With over 2,000 colleges in the United States offering bachelor’s degrees, picking a college can seem like an impossible goal. Now factor in that college is likely one of the largest investments of your time and money that you’ll make in life. Will you get at least a reasonable return on investment in your lifetime? Or will you be a statistic contributing to the already high student loan debt figure ($1.6 Trillion at time of writing)?
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Of course, the answer to that depends on many factors, and not just “is this college prestigious?” Getting any college degree at all, especially a bachelor’s degree, will already typically increase your lifetime earnings over only a high school diploma [PDF report from Lumina Foundation]. To save you some of the college search effort, we present our updated list of colleges that not only have high return value but are also relatively affordable. The Methodology section explains our approach.
Affordable Degrees Ranking Methodology
Article data for this college ranking of best return on investment comes from the following sources:
- NCES College Navigator
- IPEDS Data Center
- College Scorecard
- Individual college sites
- PayScale earnings and ROI reports
The general approach taken for this article’s ranking methodology is as follows:
- Query NCES for bachelor’s-granting American colleges (public or private nonprofits) that have a tuition of under $20,000/ year. This reduced potential candidates from 2,000+ to just above 900 colleges.
- Filter out colleges not in the 50 U.S. states or DC
- Filter out colleges with a graduation rate below 20%
- Sort the remaining candidates by ascending average net price
- Assign points for cost ranges (recent average tuition and mandatory fees per college, as per IPEDS)
- For each candidate, query College Scorecard for profile data including mid-career (10+ years) salary info
- Assign points for mid-career pay ranges
- Calculate subtotal of points
- Select the candidates in the top 100 by descending points
- For each remaining college, extract its PayScale data (if available; else filter out) for mid-career pay and 20-year net ROI
- Apply points for mid-career pay range
- Apply points for 20-year net ROI range
- Calculate final total points from cost range points and both PayScale points, only
- Sort candidates by total points descending (from largest to smallest)
- Secondary sort ascending on average net price (from IPEDS)
- Eliminate low-admission, no-tuition colleges such as military academies, for consistency in methodology
- Eliminate very specialized colleges with limited majors
- Manually verify the top 50 colleges for best return, by total points
Actual points applied per ranking measure: In general, we weighted positive results more heavily. E.g., more points for lower cost, higher earnings, higher net earnings.
- Cost points range from 1 to 30, and are based average institutional undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS Data Center data.
0-2499: 30 2500-4999: 25 5000-7499: 20 7500-9999: 15 10000-12499: 10 12500-14999: 5 15000-19999: 3 20000-24999: 2 25000-29999: 1
- 10-year median earnings points range from 1 to 100, and are based on profile info for each college in the College Scorecard database.
0-24999: 1 25000-29999: 3 30000-34999: 5 35000-39999: 10 40000-49999: 20 50000-59999: 30 60000-69999: 40 70000-79999: 50 80000-89999: 60 90000-99999: 70 100000-109999: 80 110000-119999: 90 120000+: 100
- Mid-career yearly pay points range from 1-100, and are based on PayScale’s College Salary Report.
0-24999: 1 25000-29999: 3 30000-34999: 5 35000-39999: 10 40000-49999: 20 50000-59999: 30 60000-69999: 40 70000-79999: 50 80000-89999: 60 90000-99999: 70 100000-109999: 80 110000-119999: 90 120000+: 100
- 20-year net earnings points range from 0-60, and are based on PayScale’s College ROI Report. We divided PayScale’s 20-year net earnings figure by 20, then broke the range down into the groups below.
Per year 0-4999: 0 5000-5999: 2 6000-6999: 4 7000-7999: 6 8000-8999: 8 9000-9999: 10 10000-14999: 15 15000-19999: 20 20000-24999: 25 25000-29999: 30 30000-34999: 35 35000-39999: 40 40000-44999: 45 45000-49999: 50 50000-54999: 55 55000-59999: 60
Article data for this college ranking of best return on investment comes from the following sources:
- NCES College Navigator
- IPEDS Data Center
- College Scorecard
- Individual college sites
- PayScale earnings and ROI reports
The general approach taken for this article’s ranking methodology is as follows:
- Query NCES for bachelor’s-granting American colleges (public or private nonprofits) that have a tuition of under $20,000/ year. This reduced potential candidates from 2,000+ to just above 900 colleges.
- Filter out colleges not in the 50 U.S. states or DC
- Filter out colleges with a graduation rate below 20%
- Sort the remaining candidates by ascending average net price
- Assign points for cost ranges (recent average tuition and mandatory fees per college, as per IPEDS)
- For each candidate, query College Scorecard for profile data including mid-career (10+ years) salary info
- Assign points for mid-career pay ranges
- Calculate subtotal of points
- Select the candidates in the top 100 by descending points
- For each remaining college, extract its PayScale data (if available; else filter out) for mid-career pay and 20-year net ROI
- Apply points for mid-career pay range
- Apply points for 20-year net ROI range
- Calculate final total points from cost range points and both PayScale points, only
- Sort candidates by total points descending (from largest to smallest)
- Secondary sort ascending on average net price (from IPEDS)
- Eliminate low-admission, no-tuition colleges such as military academies, for consistency in methodology
- Eliminate very specialized colleges with limited majors
- Manually verify the top 50 colleges for best return, by total points
Actual points applied per ranking measure: In general, we weighted positive results more heavily. E.g., more points for lower cost, higher earnings, higher net earnings.
- Cost points range from 1 to 30, and are based average institutional undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS Data Center data. 0-2499: 30 2500-4999: 25 5000-7499: 20 7500-9999: 15 10000-12499: 10 12500-14999: 5 15000-19999: 3 20000-24999: 2 25000-29999: 1
- 10-year median earnings points range from 1 to 100, and are based on profile info for each college in the College Scorecard database. 0-24999: 1 25000-29999: 3 30000-34999: 5 35000-39999: 10 40000-49999: 20 50000-59999: 30 60000-69999: 40 70000-79999: 50 80000-89999: 60 90000-99999: 70 100000-109999: 80 110000-119999: 90 120000+: 100
- Mid-career yearly pay points range from 1-100, and are based on PayScale’s College Salary Report. 0-24999: 1 25000-29999: 3 30000-34999: 5 35000-39999: 10 40000-49999: 20 50000-59999: 30 60000-69999: 40 70000-79999: 50 80000-89999: 60 90000-99999: 70 100000-109999: 80 110000-119999: 90 120000+: 100
- 20-year net earnings points range from 0-60, and are based on PayScale’s College ROI Report. We divided PayScale’s 20-year net earnings figure by 20, then broke the range down into the groups below. Per year 0-4999: 0 5000-5999: 2 6000-6999: 4 7000-7999: 6 8000-8999: 8 9000-9999: 10 10000-14999: 15 15000-19999: 20 20000-24999: 25 25000-29999: 30 30000-34999: 35 35000-39999: 40 40000-44999: 45 45000-49999: 50 50000-54999: 55 55000-59999: 60
Terminology and Acronyms
This is a partial list of terminology and acronyms used in this article.
- AANAPISI: Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution
- FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- GPA: Grade Point Average
- HBCU: Historically Black College/ University
- HSI: Hispanic-Serving Institution
- NSF: National Science Foundation
- USNWR: U.S. News & World Report
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do you measure return on investment for a college degree?
- How do I get the best return on investment from my college degree?
- What degrees give the best return on investment?
- What careers have the best ROI?
- Is a college degree worth the investment?
- What is the average ROI for a bachelor’s degree?
- What careers will be in highest demand after earning a degree?
- Is completing an associates degree before a bachelor’s degree worth the investment?
- Is college worth the investment for adult students (e.g., over 25)?
- Is completing a second bachelor’s degree worth the investment?
- Is career success without college possible?
- Can I make $100K or more per year without a college degree?
SUMMARY RANKING OF TOP 10 COLLEGES BY RETURN ON INVESTMENT:
- California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- San Jose State University
- Brigham Young University-Provo
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
- CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
- California State University-East Bay
- Brigham Young University-Idaho
- California State University-Long Beach
- California State University-Sacramento
- West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Ranking the 50 Best Affordable Colleges with the Best Return on Investment
50. CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, New York
Total points: 95
Website
CUNY Lehman College offers high-value bachelor’s through doctorate degrees and certificate programs. Lehman has a low student to faculty ratio of 16-to-1. CUNY Lehman College offers 90 academic programs, including over 50 undergrad majors, minors and certificates. About 2% of undergrad students take all of their courses online. 26% of students take some online courses.
Lehman ranks #1 for diversity, as well as for being a ‘Top Producer’ of Gilman International Scholars (medium-sized colleges and universities). Other high rankings include:
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #1 Student Debt Load at Graduation – Least Debt – Regional North
- #13 Top Public Schools
- #14 Best Undergraduate Teaching
- #25 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Best Colleges for Veterans
- Regional Universities North)
- Washington Monthly: Best Bang for the Buck Northeast
Notable alumni include:
- Michael Bacon – composer/songwriter (brother of actor Kevin Bacon)
- Ron Perlman – actor (Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy)
- Christopher “Kid” Reid – actor/ comedian/ rapper (Kid’n’Play).
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,410 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $2,709 (per year, as per NCES)
- PayScale.com midcareer salary: $83,500
- PayScale 20 year net ROI: $264,000
- #students: 15,143
- #undergrads: 13,002
- Affiliation: City University of New York (CUNY) System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
49. South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota
Total points: 100
Website
South Dakota State University offers cheap associate’s through doctorate degrees and certificate programs. SDSU was originally founded as an agricultural college. It serves students at 3 campuses plus online, and has a student/faculty ratio of 17-to-1. Eight colleges offer more than 80 best-value undergraduate majors and nearly 100 minors. About 12% of undergrads take 100 % online courses, with another 26% taking some online courses.
