Each ranking compares bachelor's programs in one field. A college's value score is the weighted average of four percentiles among the ranked colleges: graduate earnings, average net price, debt compared with earnings, and graduation rate. Percentiles here are 100 for the best figure in the field. How the rankings work
Education Ranked #8 of 521 for value Education, General · 53 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $65,217
Ranked-college median: $48,822 Median debt $10,372
Ranked-college median: $21,500 Value score 87.8 of 100 · #2 of 11 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 98th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 71th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 100th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 73th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $17,201) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 16% of earnings
Best colleges for education
Marketing Ranked #11 of 354 for value Marketing · 62 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $88,114
Ranked-college median: $67,486 Median debt $12,948
Ranked-college median: $19,523 Value score 84.9 of 100 · #2 of 7 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 92th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 75th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 99th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 65th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $17,699) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 15% of earnings
Best colleges for marketing
Computer engineering Ranked #12 of 126 for value Computer Engineering · 25 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $169,570
Ranked-college median: $109,085 Median debt $13,570
Ranked-college median: $20,500 Value score 81 of 100 · #2 of 3 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 97th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 67th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 97th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 39th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $16,270) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 8% of earnings
Ranked just above: University of California-Irvine (#11) Ranked just below: Duke University (#13) Best colleges for computer engineering
Electrical engineering Ranked #15 of 184 for value Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · 59 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $116,010
Ranked-college median: $99,787 Median debt $13,070
Ranked-college median: $20,732 Value score 79.4 of 100 · #3 of 4 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 90th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 66th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 96th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 50th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $16,125) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 11% of earnings
Best colleges for electrical engineering
Engineering Ranked #19 of 327 for value Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · 59 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $116,010
Ranked-college median: $91,742 Median debt $13,070
Ranked-college median: $21,000 Value score 82.6 of 100 · #3 of 6 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 94th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 71th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 97th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 52th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $17,499) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 11% of earnings
Best colleges for engineering
Mathematics Ranked #19 of 208 for value Mathematics · 28 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $100,127
Ranked-college median: $71,273 Median debt $12,627
Ranked-college median: $18,563 Value score 79.3 of 100 · #2 of 5 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 90th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 73th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 94th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 43th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $17,049) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 13% of earnings
Best colleges for mathematics
Computer science Ranked #22 of 466 for value Computer Science · 242 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $175,616
Ranked-college median: $97,375 Median debt $12,051
Ranked-college median: $19,500 Value score 83.3 of 100 · #1 of 11 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 95th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 69th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 97th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 59th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $16,804) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 7% of earnings
Ranked just above: Emory University (#21) Ranked just below: Johns Hopkins University (#23) Best colleges for computer science
Communications Ranked #22 of 388 for value Communication and Media Studies · 83 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $64,153
Ranked-college median: $56,130 Median debt $12,516
Ranked-college median: $19,593 Value score 79.3 of 100 · #3 of 10 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 81th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 72th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 97th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 63th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 20% of earnings
Ranked just above: University of Nevada-Reno (#21) Ranked just below: CUNY Queens College (#23) Best colleges for communications
Accounting Ranked #23 of 408 for value Accounting and Related Services · 64 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $88,393
Ranked-college median: $76,108 Median debt $14,798
Ranked-college median: $20,500 Value score 77 of 100 · #3 of 9 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 77th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 72th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 92th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 67th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 17% of earnings
Ranked just above: Georgetown University-DC (#22) Ranked just below: Utah State University (#24) Best colleges for accounting
Mechanical engineering Ranked #23 of 276 for value Mechanical Engineering · 55 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $102,078
Ranked-college median: $91,366 Median debt $13,447
Ranked-college median: $20,713 Value score 80.3 of 100 · #3 of 6 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 90th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 72th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 94th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 50th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $17,379) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 13% of earnings
Best colleges for mechanical engineering
Nursing Ranked #27 of 686 for value Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 113 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $98,632
Ranked-college median: $85,171 Median debt $12,500
Ranked-college median: $20,938 Value score 82.7 of 100 · #2 of 13 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 85th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 72th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 95th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 79th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $18,014) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 13% of earnings
Best colleges for nursing
Business Ranked #33 of 986 for value Business Administration, Management and Operations · 209 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $78,771
Ranked-college median: $64,860 Median debt $14,500
Ranked-college median: $21,375 Value score 82.9 of 100 · #3 of 22 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 85th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 74th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 95th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 77th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $19,132) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 18% of earnings
Ranked just above: George Mason University (#32) Ranked just below: Washington State University (#34) Best colleges for business
Political science Ranked #37 of 388 for value Political Science and Government · 45 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $72,487
Ranked-college median: $63,181 Median debt $13,000
Ranked-college median: $19,500 Value score 75.6 of 100 · #2 of 8 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 79th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 76th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 92th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 46th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $18,238) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 18% of earnings
Ranked just above: Purdue University (#36) Ranked just below: The University of Texas at Austin (#38) Best colleges for political science
Psychology Ranked #71 of 814 for value Psychology, General · 58 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $54,016
Ranked-college median: $51,007 Median debt $15,000
Ranked-college median: $21,000 Value score 73.8 of 100 · #3 of 16 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 67th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 76th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 89th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 69th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $18,874) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 28% of earnings
Best colleges for psychology
Biology Ranked #106 of 680 for value Biology, General · 98 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $59,443
Ranked-college median: $58,001 Median debt $15,000
Ranked-college median: $20,717 Value score 69 of 100 · #2 of 11 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 58th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 74th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 87th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 65th percentile
Average net price $13,802 (median $18,049) · graduation rate 68.1% · debt is 25% of earnings
Best colleges for biology 
