Verified Federal Data · No Paid Rankings
Which Colleges Actually Pay Off?
Most rankings measure reputation. This one measures payback time. How long it takes graduates to earn back what they paid, compared to not going at all. Federal earnings data. Federal cost data. No surveys, no sponsorships.
862
Schools ranked
6.4yr
Median years to recoup
+$17k/yr
Avg earnings premium
How We Measure Value
We use a years-to-recoup framework adapted from Third Way's Price-to-Earnings Premium (PEP) model, the same methodology used in federal Gainful Employment policy:
Earnings Premium = Median Earnings (10yr) − $47,000 HS Graduate Baseline
Years to Recoup = (Net Price × 4) ÷ Earnings Premium
2 years to recoup means graduates earn back the full cost of 4 years within 2 years of their earnings advantage over someone who never went. Lower is better.
- →Median earnings at 10 years: Median annual earnings of students who enrolled, 10 years after first receiving federal aid. Working, not currently enrolled. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
- →HS graduate baseline: $47,000/yr. BLS 2024 median annual earnings for full-time workers 25+ with a high school diploma only. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- →Net price: Annual cost after all grant aid, not sticker price. Source: IPEDS.
What this doesn't measure: your major, program quality, campus fit, cost of living, or career networks. A school with a 3-year recoup time that matches what you actually care about beats a 1-year school that doesn't. Use the full search to factor in everything.
Top 50 Colleges by Years to Recoup (2026)
Sorted by years to earn back full 4-year cost. Lower = better value.
| # | School | Earnings (10yr) | Years to Recoup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $75,971 | 0.4yr | |
| 2 | $124,080 | 0.6yr | |
| 3 | $63,163 | 0.6yr | |
| 4 | $110,066 | 0.7yr | |
| 5 | $90,610 | 0.7yr | |
| 6 | $66,039 | 0.7yr | |
| 7 | $143,372 | 0.8yr | |
| 8 | $60,752 | 0.9yr | |
| 9 | $128,566 | 0.9yr | |
| 10 | $102,772 | 1yr | |
| 11 | $71,588 | 1yr | |
| 12 | $62,763 | 1yr | |
| 13 | $129,455 | 1yr | |
| 14 | $76,489 | 1.1yr | |
| 15 | $89,718 | 1.2yr | |
| 16 | $131,426 | 1.2yr | |
| 17 | $84,943 | 1.2yr | |
| 18 | $101,817 | 1.2yr | |
| 19 | $78,466 | 1.3yr | |
| 20 | $58,013 | 1.3yr | |
| 21 | $59,211 | 1.3yr | |
| 22 | $92,446 | 1.3yr | |
| 23 | $56,195 | 1.3yr | |
| 24 | $138,687 | 1.4yr | |
| 25 | $90,768 | 1.4yr | |
| 26 | $63,188 | 1.4yr | |
| 27 | $78,466 | 1.4yr | |
| 28 | $62,951 | 1.4yr | |
| 29 | $88,665 | 1.4yr | |
| 30 | $137,047 | 1.5yr | |
| 31 | $80,735 | 1.5yr | |
| 32 | $102,491 | 1.5yr | |
| 33 | $94,784 | 1.5yr | |
| 34 | $82,957 | 1.5yr | |
| 35 | $82,511 | 1.6yr | |
| 36 | $83,648 | 1.6yr | |
| 37 | $69,781 | 1.6yr | |
| 38 | $78,466 | 1.7yr | |
| 39 | $78,988 | 1.7yr | |
| 40 | $91,885 | 1.7yr | |
| 41 | $82,860 | 1.7yr | |
| 42 | $91,565 | 1.7yr | |
| 43 | $87,555 | 1.8yr | |
| 44 | $81,054 | 1.8yr | |
| 45 | $61,244 | 1.8yr | |
| 46 | $80,838 | 1.8yr | |
| 47 | $59,977 | 1.8yr | |
| 48 | $84,276 | 1.8yr | |
| 49 | $75,103 | 1.8yr | |
| 50 | $125,557 | 1.8yr |
862 schools qualified. 178 four-year schools had graduates earning below the HS baseline, excluded from rankings above. Data: IPEDS + College Scorecard. Earnings baseline: BLS 2024. Updated annually.