SDSU has received high marks as a top/ best colleges and for social mobility from the following:
- Forbes: America’s Top Colleges
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- Top Public Schools
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- National Universities
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Washington Monthly: National Universities 2020
- Zippia: Best Total Package College in South Dakota
Notable alumni include:
- Gene Amdah – computer engineer (inventor of mainframe computers for IBM and Amdahl Corp.)
- Tom Daschle – politician (former Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate)
- Theodore Schultz – economist/ Nobel laureate
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $9,114 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $18,195 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $91,900
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $262,000
- #students: 11,512
- #undergrads: 10,067
- Affiliation: South Dakota Board of Regents
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
48. California State University-San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California
Total points: 100
Website
California State University-San Bernardino is a public univeristy that offers affordable bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. CSUSB serves students at two campuses plus online, and offers OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) non-degree programs for adult students over 50. It has a student/faculty ratio of 29-to-1. Fall 2018 enrollment shows that over 63% of students were of Hispanic/Latinx origin. Over 80% of CSUSB students are first-generation college students. The university’s six colleges offer nearly 60 inexpensive bachelor’s degree programs. About 2% of undergrads take 100% online courses, while an additional 30% take some online courses.
CSUSB has earned high rankings in several categories:
- Money Magazine:
- Best Colleges 2020
- Best Colleges Western
- Best Value Colleges
- Princeton Review: Best Business Schools worldwide 2013
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #11 Top Performers in Social Mobility
- #18 Top Public Schools
- #21 Best Value Schools
- Regional Universities West
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate
- Victory Media: Top 10 Military Friendly School
- Washington Monthly: #8 Best Bang for the Buck West
Notable alumni include:
- Sharon Jordan – actress (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody)
- Ivan Johnson – former NBA basketball player
- James Cotton – former NBA basketball player
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $6,952 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $7,876 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $87,500
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $318,000
- #students: 20,638
- #undergrads: 18,282
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
47. California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, California
Total points: 100
Website
California State University-Dominguez Hills (CSUDH, est. 1960) is a public institution offering low-cost bachelor’s and master’s degrees, plus certificate programs. CSUDH has the designation of being an HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution). About 64% of Fall 2019 enrolled students (all study levels) were Hispanic/ LatinX. The university enjoys a student/ faculty ratio of 26-to-1, and offers economical degree programs in six colleges. About 5% of undergrads take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, with another 50% taking some DE courses.
CSUDH has high rankings from notable publications like:
- Lendedu.com: #17 Lowest Student Debt – Public Universities
- Money Magazine:
- Best Colleges 2020 Best Public College
- Best College for Your Money
- Priceonomics: Best Outcomes for Low Income Students
- Princeton Review: Green Colleges
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #10 Best Undergraduate Teaching
- #17 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Top Public Schools
- Best Colleges for Veterans
- Best Value Schools
- Regional Universities West
- Top 100 Most Ethnically Diverse Universities West – 2017
- Washington Monthly:
- Best Bang for the Buck – Western
- Best Four-Year Colleges for Adult Learners
Notable alumni include:
- Jeff Coopwood – Emmy-nominated actor/ singer
- Clarence Gilyard – actor
- Niecy Nash – actress (Claws, Reno 911!)
- Lela Rochon – actress (Waiting to Exhale, Harlem Nights)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $6,946 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $4,594 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $88,400
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $310,000
- #students: 17,977
- #undergrads: 15,365
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
46. Geneseo State College
Geneseo, New York
Total points: 105
Website
Geneseo State College offers top-value bachelor’s and master’s degrees. SUNY College at Geneseo was originally founded as a normal/training school for teachers. It has a low student/faculty ratio of 17-to-1 and recently had a first-year retention of 85.2% (nearly 10 points above the national average). Students can choose from 50 affordable undergrad degree programs and 25 interdisciplinary minors. About 17% of undergrads take some online courses. Recent data shows that nearly 60% of graduates completed internships. GSC has over 3300 available internships. Forty percent of graduating seniors undertook a research project. Student have earned GSC a place in the list of top producers of bachelor’s degrees in physics according to the American Institute of Physics. GSC is a top producer of U.S. Student Fulbright Awards. Students also earned the college high marks as a Top Volunteer-Producing College for the Peace Corps.
SUNY Geneseo has earned many top rankings from these publications:
- Fiske Guide to Colleges: Best Buy Schools
- Forbes: America’s Best College Values
- Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: Best College Value
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- Princeton Review:
- Best Colleges
- Green Colleges
- Best Northeastern
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #3 Top Public Schools
- #4 Best Undergraduate Teaching
- #5 Most Innovative Schools
- #13 Regional Universities North
- Best Value Schools
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Washington Monthly: Best Bang for the Buck Northeast
Notable alumni include:
- Jenna Wolfe – NBC TV anchor (Weekend Today)
- Howard Blumenthal – author/ TV producer (PBS, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?)
- Chelsea Noble – actress (Growing Pains, wife of co-star Kirk Cameron)
- William Sadler – actor (The Shawshank Redemption, Roswell)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $8,927 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $17,341 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $93,300
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $337,000
- #students: 5,398
- #undergrads: 5,294
- Affiliation: State University of New York (SUNY) System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
45. Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California
Total points: 105
Website
Sonoma State University offers inexpensive bachelor’s and master’s degrees and certificate programs. SSU serves students at one campus, community college locations, and online. It enjoys a student/faculty ratio of 22-to-1. Hispanic/LatinX student enrollment for Fall 2018 was over 32%. The university’s six schools offer over 45 top-value majors and nearly 50 minors. About 16% of undergrads take some online courses.
Honors for SSU include the following:
- Forbes: America’s Top Colleges
- Money: Best Colleges 2020
- Princeton Review: Best Colleges; Best Western
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #14 Top Public Schools
- Regional Universities West
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
Notable alumni include:
- Kevin Danaher – author/activist (co-founder of Global Exchange)
- Mario Savio – activist
- Jon Provost – actor (Lassie)
- Greg Sarris – author/Native American leader
- Steve Zallian – screenwriter/producer/director (The Falcon and the Snowman, Schindler’s List, Mission Impossible, Hannibal, Moneyball, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Irishman)
- Nancy Silverton – author/chef (winner of a James Beard Outstanding Chef Award)
- Dave Smeds – science fiction and fantasy author
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,880 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $17,086 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $97,100
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $358,000
- #students: 8,887
- #undergrads: 8,143
- Affiliation: California State University (CSU) System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
44. University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Total points: 105
Website
University of North Dakota offers budget-friendly bachelor’s through doctorate degrees and certificate programs. UND boasts a student/faculty ratio of 17-to-1. Nine colleges and schools offer over 250 inexpensive degree programs. About 18% of undergrads take 100% online courses and 23% take some online courses.
UND’s website claims the title of 4th most military-friendly school nationally. Other rankings include:
- Forbes: America’s Top Colleges
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- Top Public Schools
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- National Universities
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Washington Monthly: National Universities 2020
Notable alumni include:
- Maxwell Anderson – Pulitzer Prize winner
- Mel Ruder – Pulitzer Prize winner
- Mark Chipman – Winnipeg Jets (NHL) owner
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $9,736 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $15,654 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $96,000
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $384,000
- #students: 13,581
- #undergrads: 10,163
- Affiliation: North Dakota University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
43. Alfred State College
Alfred, New York
Total points: 105
Website
Alfred State College offers affordable associate’s, bachelor’s degrees and certificate programs. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred, serves students at two campuses and online. It enjoys a student/faculty ratio of 18-to-1. Three schools (Arts and Science; Applied Technology; Architecture, Management and Engineering Technology) offer nearly 30 high-value bachelor’s degrees and over 50 associate’s degrees. About 11% of undergrads take all courses online. Another 17% take some online courses.
ASC has earned top college review rankings in a number of categories which include:
- Princeton Review: Best Colleges Northeastern
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #3 Best Colleges for Veterans
- #6 Top Public Schools
- #7 Best Value Schools
- #9 Regional Colleges North
- #18 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Economic Diversity – Northern, Publics
- Victory Media/ G.I. Jobs: Military Friendly Schools Silver
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $8,852 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $15,596 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $90,000
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $351,000
- #students: 3,780
- #undergrads: 3,780
- Affiliation: State University of New York (SUNY) System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
42. Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota
Total points: 105
Website
Minnesota State University-Mankato is a public university. It offers budget-friendly associate’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. MSU was founded as a state normal school and currently enjoys a student/faculty ratio of 22-to-1. Six colleges offer over 130 low-cost undergrad degree programs. About 5% of undergrads take all courses online. An additional 38% take some online courses.
Students of MSU have earned eight Fulbright awards in the past decade. Other honors include:
- U.S. News & World Report :
- #19 Top Public Schools
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate
- Regional Universities Midwest
- Top Performers on Social Mobility.
Notable alumni include:
- Adrienne Armstrong – record producer/ clothing designer (spouse of singer/ songwriter/ musician Billy Joe Armstrong of Green Day)
- Melissa Peterman – actress (Reba)
- Cedric Yarbrough – actor (Reno 911!)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $8,438 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $14,464 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $90,900
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $330,000
- #students: 14,325
- #undergrads: 12,490
- Affiliation: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
41. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, New York
Total points: 105
Website
SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly, est. 1966) is a public institution offering cheap bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. SUNY Poly serves students at two campuses plus online, and enjoys a very low student/ faculty ratio of 13-to-1. The institute consists of five colleges (Arts and Sciences; Business Management; Engineering; Health Sciences; Nanoscale Science and Engineering) that collectively offer over 30 top-quality bachelor’s degree programs. About 10% of undergrads take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while an additional 21% takes some DE courses.
