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
1501University of Maine at Presque IslePresque Isle, ME · Public
−115%−$238,850
1502Central State UniversityWilberforce, OH · Public
−115%−$268,324
1503Brevard CollegeBrevard, NC · Private nonprofit
−116%−$317,206
1504Columbus College of Art & DesignColumbus, OH · Private nonprofit
−116%−$345,746
1505Eastern Florida State CollegeMelbourne, FL · Public
−116%−$239,020
1506Columbia International UniversityColumbia, SC · Private nonprofit
−116%−$330,844
1507Full Sail UniversityWinter Park, FL · Private for-profit
−117%−$393,170
1508Charter CollegeAnchorage, AK · Private for-profit
−117%−$375,340
1509Maryland Institute College of ArtBaltimore, MD · Private nonprofit
−118%−$412,866
1510Sul Ross State UniversityAlpine, TX · Public
−118%−$275,134
1511Provo CollegeProvo, UT · Private for-profit
−118%−$340,622
1512Hollins UniversityRoanoke, VA · Private nonprofit
−118%−$311,834
1513Claflin UniversityOrangeburg, SC · Private nonprofit
−118%−$297,360
1514Oglala Lakota CollegeKyle, SD · Public
−118%−$222,240
1515Pensacola State CollegePensacola, FL · Public
−119%−$232,298
1516Haskell Indian Nations UniversityLawrence, KS · Public
−120%−$230,686
1517Wiley UniversityMarshall, TX · Private nonprofit
−120%−$249,658
1518Philander Smith UniversityLittle Rock, AR · Private nonprofit
−120%−$283,916
1519Eagle Gate College-Boise CampusBoise, ID · Private for-profit
−120%−$361,804
1520Lancaster Bible CollegeLancaster, PA · Private nonprofit
−122%−$342,700
1521California Institute of the ArtsValencia, CA · Private nonprofit
−122%−$442,960
1522Ozark Christian CollegeJoplin, MO · Private nonprofit
−122%−$319,420
1523Toccoa Falls CollegeToccoa Falls, GA · Private nonprofit
−122%−$326,318
1524College of the OzarksPoint Lookout, MO · Private nonprofit
−122%−$250,330
1525Georgia Military CollegeMilledgeville, GA · Public
−123%−$303,772
1526Bard CollegeAnnandale-On-Hudson, NY · Private nonprofit
−123%−$390,926
1527Texas CollegeTyler, TX · Private nonprofit
−123%−$274,832
1528San Joaquin Valley College-VisaliaVisalia, CA · Private for-profit
−123%−$358,966
1529Bryant & Stratton College-OnlineOrchard Park, NY · Private nonprofit
−123%−$296,728
1530Cossatot Community College of the University of ArkansasDe Queen, AR · Public
−123%−$243,650
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