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
211National UniversitySan Diego, CA · Private nonprofit
+4%+$12,018
212CUNY Queens CollegeQueens, NY · Public
+4%+$8,670
213Gonzaga UniversitySpokane, WA · Private nonprofit
+4%+$13,144
214Anna Maria CollegePaxton, MA · Private nonprofit
+4%+$11,958
215Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaAltoona, PA · Public
+4%+$10,788
216Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX · Public
+4%+$10,520
217Colby CollegeWaterville, ME · Private nonprofit
+4%+$9,560
218University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDenver, CO · Public
+4%+$8,580
219Adelphi UniversityGarden City, NY · Private nonprofit
+4%+$11,248
220American Public University SystemCharles Town, WV · Private for-profit
+4%+$7,882
221Ohio University-Lancaster CampusLancaster, OH · Public
+3%+$7,050
222Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BrandywineMedia, PA · Public
+3%+$9,300
223Ohio University-Zanesville CampusZanesville, OH · Public
+3%+$6,666
224Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusChillicothe, OH · Public
+3%+$6,630
225The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX · Public
+3%+$7,822
226University of Pittsburgh-BradfordBradford, PA · Public
+3%+$6,140
227William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA · Public
+2%+$6,346
228AdventHealth UniversityOrlando, FL · Private nonprofit
+2%+$7,370
229Utica UniversityUtica, NY · Private nonprofit
+2%+$6,238
230Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgMiddletown, PA · Public
+2%+$6,320
231La Salle UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofit
+2%+$5,704
232Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, NJ · Private nonprofit
+2%+$6,256
233Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI · Public
+2%+$4,100
234San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA · Public
+2%+$3,568
235Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit
+1%+$4,412
236Clemson UniversityClemson, SC · Public
+1%+$3,618
237Fordham UniversityBronx, NY · Private nonprofit
+1%+$4,718
238Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksReading, PA · Public
+1%+$2,216
239Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaWinona, MN · Private nonprofit
+1%+$1,394
240Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeErie, PA · Public
+1%+$1,408
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