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
1261Virginia Wesleyan UniversityVirginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofit
−85%−$219,584
1262Northwestern Oklahoma State UniversityAlva, OK · Public
−85%−$187,206
1263California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtArcata, CA · Public
−85%−$198,104
1264Herzing University-MinneapolisSt. Louis Park, MN · Private nonprofit
−85%−$210,080
1265Bethany CollegeBethany, WV · Private nonprofit
−85%−$216,750
1266Thiel CollegeGreenville, PA · Private nonprofit
−85%−$229,758
1267Missouri Western State UniversitySaint Joseph, MO · Public
−85%−$198,764
1268Milligan UniversityMilligan, TN · Private nonprofit
−85%−$226,850
1269East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, TN · Public
−86%−$208,592
1270Marymount Manhattan CollegeNew York, NY · Private nonprofit
−86%−$280,104
1271University of PikevillePikeville, KY · Private nonprofit
−86%−$223,544
1272Polk State CollegeWinter Haven, FL · Public
−86%−$186,408
1273Wayne State CollegeWayne, NE · Public
−86%−$206,740
1274Thomas Aquinas CollegeSanta Paula, CA · Private nonprofit
−86%−$244,164
1275Belhaven UniversityJackson, MS · Private nonprofit
−86%−$208,364
1276Herzing University-OrlandoWinter Park, FL · Private nonprofit
−86%−$222,800
1277Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, TN · Public
−86%−$188,820
1278ECPI UniversityVirginia Beach, VA · Private for-profit
−86%−$234,620
1279Herzing University-MadisonMadison, WI · Private nonprofit
−86%−$232,708
1280University of Northwestern-St PaulSaint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit
−86%−$251,410
1281Xavier University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA · Private nonprofit
−86%−$214,938
1282Herzing University-KenoshaKenosha, WI · Private nonprofit
−87%−$235,664
1283Bluffton UniversityBluffton, OH · Private nonprofit
−87%−$224,852
1284Oklahoma Panhandle State UniversityGoodwell, OK · Public
−87%−$181,512
1285University of Wisconsin-SuperiorSuperior, WI · Public
−87%−$198,400
1286Oklahoma Baptist UniversityShawnee, OK · Private nonprofit
−87%−$228,872
1287Corban UniversitySalem, OR · Private nonprofit
−87%−$253,640
1288Palm Beach Atlantic UniversityWest Palm Beach, FL · Private nonprofit
−87%−$255,286
1289Emmanuel UniversityFranklin Springs, GA · Private nonprofit
−87%−$229,960
1290Berkeley College-New YorkNew York, NY · Private for-profit
−87%−$276,456
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