SUNY Poly recieved high honors from the following:
- Money: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #2 Top Public Schools
- #5 Best Colleges for Veterans
- #5 Best Value Schools
- 10 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- #12 Regional Universities North
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $8,503 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $14,420 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $90,800
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $374,000
- #students: 3,006
- #undergrads: 2,216
- Affiliation: State University of New York (SUNY) System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
40. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Total points: 105
Website
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC, est. 1916) is a public institution offering inexpensive associate’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. UWEC was originally founded as a normal school for teacher training and currently serves students at two campuses plus online. It enjoys a low student/ faculty ratio of 22-to-1. Four colleges (Arts and Sciences; Business; Education and Human Sciences; Nursing and Health Sciences) collectively offer over 115 best-value majors and minors. About 2% of undergrads take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, with another 23% taking some DE courses.
Faculty at Eau Claire have received a number of top awards, including Dreyfus Scholar. UWEC also earned the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for General Community Service. UWEC’s other honors include:
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- Princeton Review: 2021 Best Colleges Midwestern
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #8 Top Public Schools
- Best Colleges for Veterans
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Regional Universities Midwest
- Best Value Schools
Notable alumni include:
- Justin Vernon – musician/singer (Bon Iver)
- Sean Carey – drummer (Bon Iver)
- Harry Kaiser- economist/professor
- Masami Imai – economist/professor
- John Menard, Jr. – entrepreneur (founder of home improvement chain Menards)
- Kato Kaelin – witness for O.J. Simpson trial
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $8,840 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $14,010 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $93,600
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $378,000
- #students: 11,255
- #undergrads: 10,591
- Affiliation: University of Wisconsin System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
39. Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Total points: 105
Website
Saint Cloud State University (SCSU, est. 1869) is a public institution offering top-value associate’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. SCSU was originally founded as a state normal school for teacher training. It currently enjoys a low student/ faculty ratio of 20-to-1. Two colleges and six schools collectively offer over 200 inexpensive undergraduate academic programs. About 4% of undergrads take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, with another 26% taking some DE courses.
The university gets high marks from:
- Forbes: America’s Top Colleges
- INSIGHT Into Diversity: HEED Award – Higher Education Excellence in Diversity
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #22 Top Public Schools
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Regional Universities Midwest
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- Victory Media: Military Friendly Schools 2019
Notable alumni include:
- Leo Kottke – Grammy-nominated guitarist
- Haley Kalil – Sports Illustrated swimsuit model
- Richard Dean Anderson – actor (MacGyver)
- Dan Bakkedahl – actor (Space Force)
- John Hawkes – actor (From Dusk til Dawn, Eastbound and Down)
- Billy Flynn – actor (Days of our Lives)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $8,656 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $13,594 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $91,600
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $339,000
- #students: 13,049
- #undergrads: 11,346
- Affiliation: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
38. California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, California
Total points: 105
Website
California State University-San Marcos (CSUSM, est. 1989) is a public institution offering affordable bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. CSUSM serves students on two campuses plus online, and has a student/ faculty ratio of 26-to-1. About 3% of undergrads take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, with another 30% taking some DE courses. Fall 2019 enrollment showed that 47% of its students (at all study levels) are Hispanic/ Latino American. More than half of the university’s graduates were first in their family to earn a BA. CSUSM consists of four colleges (Science and Mathematics; Business Administration; Education, Health and Human Services; Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences) that collectively offer over 40 bachelor’s majors and nearly 40 minors. The university’s top 5 most popular majors, in descending order, are Business Administration, Psychology, Criminology, Biological Sciences, Human Development.
CSUSM get high marks from:
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- Princeton Review: Guide to Green Colleges
- Sierra Club: Cool Schools 2018
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #13 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- #22 Best Undergraduate Teaching
- Top Public Schools
- Regional Universities West
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,717 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $13,010 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $94,700
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $380,000
- #students: 16,053
- #undergrads: 14,837
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
37. California State University-Stanislaus
Turlock, California
Total points: 105
Website
California State University-Stanislaus (Stan State, est. 1957) is a public institution offering best-value bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. Stan State serves students at two campuses plus online, and enjoys a student/ faculty ratio of 22-to-1. Its full-time, first-time freshman retention rate (2016 Cohort) was 81%, and its Fall 2017 enrollment included 51.4% Hispanic/ LatinX students. It has four colleges (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Education, Kinesiology and Social Work; Science; Business Administration), which collectively offer over 40 inexpensive majors (plus 45 minors) and 100+ concentrations. About 2% of undergrads take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, with another 45% taking some DE courses.
Stan State has recieved top marks from:
- Business Insider: Top 24 colleges with the best return on investment
- Forbes: America’s Best Value Colleges
- Money Magazine:
- #5 Most Transformative
- Public Schools
- Best Colleges 2020
- Princeton Review:
- Best Colleges
- Green Colleges
- #8 Social Mobility Index 2019
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #7 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- #11 Top Public Schools
- #18 Best Colleges for Veterans
- Regional Universities West
- Best Value Schools
- Washington Monthly: #1 Best Bang for the Buck West
Notable alumni include:
- Carrie Henn – actress (Aliens)
- Gary Condit – congressman
- Steve Andrade – baseball pitcher (MLB, Kansas City Royals);
- Rusty Kuntz – coach/ former outfielder (MLB)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,542 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $7,069 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $94,200
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $386,000
- #students: 10,974
- #undergrads: 9,723
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
36. North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
Total points: 110
Website
North Dakota State University (NDSU, est. 1890) is a public institution offering cheap bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. NDSU was originally established as an agricultural college and is currently one of the largest colleges/ universities in the state of North Dakota. It serves students on this main campus and at various research stations, plus online. It boasts a low student/ faculty ratio of 18-to-1, and its retention rates of first-time, full-time freshman has been around 91-93% (Fall to Spring) for over a decade. Eight colleges collectively offer over 90 high-value baccalaureate majors and over 80 minors, for a total of nearly 150 major/ degree combinations. About 3% of undergrads take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, with another 42% taking some DE courses.
NDSU is a Top 100 public research university for research expenditures from the National Science Foundation. Other high rankings include:
- Forbes: America’s Top Colleges
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- Top Public Schools
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – schools with a doctorate
- National Universities
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Washington Monthly (National Universities 2020).
Notable alumni include:
- Amy Olson – professional golfer (LPGA)
- Ilhan Omar – politician
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $9,619 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $16,330 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $98,600
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $422,000
- #students: 13,173
- #undergrads: 10,831
- Affiliation: North Dakota University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
35. Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Laie, Hawaii
Total points: 110
Website
Brigham Young University-Hawaii (BYU-Hawaii, est. 1955) is a private, nonprofit institution offering top-value associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, plus certificate programs. BYU-H was initially established as a branch campus of BYU (Utah) and has officially been a separate institution in the BYU System since 2004. Students represent the USA and nearly 70 other countries. In terms of diversity, after Caucasian/ Non-Hispanic, the two largest student groups for Fall 2018 enrollment were Asian (nearly 30%) and Pacific Islander (just over 21%). The university’s four colleges collectively offer 50 affordable majors and 65 minors (associates and bachelor’s levels). All students are required to take 8-14 Religious Education credits. Top bachelor’s majors enrolled in for Fall 2018: Accounting; Business Management; Computer and Information Science; Hospitality and Tourism Management; Political Science. About 3% of undergrads take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, with another 18% taking some DE courses.
BYU-Hawaii ranks high with:
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #10 Regional Colleges West
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $5,720 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $12,679 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $93,900
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $303,000
- #students: 3,096
- #undergrads: 3,096
- Affiliation: Brigham Young University System
- Religious affiliation: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
34. Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
Total points: 110
Website
Florida State University (FSU, est. 1851) is a public institution offering budget-friendly associate’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. FSU, Florida’s oldest continuously operating higher education site, has a Carnegie classification of ‘Very High Research Activity.’ Faculty members include winners of Pulitzers, Nobel Peace Prizes, Oscars, Tonys, Emmys, Fulbrights, Guggenheims and more. The university enjoys a student/ faculty ratio of 21-to-1, and has a freshman retention rate of 93%. About 3% of undergrads take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, with another 48% taking some DE courses. The university recently received nearly $36M in NIH (National Institutes of Health) funding, which is a record for the institution and more than double what they received a few years ago.
FSU ranks high for diversity. Nearly 22% of undergrads are Hispanic American. FSU’s gets a top 10 ranking for colleges of medicine for Hispanic and Latino American students. Other honors include:
- Insight into Diversity:
- Top Colleges for Diversity
- Diversity Champion
- HEED (Higher Education Excellence in Diversity) Award
- Association of American Medical Colleges: #1 nationally for “instruction in community health”
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- Princeton Review: Best value public university
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #19 Top Public Schools
- Best Colleges for Veterans
- National Universities
- Most Innovative Schools
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Best Value Schools
- Business Programs – #5 Insurance
- #8 Real Estate
- Washington Monthly: National Universities 2020
Notable alumni include:
- Gabrielle Reece – professional vollyeball player
- Alan Ball – screenwriter (Six Feet Under, American Beauty)
- Steven Conrad -screenwriter (The Pursuit of Happyness)
- Christine Lahti – actress (Chicago Hope)
- Lauren Miller – actress (Superbad)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $6,517 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $12,568 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $92,700
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $340,000
- #students: 42,450
- #undergrads: 33,270
- Affiliation: State University System of Florida
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
33. SUNY College at Old Westbury
Old Westbury, New York
Total points: 110
Website
SUNY College at Old Westbury (Westbury, est. 1965) is a public institution offering top-value bachelor’s and master’s degrees, plus certificate programs. Westbury is Long Island’s only public liberal arts college and maintains a dry campus. Unlike most colleges, it holds regular classes only on Mon-Thurs each week (with some labs on Fridays). It enjoys a student/ faculty ratio of 23-to-1. About 1% of undergrads take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while another 14% take some DE courses.