All 1040 Colleges in the Dataset
The ranking above shows the top 50. Every qualifying school is listed here.
Abilene Christian UniversityAdelphi UniversityAgnes Scott CollegeAlbany College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesAlbertus Magnus CollegeAlbion CollegeAlbizu University-San JuanAlbright CollegeAlcorn State UniversityAlfred UniversityAllegheny CollegeAlma CollegeAlvernia UniversityAmerican Musical and Dramatic AcademyAmerican UniversityAmherst CollegeAnderson UniversityAndrews UniversityAppalachian Bible CollegeAppalachian State UniversityAquinas CollegeArcadia UniversityArizona State University Campus ImmersionArkansas State UniversityArt Center College of DesignAsbury UniversityAshland UniversityAssociated Beth Rivkah SchoolsAssumption UniversityAuburn UniversityAugsburg UniversityAugustana CollegeAugustana UniversityAultman College of Nursing and Health SciencesAurora UniversityAustin CollegeAve Maria UniversityAvila UniversityAzusa Pacific UniversityBabson CollegeBaker UniversityBaldwin Wallace UniversityBall State UniversityBaptist University of FloridaBaptist University of the AmericasBard CollegeBard College at Simon's RockBarnard CollegeBates CollegeBaylor UniversityBe'er Yaakov Talmudic SeminaryBeacon CollegeBellarmine UniversityBellin CollegeBelmont UniversityBeloit CollegeBenedictine CollegeBenedictine UniversityBennington CollegeBentley UniversityBerea CollegeBerklee College of MusicBerry CollegeBethany Lutheran CollegeBinghamton UniversityBiola UniversityBlackburn CollegeBlackfeet Community CollegeBlue Mountain Christian UniversityBluffton UniversityBob Jones UniversityBoise State UniversityBoricua CollegeBoston CollegeBoston UniversityBowdoin CollegeBowling Green State University-Main CampusBradley UniversityBrandeis UniversityBrescia UniversityBridgewater CollegeBridgewater State UniversityBrigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University-HawaiiBrigham Young University-IdahoBrown UniversityBryan College of Health SciencesBryan College-DaytonBryant UniversityBryn Athyn College of the New ChurchBryn Mawr CollegeBucknell UniversityBuena Vista UniversityBushnell UniversityButler UniversityCabarrus College of Health SciencesCairn University-LanghorneCaldwell UniversityCalifornia Baptist UniversityCalifornia College of the ArtsCalifornia Institute of TechnologyCalifornia Institute of the ArtsCalifornia Lutheran UniversityCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCalifornia State Polytechnic University-PomonaCalifornia State University Maritime AcademyCalifornia State University-BakersfieldCalifornia State University-Channel IslandsCalifornia State University-ChicoCalifornia State University-FresnoCalifornia State University-FullertonCalifornia State University-Long BeachCalifornia State University-Los AngelesCalifornia State University-Monterey BayCalifornia State University-NorthridgeCalifornia State University-SacramentoCalifornia State University-San BernardinoCalifornia State University-San MarcosCalifornia State University-StanislausCalvary UniversityCalvin UniversityCampbell UniversityCanisius UniversityCapital UniversityCaribbean University-Vega BajaCarleton CollegeCarlow UniversityCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarroll CollegeCarroll UniversityCarson-Newman UniversityCarthage CollegeCasa Loma College-Los AngelesCase Western Reserve UniversityCBD CollegeCedar Crest CollegeCedarville UniversityCentenary College of LouisianaCentenary UniversityCentra CollegeCentral CollegeCentral Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and SciencesCentral Michigan UniversityCentral Washington UniversityCentre CollegeChadron State CollegeChaminade University of HonoluluChamplain CollegeChapman UniversityCharter Oak State CollegeChatham UniversityChristian Brothers UniversityChristopher Newport UniversityCitadel Military College of South CarolinaClaflin UniversityClaremont McKenna CollegeClark UniversityClarke UniversityClarkson UniversityClemson UniversityCleveland Institute of ArtCleveland Institute of MusicCleveland State UniversityCleveland University-Kansas CityCoe CollegeColby CollegeColby-Sawyer CollegeColgate UniversityCollege for Creative StudiesCollege of CharlestonCollege of Our Lady of the ElmsCollege of Saint BenedictCollege of Saint