Data story · 7 of 9
The best-value college in every state
In each state, the four-year college whose former students earn the most for every dollar of average net price, counting only colleges where at least half of students finish.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard and IPEDS, reporting year 2025 · 767 colleges · Updated November 15, 2026
Median ratio
3.03×
A year of former students' median earnings divided by a year of average net price, at the median qualifying college.
College Scorecard, data year 2025
Key findings
- States with a winner
- 41
- Each needs at least 5 qualifying colleges.
- Won by public colleges
- 25
- Of 41 state winners.
- Colleges compared
- 767
- Graduation rate of 50% or more and a net price of at least $2,000 a year.
Across 767 four-year colleges that graduate at least 50% of students, former students' median earnings ten years after enrolling are 3.03 times the average yearly net price at the median college ($65,780 against $22,146).
The highest-value state winner is California State University-Los Angeles (California): $62,555 in median earnings against a $2,385 average net price, 26.23 times.
The lowest-ratio winner is in Vermont, where University of Vermont UVM leads at 3.37 times.
Public colleges top 25 of the 41 states reported; private nonprofit colleges top the other 16.
Strongest and weakest state winners
Strongest
- California
- 26.23×
- New Jersey
- 17.09×
- Florida
- 13.14×
- Texas
- 10.90×
- Connecticut
- 10.44×
Weakest
- Vermont
- 3.37×
- Arkansas
- 3.62×
- Rhode Island
- 3.71×
- South Carolina
- 3.75×
- South Dakota
- 3.77×
Every state
Darker states have higher figures; select a state to open its colleges. The table below ranks every state.
The best-value college in every state, 2026–27
Best-value college: median earnings per dollar of average net price
- 3.4×–4.0×
- 4.0×–5.0×
- 5.0×–6.5×
- 6.5×–8.5×
- 8.5×–26.2×
- Not reported
Source: CollegesRef analysis of U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data. Hover or tab to a state for details; select it to open its colleges.
State by state
Select a column heading to sort. The winner is the qualifying college with the highest ratio; the state median is the median across its qualifying colleges.
| California27 public · 29 private | California State University-Los Angeles | 26.23× | $2,385 | $62,555 | 4.53× | 56 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey9 public · 10 private | Princeton University | 17.09× | $7,815 | $133,523 | 3.23× | 19 |
| Florida10 public · 15 private | University of Florida | 13.14× | $5,969 | $78,456 | 2.32× | 25 |
| Texas14 public · 16 private | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 10.90× | $4,858 | $52,947 | 3.43× | 30 |
| Connecticut3 public · 10 private | Yale University | 10.44× | $11,340 | $118,356 | 2.29× | 13 |
| Massachusetts7 public · 34 private | Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT | 10.30× | $14,815 | $152,553 | 2.71× | 41 |
| Georgia6 public · 9 private | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech | 9.50× | $12,028 | $114,210 | 2.98× | 15 |
| Illinois6 public · 21 private | University of Illinois at Springfield | 8.57× | $7,528 | $64,479 | 3.43× | 27 |
| Idaho2 public · 3 private | Brigham Young University-Idaho | 8.57× | $6,560 | $56,190 | 3.75× | 5 |
| Michigan11 public · 16 private | University of Michigan-Dearborn | 8.51× | $7,863 | $66,897 | 3.48× | 27 |
| Kentucky5 public · 4 private | Berea College | 8.24× | $5,836 | $48,071 | 4.01× | 9 |
| Oregon3 public · 7 private | Portland State University | 7.49× | $8,337 | $62,447 | 2.69× | 10 |
