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
1201Valdosta State UniversityValdosta, GA · Public
−81%−$180,450
1202Shawnee State UniversityPortsmouth, OH · Public
−81%−$191,534
1203Reinhardt UniversityWaleska, GA · Private nonprofit
−81%−$223,970
1204Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and SciencesFayette, MO · Private nonprofit
−81%−$218,824
1205The College of WoosterWooster, OH · Private nonprofit
−81%−$221,282
1206Shorter UniversityRome, GA · Private nonprofit
−81%−$199,364
1207Fisk UniversityNashville, TN · Private nonprofit
−81%−$249,300
1208Northwest Missouri State UniversityMaryville, MO · Public
−81%−$198,276
1209Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityTallahassee, FL · Public
−81%−$190,386
1210Northwest Indian CollegeBellingham, WA · Public
−81%−$156,224
1211Nicholls State UniversityThibodaux, LA · Public
−81%−$188,118
1212The College of IdahoCaldwell, ID · Private nonprofit
−81%−$209,964
1213Alcorn State UniversityAlcorn State, MS · Public
−82%−$190,210
1214Vincennes UniversityVincennes, IN · Public
−82%−$183,820
1215Truett McConnell UniversityCleveland, GA · Private nonprofit
−82%−$220,038
1216Lynn UniversityBoca Raton, FL · Private nonprofit
−82%−$291,636
1217Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, AR · Public
−82%−$187,874
1218Hanover CollegeHanover, IN · Private nonprofit
−82%−$219,046
1219Mount Vernon Nazarene UniversityMount Vernon, OH · Private nonprofit
−82%−$220,994
1220Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofit
−82%−$212,822
1221Adams State UniversityAlamosa, CO · Public
−82%−$190,570
1222University of Maryland Eastern ShorePrincess Anne, MD · Public
−82%−$191,972
1223Westminster CollegeFulton, MO · Private nonprofit
−82%−$228,166
1224Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY · Public
−82%−$184,440
1225Monmouth CollegeMonmouth, IL · Private nonprofit
−82%−$204,802
1226South CollegeKnoxville, TN · Private for-profit
−83%−$207,762
1227Buena Vista UniversityStorm Lake, IA · Private nonprofit
−83%−$211,464
1228The University of Tennessee SouthernPulaski, TN · Public
−83%−$191,542
1229Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, SC · Public
−83%−$195,454
1230Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape Girardeau, MO · Public
−83%−$202,058
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