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
1291Palm Beach State CollegeLake Worth, FL · Public
−87%−$189,458
1292North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityRocky Mount, NC · Private nonprofit
−87%−$218,328
1293College of Coastal GeorgiaBrunswick, GA · Public
−88%−$211,094
1294Guilford CollegeGreensboro, NC · Private nonprofit
−88%−$235,680
1295Eureka CollegeEureka, IL · Private nonprofit
−88%−$219,776
1296Ouachita Baptist UniversityArkadelphia, AR · Private nonprofit
−88%−$237,956
1297Wilson CollegeChambersburg, PA · Private nonprofit
−88%−$235,744
1298Savannah State UniversitySavannah, GA · Public
−88%−$187,948
1299Cornell CollegeMount Vernon, IA · Private nonprofit
−89%−$243,706
1300Ave Maria UniversityAve Maria, FL · Private nonprofit
−89%−$248,270
1301New Mexico State University-Main CampusLas Cruces, NM · Public
−89%−$191,786
1302Saint Johns River State CollegePalatka, FL · Public
−89%−$182,220
1303Oberlin CollegeOberlin, OH · Private nonprofit
−89%−$298,720
1304William Woods UniversityFulton, MO · Private nonprofit
−89%−$255,686
1305Cheyney University of PennsylvaniaCheyney, PA · Public
−89%−$211,760
1306Carson-Newman UniversityJefferson City, TN · Private nonprofit
−89%−$233,174
1307Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeOwensboro, KY · Private nonprofit
−89%−$222,204
1308Academy of Art UniversitySan Francisco, CA · Private for-profit
−89%−$306,202
1309Bluefield UniversityBluefield, VA · Private nonprofit
−90%−$252,792
1310Murray State UniversityMurray, KY · Public
−90%−$193,794
1311Knox CollegeGalesburg, IL · Private nonprofit
−90%−$249,360
1312Barton CollegeWilson, NC · Private nonprofit
−90%−$246,294
1313Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville, NC · Public
−90%−$189,948
1314University of Maine at AugustaAugusta, ME · Public
−90%−$201,096
1315Purdue University GlobalWest Lafayette, IN · Public
−90%−$189,820
1316Warner UniversityLake Wales, FL · Private nonprofit
−90%−$233,682
1317New England CollegeHenniker, NH · Private nonprofit
−90%−$259,898
1318Community College of DenverDenver, CO · Public
−90%−$196,740
1319Dalton State CollegeDalton, GA · Public
−90%−$180,718
1320Tusculum UniversityGreeneville, TN · Private nonprofit
−90%−$239,134
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