High recognition for Westbury includes:
- Money: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #7 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Top Public Schools
- Regional Universities North
Notable alumni include:
- Andrea Navedo – actress (Jane the Virgin)
- Kool Moe Dee – rapper
- John McTiernan – film producer (Predator, Die Hard)
- David Liederman – entrepreneur (David’s Cookies)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $8,368 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $10,686 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $90,700
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $421,000
- #students: 5,126
- #undergrads: 4,809
- Affiliation: State University of New York (SUNY) System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
32. Florida International University
Miami, Florida
Total points: 110
Website
Florida International University (FIU, est. 1965) is a public institution offering best-value associate’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. FIU serves students at two campuses, four satellite learning centers, plus online. It has a student/ faculty ratio of 27-to-1, and has a Carnegie classification of “Very High Research Institution” (the first and only public research university in Miami). Eleven colleges and schools collectively offer 190 cheap degree options (all study levels), including 130+ online degrees. About 22% of undergrads take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, with another 50% taking some DE courses.
FIU had nearly 64% Hispanic enrollment in 2019. Hispanic Business and Hispanic Trends both ranked FIU as a top 25 business school for Hispanic students. Other top rankings include:
- Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: Best values in public higher education
- Money: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #19 Top Performers in Social Mobility
- #2 International Business Programs
- Top Public Schools
- Best Value Schools
- Best Colleges for Veterans
- National Universities
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – schools with a doctorate
- Washington Monthly (National Universities 2020).
Notable alumni include:
- Andy Garcia – actor
- Danny Pino – actor
- Andrea Nagy – WNBA professional basketball player
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $6,565 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $9,888 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $90,100
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $379,000
- #students: 58,711
- #undergrads: 49,326
- Affiliation: State University System of Florida
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
31. University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida
Total points: 110
Website
University of South Florida (USF, est. 1956) is a public institution offering economical associate’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. USF serves students at three campuses plus online. The three formerly independent campuses consolidated as one institution as of July 2020. The university enjoys a student/ faculty ratio of 23-to-1, and has a 42% diversity ratio for student enrollment. Fourteen colleges collectively offer over 180 low-cost majors and concentrations at the undergraduate level. About 10% of undergrad students take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, with an additional 51% taking some DE courses.
USF is a top 10 public research university for U.S. patents. It is also a top producer of Fulbright scholars. Other recognition includes:
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #17 Top Performers on Social Mobility (#1 in-state)
- Top Public Schools
- Best Colleges for Veterans
- Most Innovative Schools
- Best Value Schools
- National Universities – fastest-rising university
- Washington Monthly (National Universities 2020).
Notable alumni include:
- Lee Moffitt (founder of Moffitt Cancer Center)
- Guy Babylon – musician (worked with Elton John)
- Richard Oppel – Journalist (Pulitzer Prize winner)
- Gallagher – comedian
- Grace Byers – actress (Empire)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $6,410 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $9,787 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $91,300
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $351,000
- #students: 44,246
- #undergrads: 32,684
- Affiliation: State University System of Florida
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
30. University of Texas of the Permian Basin
Odessa, Texas
Total points: 110
Website
University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB, est. 1973) is a public institution offering inexpensive bachelor’s and master’s degrees, plus certificate programs. UTPB, which serves students at two campuses plus online, has the distinction of having a replica of Stonehenge on campus. Its five colleges collectively offer 35 economical bachelor’s degree programs, including 12 delivered online. About 42% of undergrads take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while an additional 27% take some DE courses. Undergrad students take the same 42 credits of core curriculum regardless of degree program. Fall 2018 enrollment figures (all study levels) show 47% Hispanic/ LatinX students, and nearly 60% female students.
UTPB has earned top recognition from:
- U.S. News & World Report:
- Top Public Schools
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Regional Universities West
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $6,666 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $9,769 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $91,900
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $323,000
- #students: 5,283
- #undergrads: 4,347
- Affiliation: University of Texas System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
29. California State University-Northridge
Northridge, California
Total points: 110
Website
California State University-Northridge (CSUN, est. 1958) is a public institution offering high-value bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. CSUN is the largest institution in the CSU system by undergrad enrollment, and second overall for total enrollment. It has a student/ faculty ratio of 27-to-1. Nine colleges and divisions collectively offer nearly 70 high-quality bachelor’s degree programs. About 2% of undergrads take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while an additional 56% take some DE courses. The university has had three Pulitzer Prize winners in literature/ journalism.
Top honors for CSUN include:
- Forbes: America’s Best Value Colleges
- Money:
- Best Colleges 2020
- Social Mobility Index (#13 nationally)
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #10 Best Undergraduate Teaching
- #18 Top Public Schools
- #21 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Regional Universities West
- #33 Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate
- #10 Computer Engineering
- #11 Civil Engineering
- Washington Monthly: Best Bang for the Buck
Notable alumni include:
- Richard Dreyfuss – actor
- Phil Hartman – actor
- Cheech Marin – actor (of Cheech and Chong fame)
- Jenna Elfman – actresses
- Debra Winger – actresses
- Alyson Hannigan – actresses
- Eva Longoria – actresses
- Paula Abdul – musician/entertainers
- Andy Summers – musician (The Police)
- Serj Tankian – musician (System of a Down)
- Notable faculty include actress/comedienne Lucille Ball (assistant professor)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $6,977 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $8,694 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $97,300
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $393,000
- #students: 39,910
- #undergrads: 34,799
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
28. California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, California
Total points: 110
Website
California State University-Fullerton (CSUF, est. 1957) is a public institution offering economical bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. CSUF serves students at two campuses/ satellite campuses, several learning centers, and online. It is the largest of all CSU colleges/ universities by student enrollment, and is both an HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution) and unofficially an AANAPISI (Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution). Eight colleges collectively offer 55 low-cost undergrad degree programs. About 3% of undergrads take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while an additional 35% take some DE courses. The university is home to the science fiction collection of author/ novelist Philip K. Dick, whose novels and short stories have been made into numerous films or TV series, including Blade Runner, Total Recall, The Man in the High Castle, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, and more.
CSUF gets high marks from:
- Forbes: America’s Best Colleges
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges for Your Money 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #3 Best Undergraduate Teaching
- #4 Top Public Schools
- #5 Most Innovative Schools
- #9 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- #16 Regional Universities West
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate
- #3 Computer Engineering
- #7 Civil Engineering
- #12 Electrical Engineering/Electronic Engineering/Communications
- Best Value Schools
Notable alumni include:
- Gwen Stefani – singer/ songwriter/ record producer (No Doubt)
- Kirsten Vangsness – actress (Criminal Minds)
- Danielle Fishel – actress (Boy Meets World)
- Valorie Curry – actress (Veronica Mars, Twilight Saga)
- Ashley and Courtney Force – drag racers (daughters of NHRA Funny Car champion John Force)
- Kevin Costner – actor
- Tracy Dyson – astronaut
- James Blaylock – fantasy and steampunk author
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $6,924 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $8,294 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $98,400
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $399,000
- #students: 40,445
- #undergrads: 35,335
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
27. Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, New York
Total points: 110
Website
Farmingdale State College (FSC, est. 1912) is a public institution offering best-value associate’s through master’s degrees, plus certificate programs. FSC, originally founded as a school of agriculture, currently boasts a low student/ faculty ratio of 19-to-1 and enjoys an 84% freshman retention rate. Its four schools collectively offer 43 cheap undergrad degree programs. About 3% of undergrads take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while another 21% take some DE courses. In addition to its established programs, it offers recently added business, design, science and technology bachelor’s degrees in “high-demand careers in exciting fields like nutrition, big data, human/ computer interaction, digital security, and spatial structure analysis.”
According to lendEDU, FSC’s students have the lowest debt in the SUNY system. Other high rankings include:
- Forbes: Best Value College
- Money: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #11 Best Value Schools
- #12 Best Colleges for Veterans
- #13 Top Public Schools
- #21 Regional Colleges North
- Top Performers in Social Mobility
Notable alumni include:
- William Fichtner – actor (Entourage, Mom, Prison Break)
- John Romita, Jr. – comic book illustrator (Batman, Dark Knight, Superman, Suicide Squad, Black Panther, etc.), son of comic book artist John Romita, Sr.
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $8,538 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $7,481 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $93,800
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $469,000
- #students: 9,996
- #undergrads: 9,939
- Affiliation: State University of New York (SUNY) System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
26. California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, California
Total points: 110
Website
California State University-Bakersfield (CSUB, est. 1965) is a public institution offering high-quality bachelor’s through doctorate degrees. CSUB has a student/ faculty ratio of 24-to-1 and offers 45 low-cost undergrad majors/ programs. About 4% of undergrads take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while an additional 48% take some DE courses.
CSUB gets high marks from:
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- Time Magazine: Top 100 Universities
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #24 Top Public Schools
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Regional Universities West
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate
- Washington Monthly: Best Bang for the Buck West 2020
Notable alumni include:
- Kathleen O’Neal Gear – author/novelist/archaeologist (produced multiple novels in the “People of” series with her archaeologist/novelist husband Michael Gear).
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,419 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $5,771 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $90,900
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $310,000
- #students: 11,531
- #undergrads: 9,981
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
25. CUNY Queens College
Queens, New York
Total points: 110
Website
CUNY Queens College (QC, est. 1937) is a public institution offering top-value bachelor’s and master’s degrees, plus certificate programs. QC was built on the site of a former one-room schoolhouse where American literary legend poet/ journalist Walt Whitman reputedly taught. The college boasts a very low student/ faculty ratio of 16-to-1, and faculty are the recipients of many awards, including from Fulbright, Guggenheim, National Institutes of Health, and CUNY Distinguished Professors. The college offers over 120 affordable undergraduate academic programs, and about 2% of undergrads take some distance ed (DE)/ online courses. Students have a low debt load, with over 85% not only graduating within four years but doing so with no federal student loans.