MaryCollege of the AtlanticCollege of the Holy CrossCollege of the OzarksColorado Christian UniversityColorado CollegeColorado School of MinesColorado State University-Fort CollinsColumbia College ChicagoColumbia University in the City of New YorkColumbus College of Art & DesignCommonwealth University of PennsylvaniaConception Seminary CollegeConcordia College at MoorheadConcordia University-IrvineConcordia University-NebraskaConcordia University-WisconsinConnecticut CollegeConverse UniversityCorban UniversityCornell CollegeCornell UniversityCornerstone UniversityCornish College of the ArtsCottey CollegeCovenant CollegeCreighton UniversityCriswell CollegeCulinary Institute of AmericaCUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeCUNY Brooklyn CollegeCUNY City CollegeCUNY Hunter CollegeCUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeCUNY Lehman CollegeCUNY Queens CollegeCurry CollegeD'Youville UniversityDaemen UniversityDakota State UniversityDallas Baptist UniversityDartmouth CollegeDavenport UniversityDavidson CollegeDean CollegeDelaware Valley UniversityDenison UniversityDePaul UniversityDePauw UniversityDeSales UniversityDewey University-CarolinaDewey University-Hato ReyDewey University-Juana DíazDewey University-ManatiDickinson CollegeDickinson State UniversityDoane UniversityDominican UniversityDominican University New YorkDordt UniversityDrake UniversityDrew UniversityDrexel UniversityDrury UniversityDuke UniversityDunwoody College of TechnologyDuquesne UniversityEarlham CollegeEast Carolina UniversityEast Tennessee State UniversityEastern Connecticut State UniversityEastern Kentucky UniversityEastern Mennonite UniversityEastern UniversityEckerd CollegeEdgewood CollegeElizabethtown CollegeElmhurst UniversityElmira CollegeElon UniversityEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottEmerson CollegeEmmanuel CollegeEmmaus Bible CollegeEmory & Henry UniversityEmory UniversityEmporia State UniversityEndicott CollegeEvangel UniversityEvangel University-College of Online LearningEverglades UniversityFairfield UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University-Florham CampusFairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan CampusFaith Baptist Bible College and Theological SeminaryFarmingdale State CollegeFashion Institute of TechnologyFitchburg State UniversityFlagler CollegeFlorida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityFlorida Atlantic UniversityFlorida CollegeFlorida Gulf Coast UniversityFlorida Institute of TechnologyFlorida International UniversityFlorida Southern CollegeFlorida State UniversityFordham UniversityFranciscan University of SteubenvilleFranklin and Marshall CollegeFranklin CollegeFranklin Pierce UniversityFranklin W Olin College of EngineeringFreed-Hardeman UniversityFresno Pacific UniversityFrostburg State UniversityFurman UniversityGannon UniversityGardner-Webb UniversityGeneva CollegeGeorge Fox UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityGeorge Washington UniversityGeorgetown UniversityGeorgia College & State UniversityGeorgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusGeorgia Southern UniversityGeorgia State UniversityGeorgian Court UniversityGettysburg CollegeGoldey-Beacom CollegeGonzaga UniversityGood Samaritan College of Nursing and Health ScienceGoodwin UniversityGordon CollegeGoshen CollegeGoucher CollegeGrace Christian UniversityGrace College and Theological SeminaryGrand Valley State UniversityGrand View UniversityGrinnell CollegeGustavus Adolphus CollegeGwynedd Mercy UniversityHallmark UniversityHamilton CollegeHamline UniversityHampden-Sydney CollegeHampshire CollegeHampton UniversityHannibal-LaGrange UniversityHanover CollegeHarding UniversityHartwick CollegeHarvard UniversityHarvey Mudd CollegeHaverford CollegeHebrew Theological CollegeHeidelberg UniversityHendrix CollegeHeritage UniversityHerzing University-KenoshaHesston CollegeHigh Point UniversityHilbert CollegeHiram CollegeHobart William Smith CollegesHobe Sound Bible CollegeHofstra UniversityHollins UniversityHoly Cross CollegeHoly Family UniversityHomestead SchoolsHood CollegeHope CollegeHoughton UniversityHoward UniversityHumphreys University-Stockton and Modesto CampusesHuntington UniversityHusson UniversityIllinois CollegeIllinois Institute of TechnologyIllinois