# 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. U.S. College Scorecard data year 2025.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/data/best-value-college-by-state
- Data (CSV): https://www.collegesref.com/data/best-value-college-by-state.csv
- Source reporting year: 2025
- Snapshot updated: November 15, 2026

## Key findings

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. The lowest-ratio winner is in Vermont, where University of Vermont UVM leads at 3.37 times.
4. Public colleges top 25 of the 41 states reported; private nonprofit colleges top the other 16.

## State by state

The winner is the qualifying college with the highest ratio; the state median is the median across its qualifying colleges.

| State | Best-value college | Winner's ratio | Avg. net price | Median earnings | State median | Colleges |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| California | California State University-Los Angeles | 26.23× | $2,385 | $62,555 | 4.53× | 56 |
| New Jersey | Princeton University | 17.09× | $7,815 | $133,523 | 3.23× | 19 |
| Florida | University of Florida | 13.14× | $5,969 | $78,456 | 2.32× | 25 |
| Texas | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 10.90× | $4,858 | $52,947 | 3.43× | 30 |
| Connecticut | Yale University | 10.44× | $11,340 | $118,356 | 2.29× | 13 |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT | 10.30× | $14,815 | $152,553 | 2.71× | 41 |
| Georgia | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech | 9.50× | $12,028 | $114,210 | 2.98× | 15 |
| Illinois | University of Illinois at Springfield | 8.57× | $7,528 | $64,479 | 3.43× | 27 |
| Idaho | Brigham Young University-Idaho | 8.57× | $6,560 | $56,190 | 3.75× | 5 |
| Michigan | University of Michigan-Dearborn | 8.51× | $7,863 | $66,897 | 3.48× | 27 |
| Kentucky | Berea College | 8.24× | $5,836 | $48,071 | 4.01× | 9 |
| Oregon | Portland State University | 7.49× | $8,337 | $62,447 | 2.69× | 10 |
| North Carolina | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus | 7.17× | $11,305 | $81,094 | 3.65× | 18 |
| New York | Columbia University in the City of New York | 7.12× | $15,370 | $109,430 | 3.06× | 71 |
| Washington | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | 6.98× | $11,900 | $83,105 | 2.80× | 15 |
| West Virginia | Shepherd University | 6.91× | $7,940 | $54,833 | 5.51× | 5 |
| Missouri | Washington University in St Louis WUSTL | 6.85× | $13,360 | $91,497 | 3.23× | 19 |
| Tennessee | Vanderbilt University | 6.39× | $15,497 | $99,080 | 2.86× | 18 |
| Maryland | University of Maryland-College Park Main Campus | 6.24× | $14,296 | $89,228 | 3.19× | 11 |
| Maine | Bowdoin College | 5.78× | $15,595 | $90,153 | 3.51× | 6 |
| Pennsylvania | Holy Family University-Pennsylvania | 5.51× | $12,882 | $70,924 | 2.68× | 66 |
| Virginia | Virginia Military Institute | 5.47× | $15,585 | $85,178 | 2.74× | 22 |
| Kansas | Wichita State University | 5.43× | $10,307 | $56,003 | 3.38× | 9 |
| Indiana | Purdue University-Main Campus | 5.39× | $14,851 | $80,082 | 3.05× | 20 |
| Ohio | Youngstown State University | 5.10× | $9,161 | $46,691 | 2.63× | 32 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Tech University | 4.86× | $11,959 | $58,121 | 3.34× | 9 |
| Oklahoma | University of Tulsa | 4.85× | $13,511 | $65,590 | 3.14× | 7 |
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus | 4.84× | $16,600 | $80,330 | 3.43× | 17 |
| Iowa | Grinnell College | 4.74× | $15,203 | $72,106 | 2.71× | 16 |
| Nebraska | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 4.63× | $12,898 | $59,749 | 3.08× | 7 |
| Mississippi | Mississippi University for Women | 4.60× | $11,452 | $52,685 | 2.89× | 7 |
| District of Columbia | Trinity Washington University | 4.49× | $12,820 | $57,561 | 2.60× | 6 |
| Colorado | Regis University-Colorado | 4.41× | $18,133 | $79,971 | 3.01× | 7 |
| Minnesota | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Main Campus | 4.29× | $17,330 | $74,314 | 2.98× | 23 |
| New Hampshire | Dartmouth College | 4.16× | $26,707 | $111,162 | 2.93× | 6 |
| Alabama | University of Alabama at Birmingham | 3.82× | $15,630 | $59,631 | 2.88× | 11 |
| South Dakota | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | 3.77× | $20,827 | $78,487 | 2.98× | 6 |
| South Carolina | Citadel Military College of South Carolina | 3.75× | $22,019 | $82,609 | 3.22× | 12 |
| Rhode Island | Brown University | 3.71× | $26,976 | $99,974 | 2.03× | 8 |
| Arkansas | University of Arkansas Main Campus | 3.62× | $17,571 | $63,588 | 2.72× | 8 |
| Vermont | University of Vermont UVM | 3.37× | $20,277 | $68,368 | 2.65× | 5 |
| **All reported colleges** |  | — | — | — | 3.03× | 767 |

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).