Students have also won many awards and scholarships, including:
- Fulbright
- Gilman
- Goldwater
- MacArthur
- Marshall
- Mellon Mays
- Rhodes
- Salk
- Truman
QC is a top producer of Fulbright scholars nationally for 2014-15 Other honors include:
- Forbes:
- America’s Top Colleges
- Best Value Colleges
- Higher Education Excellence in Diversity: HEED Award – Top Colleges for Diversity
- Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: Best Value College
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- Princeton Review:
- Best Colleges 2020
- Best Value Colleges 2020
- Best Regional Colleges Northeast 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #10 To Public Schools
- #14 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- #23 Best Colleges for Veterans
- Best Undergraduate Teaching
- Best Value Schools
- Regional Universities North
- Victory Media: Military Friendly School
- Washington Monthly: Best Bang for the Buck Northeast
Notable alumni include:
- Jerry Seinfeld – actor/comedian
- Jon Favreau – actor/director (Star Wars: The Mandalorian, Daredevil, Iron Man, Avengers films, Spider-Man: Far From Home)
- Adrian Brody – actor
- Joy Behar – comedienne/ co-host (The View)
- Paul Simon – musician
- Carole King – musician
- Robert Moog – Moog musical synthesizer creator
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,538 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $4,471 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $96,700
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $432,000
- #students: 19,923
- #undergrads: 16,866
- Affiliation: City University of New York System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
24. CUNY Hunter College
New York, New York
Total points: 110
Website
CUNY Hunter College (HC, est. 1870) is a public institution offering inexpensive bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. Hunter, originally founded as a women’s teacher training college, currently serves students on three campuses/ satellite campuses, plus online. It boasts one of the lowest student/ faculty ratios of 13-to-1. The university is divided into six schools covering Arts and Sciences, Education, Health Professions, Nursing, Social Work, and Urban Public Health. It offers over 170 high-quality academic programs (all study levels). About 1% of undergrads take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while another 6% take some DE courses.
High recognition for Hunter’s academic offering falls primarily into the ranking categories of best value/ top colleges. Ranking sources include:
- Forbes: America’s Top Colleges
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- Princeton Review: Best Colleges
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #3 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- #5 Top Public Schools
- #7 Best Colleges for Veterans
- #16 Best Undergraduate Teaching
- #17 Regional Universities North
- Best Value Schools
Notable alumni of Hunter include:
- Nobel laureates
- Pulitzer Prize winners
- National Medal of Science winners
- Presidential Medal of Freedom winners
Some notables alumni:
- Ellen Barkin – actress
- Rhea Perlman – actress
- Esther Rolle – actress
- Ruby Dee – actress
- Ed Burns – actor
- Vin Diesel – actor
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,382 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $3,957 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $94,500
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $364,000
- #students: 23,193
- #undergrads: 17,121
- Affiliation: City University of New York System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
23. CUNY City College
New York, New York
Total points: 110
Website
CUNY City College (CCNY, est. 1847) is a public institution offering best-value bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. CCNY, aka City College of New York, serves students at multiple campuses plus online and has bragging rights to one of the lowest student/ faculty ratios at 14-to-1. Five schools and three divisions collectively offer over 115 cheap degree programs (undergrad and master’s). Only 1% of undergrads take some distance ed (DE)/ online courses.
High accolades and recognition for CCNY include the following college rankings publishers:
- Forbes (America’s Best Colleges, nationally and Northeast);
- Money Magazine (Best Colleges 2020);
- Princeton Review (Best Colleges);
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #17 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Best Undergraduate Teaching
- Top Public Schools
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – schools with doctorates
- National Universities
- Washington Monthly: National Universities 2020
Notable alumni include:
- Sidney Harman – entrepreneur (founder of consumer audio company Harmon Kardon)
- Bernard Baruch – Wall Street financier (after whom CUNY Baruch College is named)
- Ed Koch – former NY City mayor
- Ira Gershwin – lyricist
- Judd Hirsch – actor
- Richard Schiff – actor
- Hal Linden – actor
- Eli Wallach – actor
- Sam Jaffe – actor
- Zero Mostel – actor
- Stanley Kubrick – film director
- Gabourey Sidibe – actress
- Mario Puzo – novelist/screenwriter (The Godfather)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,340 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $3,397 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $99,100
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $386,000
- #students: 15,816
- #undergrads: 13,030
- Affiliation: City University of New York System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
22. California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Total points: 110
Website
California State University-Los Angeles (CSULA, est. 1947) is a public institution offering cheap bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. CSULA enjoys a student/ faculty ratio of 24-to-1. Six colleges collectively offer over 100 high-value academic programs (all study levels). The top five most popular majors (order changes by academic year) are: Sociology; Child Development; Criminal Justice; Business Administration; Psychology. About 35% of undergrads take some distance ed (DE)/ online courses.
Cal State LA is designated an HSI, with over 67% of undergrads (Fall 2018 enrollment) being of Hispanic/ Latin American descent. Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine ranked CSULA at #8 for the number of BA degrees awarded to Hispanic graduates. Partial list of other ranking sources:
- Equality of Opportunity Project: #1 nationally for upward mobility of students
- Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine: #8 BA degrees awarded to Hispanic graduates
- Forbes: America’s Best Value Colleges
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- America’s Best Colleges
- #9 Top Public Schools
- #11 Best Value Schools
- #13 Top Performers in Social Mobility
- #16 Best Undergraduate Teaching
- #23 Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- #9 Civil Engineering
- #9 Computer Engineering
- Regional Universities West
- Washington Monthly: #3 Best Bang for the Buck West
Notable alumni include:
- Edward James Olmos – actor
- Sam Elliott – actor
- Alan Arkin – actor
- Billy Barty – actor
- Robert Vaughn – actor
- Billie Jean King – former professional tennis player
- Donald Sterling – former Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) owner
- Cheryl Tiegs – actress/model
- Octavia Butler – science fiction author/novelist (multiple winner of Hugo and Nebula awards, and first in the genre to earn a MacArthur Fellowship)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $6,768 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $3,255 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $93,800
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $348,000
- #students: 26,671
- #undergrads: 22,797
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
21. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California
Total points: 115
Website
San Francisco State University (SFSU, est. 1899) is a public institution offering top-value bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. SFSU was originally founded as a state normal school for teacher training for female students (men first admitted 1904). It currently serves students at two campuses plus online, and enjoys a student/ faculty ratio of 22-to-1. The university offers nearly 140 inexpensive bachelor’s degree options (including concentrations/ emphases). About 2% of undergrads take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while an additional 40% take some DE courses.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, SFSU is amongst the top 25 film schools, and alumni have collectively won over a dozen Academy Awards. Other college ranking sources include:
- Forbes: #11 most diverse colleges in America 2010
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #11 Top Public Schools
- #12 Top Performers in Social Mobility
- #17 Best Undergraduate Teaching
- #18 Best Colleges for Veterans
- Regional Universities West
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate
Notable alumni:
- Annette Bening – actress
- Alex Borstein – actress (Family Guy, Mad)
- Danny Glover – actor
- Dana Carvey – actor (SNL, Wayne’s World)
- Anne Rice – author (The Vampire Chronicles)
- Johnny Mathis – singer
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,266 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $15,166 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $99,500
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $430,000
- #students: 29,032
- #undergrads: 25,924
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
20. University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming
Total points: 115
Website
University of Wyoming (UW, est. 1886) is a public institution offering inexpensive bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. UW hosts students from 50 states and 90 countries, and boasts a very low student/ faculty ratio of 15-to-1. Seven colleges and two schools collectively offer 80 top-value undergrad academic programs. About 10% of undergrads take only distance ed (DE) courses, while an additional 32% take some DE courses. More than half of students graduate with no loan debt.
UW enjoys high college rankings from the following publishers:
- Forbes
- Money Magazine: (Best Colleges for Your Money)
- U.S. News & World Report:
- Top Public Schools
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- National Universities
- Top Performers in Social Mobility
- Washington Monthly: National Universities 2020
Notable alumni include:
- Jerry Buss – LA Lakers (NBA) team owner
- Dick Cheney – former U.S. Vice President
- W. Edwards Deming – engineer/author/management consultant
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $4,747 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $12,880 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $98,800
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $379,000
- #students: 12,249
- #undergrads: 9,807
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
19. Weber State University
Ogden, Utah
Total points: 115
Website
Weber State University (WSU, est. 1889) is a public institution offering economical associate’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. Originally founded by the LDS Church, WSU is currently a public university. It serves students at two campuses and multiple learning centers, plus online. It boasts a low student/ faculty ratio of 21-to-1. Six colleges and one school collectively offer over 225 best-value academic programs (certificates and degrees, all study levels), including 10 fully online bachelor’s degrees. About 10% of undergrads take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, with another 25% taking some DE courses. University enrollment shows about 56% female vs 44% male students. The student population leans to non-traditional, with an overall average student age of 26 (all study levels), and nearly 80% of students have jobs.
WSU earned a Tree Campus USA designation from Arbor Day Foundation (2019 and other years). Other rankings/ recognition sources include:
- Forbes: America’s Top Colleges; Best Value Colleges
- LendEDU: Colleges with the Best Return on Investment – #2 in Utah, #63 nationally
- Princeton Review:
- Best Western Colleges
- Green Colleges
- Sierra Club: Cool Schools
- U.S. News & World Report:
- Top Public Schools
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- Regional Universities West
- Top Performers in Social Mobility
- Washington Monthly: Best 4-Year Colleges for Adult Learners
Notable alumni:
- Dick Motta – former NBA basketball coach
- Damian Lillard – NBA point guard
- Fawn Brodie – author/history professor (one of UCLA’s first female history professors)
- John Willard Marriott – entrepreneur, founder of Marriott Corporation
- David Kennedy – former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under the Nixon Administration
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $5,986 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $11,224 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $94,000
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $477,000
- #students: 29,644
- #undergrads: 28,843
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
18. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida
Total points: 115
Website
Florida Atlantic University (FAU, est. 1961) is a public institution offering associate’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. FAU serves students at six campuses plus online, and enjoys a low student/ faculty ratio of 21-to-1. Ten colleges collectively offer nearly 30 bachelor’s to master’s combined programs (in addition to standalone bachelor’s degrees). About 9% of undergrads take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while an additional 40% take some DE courses. The university claims to be amongst the best nationally for undergraduate research opportunities (over 6,000 per academic year).
