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
1231Franciscan University of SteubenvilleSteubenville, OH · Private nonprofit
−83%−$228,036
1232Muskingum UniversityNew Concord, OH · Private nonprofit
−83%−$214,958
1233Spartan College of Aeronautics and TechnologyTulsa, OK · Private for-profit
−83%−$249,434
1234Southern Arkansas University Main CampusMagnolia, AR · Public
−83%−$196,918
1235William Peace UniversityRaleigh, NC · Private nonprofit
−83%−$222,446
1236Hendrix CollegeConway, AR · Private nonprofit
−83%−$230,806
1237Pierce College DistrictLakewood, WA · Public
−83%−$184,398
1238University of the CumberlandsWilliamsburg, KY · Private nonprofit
−84%−$197,528
1239SUNY College at PotsdamPotsdam, NY · Public
−84%−$196,026
1240Cornerstone UniversityGrand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit
−84%−$218,584
1241Pasco-Hernando State CollegeNew Port Richey, FL · Public
−84%−$168,062
1242Methodist UniversityFayetteville, NC · Private nonprofit
−84%−$233,686
1243Midway UniversityMidway, KY · Private nonprofit
−84%−$250,076
1244Meredith CollegeRaleigh, NC · Private nonprofit
−84%−$226,362
1245Florida Gateway CollegeLake City, FL · Public
−84%−$168,946
1246Abraham Baldwin Agricultural CollegeTifton, GA · Public
−84%−$173,908
1247Bethany CollegeLindsborg, KS · Private nonprofit
−84%−$243,954
1248California College of the ArtsSan Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit
−84%−$332,156
1249Point Park UniversityPittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit
−84%−$238,728
1250Miami Dade CollegeMiami, FL · Public
−84%−$169,962
1251Southeastern Louisiana UniversityHammond, LA · Public
−84%−$196,126
1252Louisiana Christian UniversityPineville, LA · Private nonprofit
−84%−$196,162
1253University of Hawaii at HiloHilo, HI · Public
−84%−$191,944
1254Maryville CollegeMaryville, TN · Private nonprofit
−84%−$217,280
1255Santa Fe CollegeGainesville, FL · Public
−85%−$189,642
1256University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro, NC · Public
−85%−$189,500
1257Newberry CollegeNewberry, SC · Private nonprofit
−85%−$225,814
1258Parker UniversityDallas, TX · Private nonprofit
−85%−$251,160
1259Western Colorado UniversityGunnison, CO · Public
−85%−$208,470
1260Southern University and A&M CollegeBaton Rouge, LA · Public
−85%−$220,898
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