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
1471Johnson UniversityKnoxville, TN · Private nonprofit
−108%−$290,772
1472West Virginia University at ParkersburgParkersburg, WV · Public
−108%−$203,038
1473Platt College-Los AngelesAlhambra, CA · Private for-profit
−109%−$314,994
1474West Virginia State UniversityInstitute, WV · Public
−109%−$244,406
1475Culinary Institute of AmericaHyde Park, NY · Private nonprofit
−109%−$353,182
1476North Greenville UniversityTigerville, SC · Private nonprofit
−109%−$287,852
1477Valencia CollegeOrlando, FL · Public
−109%−$248,688
1478University of North Carolina AshevilleAsheville, NC · Public
−109%−$249,690
1479Moore College of Art and DesignPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofit
−109%−$384,464
1480Platt College-OntarioOntario, CA · Private for-profit
−109%−$287,634
1481Wilberforce UniversityWilberforce, OH · Private nonprofit
−110%−$222,188
1482Point UniversityWest Point, GA · Private nonprofit
−110%−$310,000
1483Maranatha Baptist UniversityWatertown, WI · Private nonprofit
−110%−$313,600
1484Earlham CollegeRichmond, IN · Private nonprofit
−111%−$308,476
1485Columbia College ChicagoChicago, IL · Private nonprofit
−111%−$317,852
1486Shaw UniversityRaleigh, NC · Private nonprofit
−111%−$273,578
1487The University of Montana-WesternDillon, MT · Public
−111%−$274,322
1488Elizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City, NC · Public
−112%−$229,866
1489New College of FloridaSarasota, FL · Public
−112%−$233,620
1490Missouri Valley CollegeMarshall, MO · Private nonprofit
−112%−$283,254
1491Indian River State CollegeFort Pierce, FL · Public
−113%−$220,040
1492Asbury UniversityWilmore, KY · Private nonprofit
−113%−$299,604
1493Keystone CollegeLa Plume, PA · Private nonprofit
−113%−$302,604
1494Converse UniversitySpartanburg, SC · Private nonprofit
−113%−$308,312
1495SUNY at Purchase CollegePurchase, NY · Public
−113%−$289,222
1496University of GuamMangilao, GU · Public
−114%−$243,662
1497Lindsey Wilson UniversityColumbia, KY · Private nonprofit
−114%−$273,590
1498Grambling State UniversityGrambling, LA · Public
−114%−$295,216
1499Berea CollegeBerea, KY · Private nonprofit
−114%−$233,544
1500University of Arkansas at Pine BluffPine Bluff, AR · Public
−114%−$263,512
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