Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended StudiesFayette, MO · Private nonprofit
−78%−$186,164
1167Illinois CollegeJacksonville, IL · Private nonprofit
−78%−$197,722
1168Bridgewater CollegeBridgewater, VA · Private nonprofit
−78%−$196,430
1169The New SchoolNew York, NY · Private nonprofit
−78%−$324,544
1170Wilmington CollegeWilmington, OH · Private nonprofit
−78%−$216,832
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