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
121Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA · Public
+28%+$77,488
122Bryant UniversitySmithfield, RI · Private nonprofit
+27%+$91,564
123University of San DiegoSan Diego, CA · Private nonprofit
+26%+$78,180
124University of California, DavisDavis, CA · Public
+26%+$61,946
125Grand Canyon UniversityPhoenix, AZ · Private nonprofit
+25%+$68,722
126University of TulsaTulsa, OK · Private nonprofit
+25%+$60,310
127University of Massachusetts-LowellLowell, MA · Public
+24%+$60,828
128Immaculata UniversityImmaculata, PA · Private nonprofit
+24%+$65,288
129University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit
+23%+$79,436
130Citadel Military College of South CarolinaCharleston, SC · Public
+23%+$59,878
131Tufts UniversityMedford, MA · Private nonprofit
+23%+$76,508
132Brigham Young UniversityProvo, UT · Private nonprofit
+22%+$53,954
133Gwynedd Mercy UniversityGwynedd Valley, PA · Private nonprofit
+22%+$63,378
134Menlo CollegeAtherton, CA · Private nonprofit
+22%+$65,570
135University of DelawareNewark, DE · Public
+22%+$54,084
136Saint Joseph's University - LancasterLancaster, PA · Private nonprofit
+21%+$73,318
137George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA · Public
+21%+$52,070
138University of Detroit MercyDetroit, MI · Private nonprofit
+21%+$49,812
139Widener UniversityChester, PA · Private nonprofit
+21%+$58,164
140Wagner CollegeStaten Island, NY · Private nonprofit
+21%+$60,066
141University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC · Public
+20%+$44,990
142Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX · Private nonprofit
+20%+$68,012
143The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TX · Public
+20%+$46,436
144Baptist Health Sciences UniversityMemphis, TN · Private nonprofit
+20%+$44,212
145Capella UniversityMinneapolis, MN · Private for-profit
+19%+$48,956
146Rutgers University-CamdenCamden, NJ · Public
+19%+$49,380
147Jacksonville UniversityJacksonville, FL · Private nonprofit
+18%+$51,400
148Barnard CollegeNew York, NY · Private nonprofit
+18%+$53,400
149University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL · Public
+18%+$40,494
150Columbia Southern UniversityOrange Beach, AL · Private for-profit
+18%+$42,950
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