## Every state's winner

| College | State and type | Avg. net price | Median earnings | Grad. rate | Ratio |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [California State University-Los Angeles](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-los-angeles-372) | California · Public | $2,385 | $62,555 | 55% | 26.23× |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | New Jersey · Private nonprofit | $7,815 | $133,523 | 97% | 17.09× |
| [University of Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-florida-2910) | Florida · Public | $5,969 | $78,456 | 92% | 13.14× |
| [The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley-2774) | Texas · Public | $4,858 | $52,947 | 55% | 10.90× |
| [Yale University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/yale-university-3312) | Connecticut · Private nonprofit | $11,340 | $118,356 | 96% | 10.44× |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | $14,815 | $152,553 | 96% | 10.30× |
| [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus-ga-tech-1072) | Georgia · Public | $12,028 | $114,210 | 94% | 9.50× |
| [University of Illinois at Springfield](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-illinois-at-springfield-2926) | Illinois · Public | $7,528 | $64,479 | 53% | 8.57× |
| [Brigham Young University-Idaho](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brigham-young-university-idaho-304) | Idaho · Private nonprofit | $6,560 | $56,190 | 52% | 8.57× |
| [University of Michigan-Dearborn](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-dearborn-2957) | Michigan · Public | $7,863 | $66,897 | 61% | 8.51× |
| [Berea College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/berea-college-221) | Kentucky · Private nonprofit | $5,836 | $48,071 | 66% | 8.24× |
| [Portland State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/portland-state-university-2143) | Oregon · Public | $8,337 | $62,447 | 53% | 7.49× |
| [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-main-campus-2990) | North Carolina · Public | $11,305 | $81,094 | 91% | 7.17× |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | New York · Private nonprofit | $15,370 | $109,430 | 95% | 7.12× |
| [University of Washington-Tacoma Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-tacoma-campus-3076) | Washington · Public | $11,900 | $83,105 | 60% | 6.98× |
| [Shepherd University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/shepherd-university-2410) | West Virginia · Public | $7,940 | $54,833 | 50% | 6.91× |
| [Washington University in St Louis WUSTL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-university-in-st-louis-wustl-3172) | Missouri · Private nonprofit | $13,360 | $91,497 | 93% | 6.85× |
| [Vanderbilt University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/vanderbilt-university-3113) | Tennessee · Private nonprofit | $15,497 | $99,080 | 93% | 6.39× |
| [University of Maryland-College Park Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-maryland-college-park-main-campus-2949) | Maryland · Public | $14,296 | $89,228 | 88% | 6.24× |
| [Bowdoin College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bowdoin-college-287) | Maine · Private nonprofit | $15,595 | $90,153 | 93% | 5.78× |
| [Holy Family University-Pennsylvania](https://www.collegesref.com/college/holy-family-university-pennsylvania-1219) | Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit | $12,882 | $70,924 | 67% | 5.51× |
| [Virginia Military Institute](https://www.collegesref.com/college/virginia-military-institute-3132) | Virginia · Public | $15,585 | $85,178 | 72% | 5.47× |
| [Wichita State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wichita-state-university-3262) | Kansas · Public | $10,307 | $56,003 | 52% | 5.43× |
| [Purdue University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/purdue-university-main-campus-2163) | Indiana · Public | $14,851 | $80,082 | 84% | 5.39× |
| [Youngstown State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/youngstown-state-university-3362) | Ohio · Public | $9,161 | $46,691 | 53% | 5.10× |
| [Louisiana Tech University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/louisiana-tech-university-1547) | Louisiana · Public | $11,959 | $58,121 | 61% | 4.86× |
| [University of Tulsa](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-tulsa-3068) | Oklahoma · Private nonprofit | $13,511 | $65,590 | 69% | 4.85× |
| [University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-wisconsin-madison-main-campus-3084) | Wisconsin · Public | $16,600 | $80,330 | 90% | 4.84× |
| [Grinnell College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/grinnell-college-1125) | Iowa · Private nonprofit | $15,203 | $72,106 | 86% | 4.74× |
| [University of Nebraska at Omaha](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-nebraska-at-omaha-2973) | Nebraska · Public | $12,898 | $59,749 | 51% | 4.63× |
| [Mississippi University for Women](https://www.collegesref.com/college/mississippi-university-for-women-1733) | Mississippi · Public | $11,452 | $52,685 | 53% | 4.60× |
| [Trinity Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/trinity-washington-university-2819) | District of Columbia · Private nonprofit | $12,820 | $57,561 | 55% | 4.49× |
| [Regis University-Colorado](https://www.collegesref.com/college/regis-university-colorado-2206) | Colorado · Private nonprofit | $18,133 | $79,971 | 55% | 4.41× |
| [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities-main-campus-2963) | Minnesota · Public | $17,330 | $74,314 | 85% | 4.29× |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | New Hampshire · Private nonprofit | $26,707 | $111,162 | 95% | 4.16× |
| [University of Alabama at Birmingham](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-alabama-at-birmingham-2861) | Alabama · Public | $15,630 | $59,631 | 66% | 3.82× |
| [South Dakota School of Mines and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/south-dakota-school-of-mines-and-technology-2444) | South Dakota · Public | $20,827 | $78,487 | 52% | 3.77× |
| [Citadel Military College of South Carolina](https://www.collegesref.com/college/citadel-military-college-of-south-carolina-539) | South Carolina · Public | $22,019 | $82,609 | 79% | 3.75× |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Rhode Island · Private nonprofit | $26,976 | $99,974 | 96% | 3.71× |
| [University of Arkansas Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-arkansas-main-campus-2868) | Arkansas · Public | $17,571 | $63,588 | 71% | 3.62× |
| [University of Vermont UVM](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-vermont-uvm-3071) | Vermont · Public | $20,277 | $68,368 | 81% | 3.37× |

