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
Criminal justice Ranked #3 of 379 for value Criminal Justice and Corrections · 61 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $63,311
Ranked-college median: $55,481 Median debt $12,083
Ranked-college median: $21,500 Value score 84.8 of 100 · #1 of 2 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 87th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 76th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 99th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 74th percentile
Average net price $11,900 (median $16,222) · graduation rate 60.5% · debt is 19% of earnings
Best colleges for criminal justice
Marketing Ranked #12 of 354 for value Marketing · 43 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $88,114
Ranked-college median: $67,486 Median debt $12,948
Ranked-college median: $19,523 Value score 84.4 of 100 · #3 of 7 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 92th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 84th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 99th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 47th percentile
Average net price $11,900 (median $17,699) · graduation rate 60.5% · debt is 15% of earnings
Best colleges for marketing
Finance Ranked #13 of 330 for value Finance and Financial Management Services · 42 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $97,452
Ranked-college median: $77,916 Median debt $11,455
Ranked-college median: $19,500 Value score 80.7 of 100 · #2 of 6 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 83th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 84th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 99th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 46th percentile
Average net price $11,900 (median $17,502) · graduation rate 60.5% · debt is 12% of earnings
Best colleges for finance
Electrical engineering Ranked #13 of 184 for value Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · 25 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $116,010
Ranked-college median: $99,787 Median debt $13,070
Ranked-college median: $20,732 Value score 79.7 of 100 · #2 of 4 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 90th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 77th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 96th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 34th percentile
Average net price $11,900 (median $16,125) · graduation rate 60.5% · debt is 11% of earnings
Best colleges for electrical engineering
Engineering Ranked #14 of 327 for value Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · 25 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $116,010
Ranked-college median: $91,742 Median debt $13,070
Ranked-college median: $21,000 Value score 83.1 of 100 · #1 of 6 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 94th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 83th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 97th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 36th percentile
Average net price $11,900 (median $17,499) · graduation rate 60.5% · debt is 11% of earnings
Best colleges for engineering
Accounting Ranked #20 of 408 for value Accounting and Related Services · 73 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $88,393
Ranked-college median: $76,108 Median debt $14,798
Ranked-college median: $20,500 Value score 77.3 of 100 · #2 of 9 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 77th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 83th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 92th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 50th percentile
Average net price $11,900 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 60.5% · debt is 17% of earnings
Ranked just above: Purdue University (#19) Ranked just below: University of South Florida (#21) Best colleges for accounting
Communications Ranked #20 of 388 for value Communication and Media Studies · 51 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $64,153
Ranked-college median: $56,130 Median debt $12,516
Ranked-college median: $19,593 Value score 79.5 of 100 · #2 of 10 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 81th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 81th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 97th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 49th percentile
Average net price $11,900 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 60.5% · debt is 20% of earnings
Best colleges for communications
Mechanical engineering Ranked #21 of 276 for value Mechanical Engineering · 24 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $102,078
Ranked-college median: $91,366 Median debt $13,447
Ranked-college median: $20,713 Value score 80.8 of 100 · #2 of 6 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 90th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 84th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 94th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 33th percentile
Average net price $11,900 (median $17,379) · graduation rate 60.5% · debt is 13% of earnings
Best colleges for mechanical engineering
Nursing Ranked #28 of 686 for value Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 115 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $98,632
Ranked-college median: $85,171 Median debt $12,500
Ranked-college median: $20,938 Value score 82.4 of 100 · #3 of 13 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 85th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 80th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 95th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 64th percentile
Average net price $11,900 (median $18,014) · graduation rate 60.5% · debt is 13% of earnings
Best colleges for nursing
Business Ranked #31 of 986 for value Business Administration, Management and Operations · 93 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $78,771
Ranked-college median: $64,860 Median debt $14,500
Ranked-college median: $21,375 Value score 83.1 of 100 · #2 of 22 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 85th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 83th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 95th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 63th percentile
Average net price $11,900 (median $19,132) · graduation rate 60.5% · debt is 18% of earnings
Best colleges for business
Computer science Ranked #50 of 466 for value Computer and Information Sciences, General · 271 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $114,798
Ranked-college median: $97,375 Median debt $12,601
Ranked-college median: $19,500 Value score 74.5 of 100 · #3 of 11 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 74th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 79th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 91th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 46th percentile
Average net price $11,900 (median $16,804) · graduation rate 60.5% · debt is 11% of earnings
Ranked just above: Colgate University (#49) Ranked just below: Grinnell College (#51) Best colleges for computer science
Psychology Ranked #73 of 814 for value Psychology, General · 157 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $54,016
Ranked-college median: $51,007 Median debt $15,000
Ranked-college median: $21,000 Value score 73.6 of 100 · #4 of 16 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 67th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 84th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 89th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 54th percentile
Average net price $11,900 (median $18,874) · graduation rate 60.5% · debt is 28% of earnings
Ranked just above: George Washington University (#72) Ranked just below: Brandeis University (#74) Best colleges for psychology
Biology Ranked #110 of 680 for value Biology, General · 102 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $59,443
Ranked-college median: $58,001 Median debt $15,000
Ranked-college median: $20,717 Value score 68.7 of 100 · #3 of 11 in Washington
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 58th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 83th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 87th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 49th percentile
Average net price $11,900 (median $18,049) · graduation rate 60.5% · debt is 25% of earnings
Best colleges for biology 