| North Carolina10 public · 8 private | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus | 7.17× | $11,305 | $81,094 | 3.65× | 18 |
| New York19 public · 52 private | Columbia University in the City of New York | 7.12× | $15,370 | $109,430 | 3.06× | 71 |
| Washington6 public · 9 private | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | 6.98× | $11,900 | $83,105 | 2.80× | 15 |
| West Virginia5 public · 0 private | Shepherd University | 6.91× | $7,940 | $54,833 | 5.51× | 5 |
| Missouri9 public · 10 private | Washington University in St Louis WUSTL | 6.85× | $13,360 | $91,497 | 3.23× | 19 |
| Tennessee7 public · 11 private | Vanderbilt University | 6.39× | $15,497 | $99,080 | 2.86× | 18 |
| Maryland5 public · 6 private | University of Maryland-College Park Main Campus | 6.24× | $14,296 | $89,228 | 3.19× | 11 |
| Maine1 public · 5 private | Bowdoin College | 5.78× | $15,595 | $90,153 | 3.51× | 6 |
| Pennsylvania9 public · 57 private | Holy Family University-Pennsylvania | 5.51× | $12,882 | $70,924 | 2.68× | 66 |
| Virginia10 public · 12 private | Virginia Military Institute | 5.47× | $15,585 | $85,178 | 2.74× | 22 |
| Kansas6 public · 3 private | Wichita State University | 5.43× | $10,307 | $56,003 | 3.38× | 9 |
| Indiana4 public · 16 private | Purdue University-Main Campus | 5.39× | $14,851 | $80,082 | 3.05× | 20 |
| Ohio10 public · 22 private | Youngstown State University | 5.10× | $9,161 | $46,691 | 2.63× | 32 |
| Louisiana5 public · 4 private | Louisiana Tech University | 4.86× | $11,959 | $58,121 | 3.34× | 9 |
| Oklahoma2 public · 5 private | University of Tulsa | 4.85× | $13,511 | $65,590 | 3.14× | 7 |
| Wisconsin8 public · 9 private | University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus | 4.84× | $16,600 | $80,330 | 3.43× | 17 |
| Iowa2 public · 14 private | Grinnell College | 4.74× | $15,203 | $72,106 | 2.71× | 16 |
| Nebraska4 public · 3 private | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 4.63× | $12,898 | $59,749 | 3.08× | 7 |
| Mississippi4 public · 3 private | Mississippi University for Women | 4.60× | $11,452 | $52,685 | 2.89× | 7 |
| District of Columbia0 public · 6 private | Trinity Washington University | 4.49× | $12,820 | $57,561 | 2.60× | 6 |
| Colorado3 public · 4 private | Regis University-Colorado | 4.41× | $18,133 | $79,971 | 3.01× | 7 |
| Minnesota6 public · 17 private | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Main Campus | 4.29× | $17,330 | $74,314 | 2.98× | 23 |
| New Hampshire3 public · 3 private | Dartmouth College | 4.16× | $26,707 | $111,162 | 2.93× | 6 |
| Alabama8 public · 3 private | University of Alabama at Birmingham | 3.82× | $15,630 | $59,631 | 2.88× | 11 |
| South Dakota4 public · 2 private | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | 3.77× | $20,827 | $78,487 | 2.98× | 6 |
| South Carolina7 public · 5 private | Citadel Military College of South Carolina | 3.75× | $22,019 | $82,609 | 3.22× | 12 |
| Rhode Island1 public · 7 private | Brown University | 3.71× | $26,976 | $99,974 | 2.03× | 8 |
| Arkansas4 public · 4 private | University of Arkansas Main Campus | 3.62× | $17,571 | $63,588 | 2.72× | 8 |
| Vermont1 public · 4 private | University of Vermont UVM | 3.37× | $20,277 | $68,368 | 2.65× | 5 |
| All reported colleges | — | — | — | 3.03× | 767 |
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Too few colleges to report (fewer than 5): Arizona (4), Delaware (1), Hawaii (2), Montana (3), North Dakota (4), New Mexico (2), Nevada (2), Utah (4), Wyoming (1).
College by college
Every state's winner
One college per reported state, highest ratio first.