State UniversityIllinois Wesleyan UniversityImmaculata UniversityIndiana University of Pennsylvania-Main CampusIndiana University-BloomingtonIndiana University-IndianapolisIndiana Wesleyan University-MarionInternational Baptist College and SeminaryIona UniversityIowa State UniversityIthaca CollegeJackson State UniversityJacksonville State UniversityJacksonville UniversityJames Madison UniversityJewish Theological Seminary of AmericaJohn Brown UniversityJohn Carroll UniversityJohn Paul the Great Catholic UniversityJohns Hopkins UniversityJohnson & Wales University-ProvidenceJohnson UniversityJudson UniversityJuniata CollegeKalamazoo CollegeKansas City Art InstituteKansas State UniversityKeene State CollegeKehilath Yakov Rabbinical SeminaryKeiser University-Ft LauderdaleKennesaw State UniversityKent State University at KentKentucky Mountain Bible CollegeKenyon CollegeKettering CollegeKettering UniversityKeuka CollegeKing's CollegeKnox CollegeKutztown University of PennsylvaniaKuyper CollegeLa Roche UniversityLa Salle UniversityLa Sierra UniversityLafayette CollegeLaguna College of Art and DesignLake Forest CollegeLake Superior State UniversityLancaster Bible CollegeLander UniversityLasell UniversityLawrence Technological UniversityLawrence UniversityLe Moyne CollegeLebanon Valley CollegeLee UniversityLehigh UniversityLesley UniversityLeTourneau UniversityLewis & Clark CollegeLewis UniversityLiberty UniversityLincoln Memorial UniversityLinfield UniversityLipscomb UniversityLong Island UniversityLongwood UniversityLongy School of Music of Bard CollegeLoras CollegeLouisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLouisiana Tech UniversityLoyola Marymount UniversityLoyola University ChicagoLoyola University MarylandLoyola University New OrleansLubbock Christian UniversityLuther CollegeLycoming CollegeLynn UniversityMacalester CollegeMadonna UniversityMaharishi International UniversityMaine College of Art & DesignMaine College of Health ProfessionsMaine Maritime AcademyManhattan School of MusicManhattan UniversityManhattanville UniversityMaranatha Baptist UniversityMarietta CollegeMarist UniversityMarquette UniversityMarshall UniversityMartin Luther CollegeMaryland Institute College of ArtMarymount UniversityMaryville CollegeMaryville University of Saint LouisMarywood UniversityMassachusetts College of Art and DesignMassachusetts College of Liberal ArtsMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Maritime AcademyMcDaniel CollegeMcKendree UniversityMCPHS UniversityMenlo CollegeMercer UniversityMercy College of Health SciencesMercy College of OhioMercyhurst UniversityMeredith CollegeMerrimack CollegeMessenger CollegeMessiah UniversityMiami University-OxfordMichigan State UniversityMichigan Technological UniversityMidAmerica Nazarene UniversityMiddle Tennessee State UniversityMiddlebury CollegeMillersville University of PennsylvaniaMilligan UniversityMillikin UniversityMillsaps CollegeMilwaukee Institute of Art & DesignMilwaukee School of EngineeringMinneapolis College of Art and DesignMinnesota State University MoorheadMinnesota State University-MankatoMirrer Yeshiva Cent InstituteMisericordia UniversityMississippi CollegeMississippi State UniversityMissouri State University-SpringfieldMissouri University of Science and TechnologyMolloy UniversityMonmouth CollegeMonmouth UniversityMontana State UniversityMontana Technological UniversityMontclair State UniversityMontessori Education Center of the RockiesMontreat CollegeMontserrat College of ArtMoody Bible InstituteMoore College of Art and DesignMoravian UniversityMorehead State UniversityMorehouse CollegeMorningside UniversityMount Aloysius CollegeMount Carmel College of NursingMount Holyoke CollegeMount Marty UniversityMount Mercy UniversityMount Saint Mary CollegeMount Saint Mary's UniversityMount St. Joseph UniversityMount St. Mary's UniversityMount Vernon Nazarene UniversityMuhlenberg CollegeMurray State UniversityMuskingum UniversityNazareth UniversityNebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied HealthNebraska Wesleyan UniversityNeumann UniversityNew College of FloridaNew England Institute of TechnologyNew Hope Christian College-EugeneNew Jersey Institute of TechnologyNew Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologyNew Mexico State