FAU has earned a place in top college ranking lists from the following publishers:
- Forbes: America’s Best Colleges
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- Princeton Review: Best Southeastern Colleges
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #22 Best International Business Programs
- Top Performers in Social Mobility
- Top Public Schools
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs; National Universities);
- Washington Monthly (National Universities 2020).
- FAU’s website claims the title of the #1 most diverse university in Florida (over half of students are minorities or international students).
- Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education: #4 in Florida and #28 nationally for the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanic students (2006-7 academic year)
Notable alumni include:
- Phil Zimmerman – computer scientist/cryptographer (created cryptography software Pretty Good Privacy)
- Edith Stern – child prodigy
- Carrot Top – comedian
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $4,879 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $9,861 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $91,200
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $325,000
- #students: 30,061
- #undergrads: 24,740
- Affiliation: State University System of Florida
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
17. California State University-Fresno
Fresno, California
Total points: 115
Website
California State University-Fresno (Fresno State, est. 1911) is a public institution offering best-value bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. Fresno State enjoys a student/ faculty ratio of 23-to-1. Six colleges and two schools collectively offer 140 cheap bachelor’s degrees (including emphasis/ concentration options). About 1% of undergrads take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while an additional 32% take some DE courses.
Recognition and rankings for Fresno State include high accolades from the following sources:
- Forbes: America’s Top Colleges
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate
- Top Public Schools
- National Universities
- Washington Monthly: National Universities
Notable alumni:
- Robert Beltran – actor (Star Trek: Voyager)
- Rick Husband – astronaut
- Steven Nagel – astronaut
- Sam Peckinpah – writer/ director/ producer (The Wild Bunch, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $6,589 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $6,002 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $97,300
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $416,000
- #students: 24,298
- #undergrads: 21,541
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
16. College of Staten Island CUNY
Staten Island, New York
Total points: 115
Website
College of Staten Island CUNY (CSI, est. 1956) is a public institution offering economical associate’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. CSI is a senior college of the CUNY system and participates in the Macaulay Honors College (one of seven campuses in the CUNY system to do so). It serves students at three campuses plus online, and boasts a low student/ faculty ratio of 17-to-1. It welcomes international students from over 80 countries. Four schools and two divisions collectively offer nearly 60 low-cost undergrad majors and over 50 minors. About 4% of undergrads are enrolled in some distance ed (DE)/ online courses.
CSI has earned top accolades/ recognition from a variety of rankings publishers, including:
- Forbes
- G.I. Jobs Magazine/ Victory Media: Military Friendly School
- Money Magazine: #3 in-state for Best Colleges
- U.S. News & World Report:
- Top Public Schools
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- Regional Universities North
Notable alumni include:
- Gene Simmons – bassist, lead singer KISS
- Kevin Sussman – actor (Big Bang Theory)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,490 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $5,652 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $94,600
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $422,000
- #students: 12,782
- #undergrads: 11,700
- Affiliation: City University of New York (CUNY) System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
15. Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas
Total points: 120
Website
Texas Tech University (TTU, est. 1923) is a public institution offering low-priced bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. TTU has a main campus, eight regional learning sites, several satellite campuses including one in Spain, plus online programs. It is an HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution), with Hispanic students making up nearly 28% of Fall 2017 undergrad enrollment. The university’s student/ faculty ratio is a low 21-to-1. About 6% of undergrads take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, and another 48% take some DE courses. Ten colleges and two schools collectively offer 150 cost-effective undergraduate degrees (and over 80 fully online degree programs at all study levels). TTU’s Carnegie Classification is “Very High Research Activity,” and it also has the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) for adult learners 50+ (non-degree programs).
Top accolades earned for TTU’s academic offering include those from the following rankings publishers:
- Forbes: America’s Top Colleges
- INSIGHT Into Diversity: Diversity Champion
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- Top Public Schools
- National Universities
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Victory Media/G.I. Jobs: Top 10 Military Friendly Schools
- Washington Monthly: National Universities
- TTU was designated a Purple Heart University (1st to receive that honor in the state of Texas, 3rd in the USA)
Notable alumni:
- Rick Husband – astronaut
- Holly Hunt – designer/entrepreneur
- George Eads – actor (CSI)
- Barry Corbin – actor
- Numerous Pulitzer Prize winners
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $9,300 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $16,463 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $106,500
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $489,000
- #students: 38,742
- #undergrads: 32,125
- Affiliation: Texas Tech University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
14. California State University-Chico
Chico, California
Total points: 120
Website
California State University-Chico (Chico, est. 1887) is a public institution offering top-value bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Chico was originally founded as a normal school (branch campus) and is the second oldest campus in the CSU system. It has a student/ faculty ratio of 24-to-1. About 3% of undergrad students take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while an additional 32% take some DE courses. Seven colleges and three schools collectively offer 70 low-cost undergrad majors in liberal arts, professional and technical subjects. Top majors include business administration, psychology and pre-nursing.
The university has earned high accolades from various college rankings publishers, including:
- Forbes: America’s Top Colleges
- LendEDU: Top 5 for lowest student debt nationally
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- Princeton Review: Guide to Green Colleges
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #9 Top Public Schools
- #16 Best Schools for Veterans
- #22 Best Undergraduate Teaching
- Regional Universities West
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate
- Washington Monthly: Best Bang for the Buck
Notable alumni include:
- Raymond Carver – author
- Mark Davis – Las Vegas Raiders (NFL football) owner
- Adnan Khashoggi – billionaire Saudi businessman
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,806 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $14,843 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $105,100
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $479,000
- #students: 17,110
- #undergrads: 16,164
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
13. University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Platteville, Wisconsin
Total points: 120
Website
University of Wisconsin-Platteville (UWP, est. 1866) is a public institution offering exceptional associate’s through master’s degrees, plus certificate programs. Originally founded as a Normal school, it went through a couple of mergers over time, finally becoming part of the UW system in 1971. It currently serves students at three campuses and online, and enjoys a low student/ faculty ratio of 20-to-1. The university offers three colleges and a division of professional studies. About 7% of undergrads take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while another 3% take some DE courses.
UWP claims the title of #1 in-state for annual ROI. Other ranking sources include:
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- Top Public Schools
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Regional Universities West
Notable alumni include:
- Todd Schultz (Director Production of The Jerry Springer Show)
- George Engebretson – Wisconsin state senator
- Charles Estabrook – Wisconsin Attorney General
- Mike Hintz – professional football player (NFL)
- Phil Micech – professional football player (NFL)
- Lee Croft – professional football player (NFL)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,623 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $14,611 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $100,300
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $473,000
- #students: 8,271
- #undergrads: 7,479
- Affiliation: University of Wisconsin System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
12. San Diego State University
San Diego, California
Total points: 120
Website
San Diego State University (SDSU, est. 1897) is a public institution offering low-cost bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. Originally founded as a women’s Normal school for teacher training, SDSU is an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and is the oldest college/ university in the city of San Diego. It serves students at two campuses and online, and has a student/ faculty ratio of 27-to-1. Approximately 1% of undergrad students take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while another 53% take some DE courses. Seven colleges collectively offer over 90 inexpensive undergrad majors and seven preprofessional programs (dental, legal, medical, optometry, pharmacy, physician assistant, veterinary medicine).
The university ranks second in the state (behind UC Berkeley) for the number of Fulbright Scholars sponsored (totaling 65 Fulbright student scholars since 2005). Other accolades come from:
- Bloomberg Businessweek: Top business colleges
- Forbes
- Military Times: Best colleges for veterans
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges
- U.S. News & World Report:
- International Business
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Top Public Schools
- Best Colleges for Veterans
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- National Universities
- Best Value Schools
- Top universities for economic and ethnic diversity
- Washington Monthly (National Universities).
Notable alumni include:
- Raquel Welch – actress
- Marion Ross – actress
- Susan Sarandon – actress
- Kathy Najimy – actress
- Gregory Peck – actor
- Kathleen Kennedy – movie producer (Jurassic Park)
- J. Michael Straczynski – writer/producer (Babylon 5)
- Joan D. Vinge – novelist (Snow Queen)
- President JFK gave the university’s commencement speech in June 1963, earning an honorary doctorate in law, making SDSU first (amongst California state colleges) to award such an honor.
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,510 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $14,499 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $102,800
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $435,000
- #students: 35,544
- #undergrads: 30,848
- Affiliation: California State University (CSU) System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
11. Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, Louisiana
Total points: 120
Website
Louisiana Tech University (La. Tech, est. 1894) is a public institution offering high-quality associate’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. La. Tech consists of 5 colleges and enjoys a low student/ faculty ratio of 22-to-1. About 2% of undergrads take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while another 12% take some DE courses.
Ranking categories include social mobility, underrated values, general best/ top colleges. Partial ranking sources include:
- Business Insider: Most Underrated Colleges in America
- Forbes: Best Public Colleges
- Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: Best Colleges
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- Top Public Schools
- National Universities
- Top Performers in Social Mobility
- Washington Monthly: National University Rankings
Notable alumni include:
- Phil Robertson – reality TV star (Duck Dynasty)
- Charles and Sam Wyly – Billionaire businessmen
- Terry Bradshaw – former NFL quarterback
- Wil Wright – video game company founder (creator of Sim City)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $9,615 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $12,261 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $100,700
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $416,000
- #students: 11,510
- #undergrads: 10,289
- Affiliation: University of Louisiana System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
10. West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Beckley, West Virginia
Total points: 120
Website
West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech, est. 1895) is a public institution offering best-value bachelor’s degree programs. WVU Tech was originally founded as a prep school in Montgomery, WV, and became part of WVU in 1996, but remains an independent unit. It boasts a very low student/ faculty ratio of 14-to-1, with an average class size of 17 students. About 30% of undergrads take all distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while an additional 29% take some DE courses. Approximately 88% of students receive some form of financial aid.
