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
91University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL · Public
+42%+$99,200
92Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofit
+42%+$124,474
93University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusWaterbury, CT · Public
+42%+$92,820
94University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · Public
+41%+$94,788
95Brown UniversityProvidence, RI · Private nonprofit
+41%+$113,724
96Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit
+40%+$116,694
97Virginia Military InstituteLexington, VA · Public
+38%+$95,328
98DigiPen Institute of TechnologyRedmond, WA · Private for-profit
+38%+$135,396
99University of Florida-OnlineGainesville, FL · Public
+37%+$74,530
100University of Maryland Global CampusAdelphi, MD · Public
+37%+$99,438
101Linfield UniversityMcMinnville, OR · Private nonprofit
+33%+$94,576
102CUNY Hunter CollegeNew York, NY · Public
+33%+$62,994
103University of RochesterRochester, NY · Private nonprofit
+33%+$97,478
104University of FloridaGainesville, FL · Public
+33%+$67,626
105Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofit
+33%+$112,964
106Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofit
+32%+$108,384
107University of Alabama in HuntsvilleHuntsville, AL · Public
+32%+$82,216
108Bucknell UniversityLewisburg, PA · Private nonprofit
+32%+$109,906
109Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY · Public
+32%+$85,340
110Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfield, MI · Private nonprofit
+32%+$99,438
111Lafayette CollegeEaston, PA · Private nonprofit
+32%+$100,708
112Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottPrescott, AZ · Private nonprofit
+31%+$107,242
113Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY · Public
+31%+$79,444
114California State University, East BayHayward, CA · Public
+31%+$67,530
115Mount Carmel College of NursingColumbus, OH · Private nonprofit
+31%+$67,890
116Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachDaytona Beach, FL · Private nonprofit
+30%+$103,302
117Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN · Public
+29%+$70,130
118Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MA · Private nonprofit
+29%+$72,346
119University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusHartford, CT · Public
+29%+$70,708
120University of Connecticut-StamfordStamford, CT · Public
+28%+$69,128
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