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
1381Martin Luther CollegeNew Ulm, MN · Private nonprofit
−96%−$242,562
1382The University of MontanaMissoula, MT · Public
−96%−$236,156
1383Gallaudet UniversityWashington, DC · Private nonprofit
−96%−$232,730
1384Catawba CollegeSalisbury, NC · Private nonprofit
−96%−$240,716
1385South Georgia State CollegeDouglas, GA · Public
−96%−$205,948
1386Arkansas Tech UniversityRussellville, AR · Public
−96%−$222,140
1387Northwest Florida State CollegeNiceville, FL · Public
−96%−$190,124
1388Cairn University-LanghorneLanghorne, PA · Private nonprofit
−96%−$278,768
1389Southern Wesleyan UniversityCentral, SC · Private nonprofit
−96%−$232,166
1390Crown CollegeSaint Bonifacius, MN · Private nonprofit
−96%−$275,398
1391Lee UniversityCleveland, TN · Private nonprofit
−96%−$245,472
1392University of Arkansas-Fort SmithFort Smith, AR · Public
−96%−$213,686
1393University of MobileMobile, AL · Private nonprofit
−96%−$259,178
1394Clark Atlanta UniversityAtlanta, GA · Private nonprofit
−96%−$318,248
1395State College of Florida-Manatee-SarasotaBradenton, FL · Public
−96%−$259,414
1396Florida CollegeTemple Terrace, FL · Private nonprofit
−97%−$266,354
1397Delta State UniversityCleveland, MS · Public
−97%−$226,610
1398Union Commonwealth UniversityBarbourville, KY · Private nonprofit
−97%−$257,144
1399Henderson State UniversityArkadelphia, AR · Public
−97%−$265,910
1400Colorado Mountain CollegeGlenwood Springs, CO · Public
−97%−$205,502
1401Bethany Lutheran CollegeMankato, MN · Private nonprofit
−97%−$254,072
1402Beloit CollegeBeloit, WI · Private nonprofit
−98%−$260,114
1403Freed-Hardeman UniversityHenderson, TN · Private nonprofit
−98%−$260,886
1404Emory & Henry UniversityEmory, VA · Private nonprofit
−98%−$251,454
1405William Carey UniversityHattiesburg, MS · Private nonprofit
−98%−$233,062
1406Snow CollegeEphraim, UT · Public
−99%−$199,338
1407Columbia CollegeColumbia, SC · Private nonprofit
−99%−$250,392
1408Southern Virginia UniversityBuena Vista, VA · Private nonprofit
−99%−$265,732
1409University of Arkansas at MonticelloMonticello, AR · Public
−99%−$234,418
1410Erskine CollegeDue West, SC · Private nonprofit
−99%−$243,330
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