At one point, the university offered engineering master’s degrees but currently is an entirely baccalaureate college. However, it has 9 ABET-accredited engineering programs. Students can choose from over 30 affordable majors, 20 minors, five pre-professional programs (Dental, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary).
Recognition for WVU Tech’s academic offering includes college rankings from:
- Open Doors Data Report: Top 5 in state for international student enrollment
- PayScale.com:
- #1 in state for annual ROI
- Top 15% for salary potential among four-year colleges and universities
- U.S. News & World Report: Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,560 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $10,502 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $103,700
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $494,000
- #students: 1,794
- #undergrads: 1,794
- Affiliation: West Virginia University
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
9. California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Total points: 125
Website
California State University-Sacramento (CSUS, est. 1947) is a public institution offering budget-friendly bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. CSUS, which has a Tree Campus USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation, has two sites on campus that are honored in the National Register of Historic Places. The university has a student/ faculty ratio of 26-to-1. Eight colleges collectively offer low-cost degrees and majors in Arts and Letters, Business Administration, Continuing Education, Education, Engineering and Computer Science, Health and Human Services, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies. About 2% of students take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while an additional 38% take some DE courses.
With over 30% of undergrads enrolled in Fall 2018 being of Hispanic American origin, CSUS is an HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution). This is one factor that has earned them a ranking of #4 Most Diverse University (West) from U.S. News & World Report:. Other ranking sources:
- Forbes: America’s Top Colleges
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #4 Most Diverse University West
- #19 Top Performers in Social Mobilit
- #20 Top Public School
- #24 Best Colleges for Veteran
- Regional Universities Wes
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
Notable alumni include:
- Tom Hanks – actor
- Brian Posehn – actor
- Lester Holt – journalist
- Joan Lunden – actress
- Bobby McFerrin – jazz vocalist
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,368 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $10,271 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $101,100
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $430,000
- #students: 31,992
- #undergrads: 28,819
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
8. California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Total points: 125
Website
California State University-Long Beach (CSULB, est. 1949) is a public institution offering economical bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. CSULB is one of the CSU System’s largest colleges by enrollment, and enjoys a student/ faculty ratio of 24-to-1. Over 70% of undergrads receive some financial aid, and 55% of recent baccalaureate graduates at CSULB are first in their family to enter college. The diverse student population includes 43% Hispanic/ Latino and 22% Asian-American students, based on recent enrollment figures. Students have a choice of over 80 high-value majors, offered collectively by eight colleges.
The university has earned top accolades from many sources, including:
- CNBC: #8 most-applied to university in the country
- Diverse Issues in Higher Education: #3 nationally for bachelor’s degrees awarded to underrepresented minorities
- Money Magazine:
- Best Colleges 2020
- Top 1% of public universities
- #11 Most Transformative University
- Princeton Review:
- Best Bang for Your Buck
- Social Mobility Index – #7 top performer on social mobility
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #2 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- #3 Top Public Schools
- #8 Most Innovative Schools
- #10 Best Undergraduate Teaching
- #14 Regional Universities West
- Best Undergraduate Teaching
- #8 top destination for transfer students
Notable alumni include:
- Stephen Spielberg – director (Jurassic Park, Jaws, ET)
- Chris Carter – director (The X-Files TV series)
- Penelope Spheeris – director (Wayne’s World)
- Steve Martin – actor/comedian
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $6,834 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $9,903 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $101,700
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $413,000
- #students: 38,674
- #undergrads: 33,054
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
7. Brigham Young University-Idaho
Rexburg, Idaho
Total points: 125
Website
Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-I, est. 1888) is a private, nonprofit institution offering top-value associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs. BYU-I was originally founded as Ricks Academy, and primarily known as Ricks College. It joined the BYU fold in 2002. It currently enjoys a low student/ faculty ratio of 19-to-1. Six colleges house over 30 departments collectively, and offer just under 40 affordable online programs (degrees and certificates). About 45% of undergrads take only distance ed (DE)/ online courses, while another 26% take some DE courses.
The university has earned high recognition in a number of categories, including social mobility and value. Partial ranking sources:
- Forbes: America’s Top Colleges
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #16 Regional Colleges West
- #25 Top Performers in Social Mobility
- Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate
Notable alumni include;
- Rulon Gardner – Olympic gold medalist in wrestling
- Matt Lindstrom – MLB baseball pitcher
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $4,208 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $7,038 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $93,500
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $534,000
- #students: 39,145
- #undergrads: 39,145
- Affiliation: Brigham Young University System
- Religious affiliation: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
6. California State University-East Bay
Hayward, California
Total points: 130
Website
California State University-East Bay (CSUEB, est. 1957) is a public institution offering economical bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. CSUEB serves students at three campuses and online, and enjoys a student/ faculty ratio of 26-to-1. The university consists of four colleges (Business and Economics; Education and Allied Studies; Letters, Arts and Social Sciences; Science). About 12% of undergrads take all distance education (DE)/ online courses, with another 49% taking some DE courses.
CSUEB has earned top recognition for social mobility, diversity, and general overall performance. Partial ranking sources include:
- Money Magazine: (#14 Transformative Colleges; Best Colleges 2020);
- U.S. News & World Report:
- Regional Universities West
- Top Performers on Social Mobility
- Top Public Schools
- Wall Street Journal: Top 10 Colleges for Diversity – West
Notable alumni of CSUEB include:
- Sue Burns – businesswoman (former largest shareholder of the San Francisco Giants)
- Mark Curry – actor (Hanging with Mr. Cooper, Family Reunion)
- J.R. Havlan – comedy writer (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart)
- Suzy Kline – children’s book author
- Roger Lim – actor/director/producer/screenwriter
- Gene Yang – comic book artist
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,000 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $10,902 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $103,500
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $510,000
- #students: 16,064
- #undergrads: 13,202
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
5. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, New York
Total points: 130
Website
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College (Baruch, est. 1919) is a public institution offering inexpensive bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. Baruch’s student body can trace their origins to over 160 countries, and is considered amongst the most ethnically diverse in the U.S. (top 3). Recent enrollment figures show ~41% Asian or Pacific Islander, ~30.8% White; ~17.2% Hispanic, and ~10.9% Black/ African American. The college offers 30 hig-value undergrad majors and 60 minors. About 7% of undergrads take one or more distance education (DE)/ online courses. Nearly 40% are first-time college students in their family. Average starting salary for grads (2017-18) is $51,058, with Zelkin School of Business grads having the highest average ($52,744).
Baruch has earned a long list of accolades in the form of college rankings. Partial ranking sources include:
- Brookings Institution: #1 Four-Year Public Colleges as Engine of Economic Mobility
- CNBC: #2 Best Public Institution for Return on Investment
- Money Magazine:
- #1 Best Colleges in America
- #1 Best Colleges Northeast
- #1 Best Colleges for Business Majors)
- #2 Best Colleges for value (nationally)
- Ranked by Value – New York and tristate publics
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #6 Ethnic Diversity Northeast
- #4 Top Public Institutions North
- Best Regional University North
- Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: #4 nationally Lowest Average Graduating Debt 2019
- Princeton Review: Best Colleges
- Washington Monthly:
- #1 Best Bang for the Buck Colleges New York
- #1 Best Affordable Elite Colleges
Notable Baruch alumni include:
- Buddy Freitag – Broadway producer (Porgy and Bess)
- Michael Freeman – inventor/trends anlayst
- Sidney Harman – engineer/businessman (co-founder of consumer electronics company Harman Kardon)
- Upton Sinclair – author
- Martin Shkreli – entrepreneur (founder of Turing Pharmaceuticals)
Notable dropouts include:
- Ralph Lauren – fashion designer/ entrepreneur
- Jennifer Lopez – actress/singer/dancer
Notable faculty include:
- Mario Cuomo – formerly Governor of New York State
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,462 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $3,931 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $107,100
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $546,000
- #students: 18,679
- #undergrads: 15,482
- Affiliation: City University of New York (CUNY) System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
4. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Rapid City, South Dakota
Total points: 135
Website
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT, est. 1885) is a public institution offering best-value associate’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. SDSMT is primarily a STEM science and engineering university (with 20 low-cost science and engineering majors offered), but does have programs in business and maangement, health professions, humanities, etc. It boasts a very low 15-to-1 student/ faculty ratio, an 80% admissions rate for applicants, and a 97% placement rate for graduates (who earn an average starting salary of $63K). Students in South Dakota and seven other states (ND, MT, WY, CO, NE, IA, MN) pay the in-state rate for tuition.
SDSMT has earned a “best buy” ranking from several educational publishers. The institution’s site claims the title of “#1 Engineering School for Return on Investment and Starting Salaries.” Other rankings sources include:
- Military Times: top schools for veteran and military students – for service and rates of academic achievement
- SmartAsset: #1 in South Dakota) for value and starting salary
- U.S. News & World Report: Top Computer Science programs
Notable alumni of SDSMT include:
- Al Kurtenbach – entrepreneur (founder of Daktronics)
- Dean Peterson – inventor (created the Kodak Instamatic and the point-and-shoot cameras)
- James Zimmerman – physicist (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $10,770 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $19,444 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $118,500
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $664,000
- #students: 2,525
- #undergrads: 2,202
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
3. Brigham Young University-Provo
Provo, Utah
Total points: 135
Website
Brigham Young University-Provo (BYU, est. 1875) is a private, nonprofit institution offering top-value bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. It comes in third in our list of top colleges for return on investment for undergraduate degree programs. By enrollment, it is the largest private undergraduate college/ university in the country, with roughly a 50/50 female/ male student ratio, and with students from 50 states and over 100 countries. The university boasts a student/ faculty ratio of 20-to-1, and offers nearly 190 undergrad majors, over 110 minors.