## Highest ratios nationwide

| College | State and type | Avg. net price | Median earnings | Grad. rate | Ratio |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [California State University-Los Angeles](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-los-angeles-372) | California · Public | $2,385 | $62,555 | 55% | 26.23× |
| [California State University-Stanislaus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-stanislaus-378) | California · Public | $3,565 | $65,560 | 52% | 18.39× |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | New Jersey · Private nonprofit | $7,815 | $133,523 | 97% | 17.09× |
| [California State University-San Bernardino](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-san-bernardino-376) | California · Public | $3,946 | $61,951 | 53% | 15.70× |
| [California State University-Fullerton](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-fullerton-370) | California · Public | $5,115 | $69,015 | 68% | 13.49× |
| [University of Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-florida-2910) | Florida · Public | $5,969 | $78,456 | 92% | 13.14× |
| [California State University-Fresno](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-fresno-369) | California · Public | $5,418 | $62,756 | 58% | 11.58× |
| [The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley-2774) | Texas · Public | $4,858 | $52,947 | 55% | 10.90× |
| [Yale University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/yale-university-3312) | Connecticut · Private nonprofit | $11,340 | $118,356 | 96% | 10.44× |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | $14,815 | $152,553 | 96% | 10.30× |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | California · Private nonprofit | $12,307 | $125,340 | 92% | 10.18× |
| [California State University-Northridge CSUN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-northridge-csun-374) | California · Public | $6,346 | $63,721 | 57% | 10.04× |
| [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus-ga-tech-1072) | Georgia · Public | $12,028 | $114,210 | 94% | 9.50× |
| [Brigham Young University-Idaho](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brigham-young-university-idaho-304) | Idaho · Private nonprofit | $6,560 | $56,190 | 52% | 8.57× |
| [University of Illinois at Springfield](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-illinois-at-springfield-2926) | Illinois · Public | $7,528 | $64,479 | 53% | 8.57× |
| [University of Michigan-Dearborn](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-dearborn-2957) | Michigan · Public | $7,863 | $66,897 | 61% | 8.51× |
| [Berea College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/berea-college-221) | Kentucky · Private nonprofit | $5,836 | $48,071 | 66% | 8.24× |
| [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona-362) | California · Public | $9,404 | $77,464 | 68% | 8.24× |
| [Rice University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rice-university-2227) | Texas · Private nonprofit | $11,164 | $90,773 | 95% | 8.13× |
| [The University of Texas at El Paso](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-el-paso-2766) | Texas · Public | $6,803 | $54,599 | 51% | 8.03× |

## 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.
- **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.

## Frequently asked questions

### 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.

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- IPEDS (National Center for Education Statistics): https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/
- The federal source data is a U.S. government work in the public domain (https://www.usa.gov/government-copyright).
- CollegesRef methodology: https://www.collegesref.com/methodology

## How to cite

CollegesRef, "The best-value college in every state," analysis of U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data (data year 2025), updated November 15, 2026. https://www.collegesref.com/data/best-value-college-by-state

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Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/data/best-value-college-by-state.