College identity · Lifestyle Identity

    Hidden Gems Under $30K

    Strong value schools that are not household names.

    Smart picks when net price and outcomes matter more than brand.

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    This identity in numbers

    2,682

    colleges assigned

    Median average net price
    $14,296
    2,567 colleges reported
    Median admit rate
    78.6%
    1,351 colleges reported
    Median graduation rate
    44%
    2,666 colleges reported

    Medians across every college with this identity. Rates on a 0–100% scale. Source: U.S. College Scorecard.

    About this identity

    What “Hidden Gems Under $30K” means

    CollegesRef editorial

    Strong value schools that are not household names. Smart picks when net price and outcomes matter more than brand.

    How colleges get this identity

    • In-state tuition at or below $30,000 — In-state tuition and fees at most $30,000
    • Low average net price after grants — Average net price: more credit the closer to $10,000, none at $28,000
    • Six-year graduation rate — Graduation rate: more credit the closer to 85%, none at 45%
    • Median earnings of former students — Median earnings: more credit the closer to $70,000, none at $35,000
    • Student body of 15,000 or fewer — Students at most 15,000

    Each matching rule adds to a college's score for this identity, using verified federal data. Colleges that score with enough confidence are listed, editors can add or remove colleges, and the list is ordered by editorial picks, score and confidence, never by partner status.

    Read the methodology

    Signals behind this list

    Affordable tuition
    30 of 30
    Net price scale
    30 of 30
    Graduation scale
    30 of 30
    Not mega campus
    30 of 30
    Earnings scale
    20 of 30
    How many of the 30 colleges shown match each signal the rules check. Bars run from 0 to all 30.

    2,682 colleges

    Colleges with the Hidden Gems Under $30K identity

    Ordered by editorial representation, category score and confidence. Never by partner status.

    Bars: admit and graduation rates on a 0–100% scale; net price relative to $20,907, the highest among the 30 colleges shown.

    Showing the first 30 of 2,682. The quiz ranks the colleges in this identity that fit you best.

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    Each one is built from the same verified data and rules.