| California State University-Los AngelesCalifornia · Public | $2,385 | $62,555 | 55% | 26.23× |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton UniversityNew Jersey · Private nonprofit | $7,815 | $133,523 | 97% | 17.09× |
| University of FloridaFlorida · Public | $5,969 | $78,456 | 92% | 13.14× |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyTexas · Public | $4,858 | $52,947 | 55% | 10.90× |
| Yale UniversityConnecticut · Private nonprofit | $11,340 | $118,356 | 96% | 10.44× |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology MITMassachusetts · Private nonprofit | $14,815 | $152,553 | 96% | 10.30× |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA TechGeorgia · Public | $12,028 | $114,210 | 94% | 9.50× |
| University of Illinois at SpringfieldIllinois · Public | $7,528 | $64,479 | 53% | 8.57× |
| Brigham Young University-IdahoIdaho · Private nonprofit | $6,560 | $56,190 | 52% | 8.57× |
| University of Michigan-DearbornMichigan · Public | $7,863 | $66,897 | 61% | 8.51× |
| Berea CollegeKentucky · Private nonprofit | $5,836 | $48,071 | 66% | 8.24× |
| Portland State UniversityOregon · Public | $8,337 | $62,447 | 53% | 7.49× |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main CampusNorth Carolina · Public | $11,305 | $81,094 | 91% | 7.17× |
| Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York · Private nonprofit | $15,370 | $109,430 | 95% | 7.12× |
| University of Washington-Tacoma CampusWashington · Public | $11,900 | $83,105 | 60% | 6.98× |
| Shepherd UniversityWest Virginia · Public | $7,940 | $54,833 | 50% | 6.91× |
| Washington University in St Louis WUSTLMissouri · Private nonprofit | $13,360 | $91,497 | 93% | 6.85× |
| Vanderbilt UniversityTennessee · Private nonprofit | $15,497 | $99,080 | 93% | 6.39× |
| University of Maryland-College Park Main CampusMaryland · Public | $14,296 | $89,228 | 88% | 6.24× |
| Bowdoin CollegeMaine · Private nonprofit | $15,595 | $90,153 | 93% | 5.78× |
| Holy Family University-PennsylvaniaPennsylvania · Private nonprofit | $12,882 | $70,924 | 67% | 5.51× |
| Virginia Military InstituteVirginia · Public | $15,585 | $85,178 | 72% | 5.47× |
| Wichita State UniversityKansas · Public | $10,307 | $56,003 | 52% | 5.43× |
| Purdue University-Main CampusIndiana · Public | $14,851 | $80,082 | 84% | 5.39× |
| Youngstown State UniversityOhio · Public | $9,161 | $46,691 | 53% | 5.10× |
| Louisiana Tech UniversityLouisiana · Public | $11,959 | $58,121 | 61% | 4.86× |
| University of TulsaOklahoma · Private nonprofit | $13,511 | $65,590 | 69% | 4.85× |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison Main CampusWisconsin · Public | $16,600 | $80,330 | 90% | 4.84× |
| Grinnell CollegeIowa · Private nonprofit | $15,203 | $72,106 | 86% | 4.74× |
| University of Nebraska at OmahaNebraska · Public | $12,898 | $59,749 | 51% | 4.63× |
| Mississippi University for WomenMississippi · Public | $11,452 | $52,685 | 53% | 4.60× |
| Trinity Washington UniversityDistrict of Columbia · Private nonprofit | $12,820 | $57,561 | 55% | 4.49× |
| Regis University-ColoradoColorado · Private nonprofit | $18,133 | $79,971 | 55% | 4.41× |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Main CampusMinnesota · Public | $17,330 | $74,314 | 85% | 4.29× |
| Dartmouth CollegeNew Hampshire · Private nonprofit | $26,707 | $111,162 | 95% | 4.16× |
| University of Alabama at BirminghamAlabama · Public | $15,630 | $59,631 | 66% | 3.82× |
| South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologySouth Dakota · Public | $20,827 | $78,487 | 52% | 3.77× |
| Citadel Military College of South CarolinaSouth Carolina · Public | $22,019 | $82,609 | 79% | 3.75× |
| Brown UniversityRhode Island · Private nonprofit | $26,976 | $99,974 | 96% | 3.71× |
| University of Arkansas Main CampusArkansas · Public | $17,571 | $63,588 | 71% | 3.62× |
| University of Vermont UVMVermont · Public | $20,277 | $68,368 | 81% | 3.37× |
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Highest ratios nationwide
The qualifying colleges with the most earnings per dollar of net price, wherever they are.