BYU’s academic offering is recognized by several college rankings publishers, including:
- Bloomberg Businessweek: #1 Best Trained Business Graduates
- Milken Institute: Best university for technology transfer
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges
- U.S. News & World Report:
- Best Value School
- Best Law Schools
- Best Undergraduate Accounting Programs
- Washington Monthly: National Universities
Notable alumni include:
- Ken Jennings – Jeopardy game show winner
- Mitt Romney – politician
- Ty Detmer – Heisman Trophy winner (NCAA football)
- Johnny Miller – professional golfer
- Mike Weir – professional golfer
- Stephen Covey – self-help author
- Aaron Eckhart – actor
- Steve Benson – Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $5,790 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $13,340 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $108,000
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $632,000
- #students: 34,318
- #undergrads: 31,292
- Religious affiliation: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
2. San Jose State University
San Jose, California
Total points: 140
Website
San Jose State University (SJSU, est. 1857) is a public institution offering cheap bachelor’s through doctorate degrees, plus certificate programs. It takes second place in our ranking of top-ROI bachelor’s colleges. SJSU started as California’s first State Normal School/ teacher training school. It is divided into nine colleges (including in business, education, engineering, health and human sciences, humanities/ arts, science, social science), which collectively offer over 140 top-value undergraduate majors. The university enjoys a 25-to-1 student to faculty ratio.
SJSU has earned high accolades/ rankings from sources that include:
- Money Magazine: #1 Most Transformative College (national)
- U.S. News & World Report:
- Best in the West
- Top Performers in Social Mobility
- Teaching
- Most Innovative Schools
- Best Undergraduate Teaching
- Best Value Schools
- Best Colleges for Veterans
- Top Public Schools
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
Notable alumni include:
- Professional athletes
- Olympic medalists
- Stevie Nicks – musician (Fleetwood Mac)
- Amy Tan – author
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,852 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $14,471 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $114,700
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $634,000
- #students: 36,085
- #undergrads: 27,905
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
1. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, California
Total points: 140
Website
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (CPP, est. 1938) is a public institution offering best-value bachelor’s through doctorate degrees. It wins first place in our list of top-ROI colleges. Initially, CPP was all-male, and was first located on the site of a former boys’ school. Considered an “innovative school,” it consists of nine colleges, and has a student-to-faculty ratio of 28-to-1. Forty percent of undergrads take one or more distance ed (DE)/ online courses (1% take only DE courses).
CPP enjoys accolades/rankings from a number of sources:
- Washington Monthly: Top National Universities
- U.S. News & World Report:
- #10 Social Mobility Index
- Best undergrad teaching
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
- Top Public Schools
- Regional Universities West
- Most innovative schools
- Diverse Issues in Higher Education
- Forbes
- Hispanic Outlook on Education
- Kiplinger’s
- Money Magazine: Best Colleges 2020
- Princeton Review: Guide to Green Colleges
Notable alumni of CPP include:
- Olympic medal-winning athletes
- Entrepreneurs and business founders
- C-level executives
- Educators
- Politicians
- Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker
Additional Information
- Avg cost: $7,396 (average fulltime undergrad tuition and mandatory fees as per IPEDS)
- Avg net price: $12,843 (per year, as per NCES)
- Payscale midcareer salary: $110,800
- Payscale 20yr net ROI: $571,000
- #students: 28,058
- #undergrads: 26,454
- Affiliation: California State University System
- Has housing: Yes
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still have questions about college degrees and return on investment? We’ve answered some of the more popular questions about college ROI and related concerns below.
How do you measure return on investment for a college degree?
Some of the factors to consider are:
- The major taken, and the marked demand for the skills gained.
- Overall cost to attend college.
- Whether student loans were taken and how long they take to pay off
- Salary earned over time.
- Cost of living wherever you settle.
Of course, you can only estimate possible future return on investment of your college degree based on collected data. The economy may change. Your skills may need to be upgraded, possibly with a master’s or even a doctorate, depending on your profession. (For example, there have been significant changes in the nursing profession in recent years. Some nursing jobs that used to require a bachelor’s degree now require a master’s, and some that required a masters will soon require a doctorate.
How do I get the best return on investment from my college degree?
The general formula for college ROI is pretty simple, yet the application is not. Simple version: (1) spend the least money on a bachelor’s degree; (2) get the highest paying career for that major; (3) find the optimum job location in terms of cost of living. Attending a prestigious school may or may not significantly increase your earnings potential. It’s not guaranteed, but attending one of the Ivy League schools, Public Ivies, military academies or other top-tier colleges may not necessarily increase salary potential right after graduation, but may fast-track you in terms of career advancement.
Now for the more complicated aspects. Long-term return in your career (e.g. mid-career pay and benefits) usually depends on experience and job performance. However, to secure advanced career roles with higher pay, you may need to earn a master’s degree — which of course costs money, thereby potentially reducing overall ROI of your complete post-secondary education.
That said, here are some specific tips that might increase your college degree’s ROI:
- If you’re still in high school, take as many AP credits as possible, to reduce your credit load in college. This usually reduces your overall college credits cost.
- If you’re in a state where community college is free or has a reduced per-credit cost, complete two years and then transfer to a four-year college. Most colleges will give you transfer credits, possibly in full.
- Or get an associate’s degree, work for a few years, then use savings towards completing a bachelor’s degree. Your employer may even cover some or all of the tuition and fees.
What degrees give the best return on investment?
Typically, STEM and healthcare degrees, including Information Technology in general, software development, engineering, etc., tend to pay the highest average salaries – although these degrees sometimes cost more than non-STEM programs. Other potentially good returns are for math, business and economics degrees, especially if they lead to “applied” work — including actuarial analysis, operations research, data science, management, human resources, etc. It’s important to note that there are still high-paying careers within other fields where average salary might be lower than for STEM disciplines.
What careers have the best ROI?
As implied above, careers in most STEM fields are typically the highest-paying at the moment. Health professions can also lead to higher salaries; however, some require graduate degrees to qualify for the top echelon of opportunities. Similarly, for business careers, especially management and executive roles – which often require at least a master’s degree such as an MBA.
PayScale.com’s College Salary Report (PCSR) provides a list of the highest-paying baccalaureate majors. The rank for each major varies based on whether it’s being measured by early career pay or mid-career pay. For early career pay, the top ten majors according to PayScale are:
- Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (EECS)
- Physician Assistant Studies
- Petroleum Engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Operations Research
- Nuclear Engineering Technology (NET)
- Welding Engineering
- Medicine
- Mining Engineering
- Marine Engineering
For mid-career pay (no additional graduate degree), the top ten majors are:
- Petroleum Engineering
- Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (EECS)
- Applied Economics and Management
- Operations Research
- Public Accounting
- Chemical Engineering/ Materials Science & Engineering
- Quantitative Business Analysis
- Pharmacy
- Aeronautics & Astronautics
- Systems Engineering
Your results may vary based on several factors, including where in the United States you work, which industry you’re in, etc. [PCSR link]
Is a college degree worth the investment?
Obviously, it depends on what type of career you’re seeking. If you’re not entrepreneurial yet want to make a salary that gives you a comfortable life, you very likely need a college degree – even an associate’s degree. However, that is not in itself enough to guarantee a good return on investment. Sub-standard degree programs/ teaching, or majors with low demand in the jobs market reduce the value of your college investment. But as a rule of thumb, a quality accredited degree program in a college major with some opportunity growth is more than likely worth the investment. For information on job growth in different roles/ niches, consult the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH).
What is the average ROI for a bachelor’s degree?
Different sources collectively state that a bachelor’s degree return on investment is between 8-15% (year over year). This really depends on all the factors mentioned above: the major that you take, possibly the college you attend, where you plan to work geographically, the actual career you choose, etc. There are unfortunately colleges and/or majors where your ROI may be much less or even negative (as per PayScale’s college salary report).
What careers will be in highest demand after earning a degree?
As mentioned above, STEM and health care skills are currently in demand, and they generally pay better than for most other college majors. Trades careers are also going unfilled, and most only require an associate’s degree for qualification, which is only a two-year commitment path towards earning a living.
Is completing an associate’s degree before a bachelor’s degree worth the investment?
An associate’s degree that gets you a job for in-demand skills can actually be more valuable than trying to complete a bachelor’s degree all in one pass. The reason is that you earn money sooner (after two years), and reduce the likelihood that you will need student loans to later complete a bachelor’s degree. It’s also possible that your employer may cover some of the costs of completing your upper-division college credits.
Is college worth the investment for adult students (e.g., over 25)?
While your ROI may not be as high as if you had completed a bachelor’s degree sooner in your career, if you consider all the factors mentioned in this FAQ section, you’ll probably find that a degree in any sufficiently in-demand college major will bring you a better return on investment than never completing a bachelor’s degree.
Is completing a second bachelor’s degree worth the investment?
Typically, a second baccalaureate degree requires fewer credits to complete as you can usually leverage some of the credits already earned. If you have a very specific need in your career for that second degree because it leads to job advancement and higher salary and benefits, then it may be worth the effort. Of course, it may require a greater investment of your time than the average master’s degree.
Is career success without college possible?
You’ve no doubt heard of or even read about numerous successful entrepreneurs who dropped out of college (or skipped it altogether) and became millionaires or even billionaires. They do exist, but such people are usually highly self-driven, know what they want to do, and either have the resources they need or know how to get what they need. So, the answer is a tentative yes; though if this were easy to accomplish, more people would probably drop out of college or skip it altogether. This approach requires great discipline, drive, and motivation.
Can I make $100K or more per year without a college degree?
Undoubtedly, yes. The Internet in particular has made it more than possible. There are kids, teens, and people in their twenties making millions yearly on YouTube, TikTok or other social media. It’s often a game of popularity, leveraging social media, applying Search Engine Optimization (SEO), etc. Also, there are people of all ages doing Internet marketing, affiliating marketing, content publishing or making other career efforts online and earning at least a comfortable living. Some are even multi-millionaires. It requires effort, and likely requires self-learning of new skills, but it can be done. As for a salaried job earning over $100K/year without a college degree, they are rare but do exist — especially if you have an entrepreneurial bent.
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