| California State University-Los AngelesCalifornia · Public | $2,385 | $62,555 | 55% | 26.23× |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-StanislausCalifornia · Public | $3,565 | $65,560 | 52% | 18.39× |
| Princeton UniversityNew Jersey · Private nonprofit | $7,815 | $133,523 | 97% | 17.09× |
| California State University-San BernardinoCalifornia · Public | $3,946 | $61,951 | 53% | 15.70× |
| California State University-FullertonCalifornia · Public | $5,115 | $69,015 | 68% | 13.49× |
| University of FloridaFlorida · Public | $5,969 | $78,456 | 92% | 13.14× |
| California State University-FresnoCalifornia · Public | $5,418 | $62,756 | 58% | 11.58× |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyTexas · Public | $4,858 | $52,947 | 55% | 10.90× |
| Yale UniversityConnecticut · Private nonprofit | $11,340 | $118,356 | 96% | 10.44× |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology MITMassachusetts · Private nonprofit | $14,815 | $152,553 | 96% | 10.30× |
| Stanford UniversityCalifornia · Private nonprofit | $12,307 | $125,340 | 92% | 10.18× |
| California State University-Northridge CSUNCalifornia · Public | $6,346 | $63,721 | 57% | 10.04× |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA TechGeorgia · Public | $12,028 | $114,210 | 94% | 9.50× |
| Brigham Young University-IdahoIdaho · Private nonprofit | $6,560 | $56,190 | 52% | 8.57× |
| University of Illinois at SpringfieldIllinois · Public | $7,528 | $64,479 | 53% | 8.57× |
| University of Michigan-DearbornMichigan · Public | $7,863 | $66,897 | 61% | 8.51× |
| Berea CollegeKentucky · Private nonprofit | $5,836 | $48,071 | 66% | 8.24× |
| California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCalifornia · Public | $9,404 | $77,464 | 68% | 8.24× |
| Rice UniversityTexas · Private nonprofit | $11,164 | $90,773 | 95% | 8.13× |
| The University of Texas at El PasoTexas · Public | $6,803 | $54,599 | 51% | 8.03× |
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Use this for your family
These are medians. Your price and payback depend on your income, your state and the college, so run the numbers for the colleges on your list.
Methodology
- Colleges counted
- Every college published on CollegesRef that is public or private nonprofit, in a four-year Carnegie class (doctoral, master's or baccalaureate), in the 50 states or D.C., with at least 1,000 undergraduates and both figures reported in the College Scorecard.
- Quality floors
- A college must graduate at least 50% of its students (IPEDS graduation rate in the College Scorecard) and charge an average net price of at least $2,000 a year, so a near-zero price cannot produce a misleading ratio.
4 more notes: exclusions, reporting threshold, ratio, what it leaves out
- Exclusions
- For-profit colleges, two-year colleges, special-focus institutions, colleges with fewer undergraduates than the minimum, U.S. territories and colleges missing either figure are left out. Earnings figures without a federal reporting year are excluded.
- Reporting threshold
- A state is reported only when at least 5 colleges qualify; states below it are listed under the table and still count in the national figures.
- Ratio
- Former students' median earnings ten years after entry (MD_EARN_WNE_P10) divided by the college's average annual net price (NPT4: cost of attendance minus average grants for aided first-time, full-time students). Ties go to the college listed first alphabetically.
- What it leaves out
- Earnings are before tax, are not specific to a major and reflect where graduates live. A college that wins its state is the best value on these two federal figures only, not on teaching, fit or programs.
Read the CollegesRef methodology for how college data is checked, or browse all data stories.
Sources
- Data
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports these figures from the IPEDS surveys and federal student aid records; Carnegie classes from IPEDS.
- Edition
- 2026–27, data verified Nov 2026
- Source reporting year
- 2025
- Snapshot
- November 15, 2026
- Licence
- Federal data is a U.S. government work in the public domain. Please credit CollegesRef for this analysis.
- Downloads
- CSVMarkdown (for AI tools)
Frequently asked questions
Short answers about how the numbers work.
How is the best-value college chosen?
Among qualifying colleges in a state, the one with the highest ratio of former students' median earnings to its average net price wins. At the median of 767 qualifying colleges the ratio is 3.03×.
Why is a graduation-rate floor used?
A low price and good earnings mean little if most students never finish. Requiring at least half of students to graduate keeps the winners to colleges where the typical student completes a degree.
Why is my state missing?
A state needs at least 5 qualifying colleges. Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming fell below that line.
Cite and embed
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Related guides and tools
Step-by-step explanations of the figures, written from the same federal data.