University-Main CampusNew York College of Health ProfessionsNew York Institute of TechnologyNew York School of Interior DesignNew York UniversityNewman UniversityNiagara UniversityNicholls State UniversityNichols CollegeNorth Carolina A & T State UniversityNorth Carolina State University at RaleighNorth Central CollegeNorth Central UniversityNorth Dakota State University-Main CampusNorth Greenville UniversityNorth Park UniversityNortheastern UniversityNorthern Arizona UniversityNorthern Kentucky UniversityNorthern Michigan UniversityNorthland CollegeNorthpoint Bible CollegeNorthwest Missouri State UniversityNorthwest Nazarene UniversityNorthwest UniversityNorthwest University-Center for Online and Extended EducationNorthwestern UniversityNorthwood UniversityNorwich UniversityNotre Dame of Maryland UniversityNova Southeastern UniversityOakland City UniversityOakland UniversityOberlin CollegeOccidental CollegeOglethorpe UniversityOhio Northern UniversityOhio State University-Main CampusOhio University-Main CampusOhio Wesleyan UniversityOklahoma Baptist UniversityOklahoma Christian UniversityOklahoma City UniversityOklahoma State University-Main CampusOlivet Nazarene UniversityOral Roberts UniversityOregon Institute of TechnologyOregon State UniversityOregon State University-Cascades CampusOtis College of Art and DesignOtterbein UniversityOuachita Baptist UniversityOzark Christian CollegePace UniversityPacific Islands UniversityPacific Lutheran UniversityPacific Union CollegePacific UniversityPalm Beach Atlantic UniversityParker UniversityPaul Smiths College of Arts and SciencePennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsPennsylvania College of Art and DesignPennsylvania College of TechnologyPennsylvania State University-Main CampusPennsylvania Western UniversityPepperdine UniversityPittsburg State UniversityPitzer CollegePlymouth State UniversityPoint Loma Nazarene UniversityPoint Park UniversityPomona CollegePontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-AreciboPortland State UniversityPratt Institute-MainPresbyterian CollegePrescott CollegePrinceton UniversityProvidence CollegePuerto Rico Conservatory of MusicPurdue University GlobalPurdue University-Main CampusQueens University of CharlotteQuinnipiac UniversityRabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei ZionRamapo College of New JerseyRandolph-Macon CollegeRanken Technical CollegeReed CollegeRegent UniversityRegis CollegeRegis UniversityRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRhode Island School of DesignRhodes CollegeRice UniversityRider UniversityRingling College of Art and DesignRipon CollegeRiverside College of Health CareersRivier UniversityRoanoke CollegeRobert Morris UniversityRoberts Wesleyan UniversityRochester Institute of TechnologyRockhurst UniversityRoger Williams UniversityRollins CollegeRose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyRosemont CollegeRowan UniversityRussell Sage CollegeRutgers University-CamdenRutgers University-New BrunswickRutgers University-NewarkSacred Heart Major SeminarySacred Heart UniversitySaint Ambrose UniversitySaint Anselm CollegeSaint Edward's UniversitySaint Elizabeth UniversitySaint Francis UniversitySaint Johns UniversitySaint Joseph's College of MaineSaint Joseph's University - LancasterSaint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaSaint Louis UniversitySaint Martin's UniversitySaint Mary's CollegeSaint Mary's College of CaliforniaSaint Mary's University of MinnesotaSaint Michael's CollegeSaint Norbert CollegeSaint Peter's UniversitySaint Vincent CollegeSaint Xavier UniversitySalem CollegeSalem State UniversitySalisbury UniversitySalve Regina UniversitySam Houston State UniversitySamford UniversitySan Diego State UniversitySan Francisco State UniversitySan Jose State UniversitySanta Clara UniversitySarah Lawrence CollegeSavannah College of Art and DesignSchool of the Art Institute of ChicagoScripps CollegeSeattle Pacific UniversitySeattle UniversitySeton Hall UniversitySeton Hill UniversityShenandoah UniversityShepherd UniversityShippensburg University of PennsylvaniaSiena CollegeSimmons UniversitySimpson CollegeSkidmore CollegeSlippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSmith CollegeSoka University of AmericaSonoma State UniversitySouth Dakota School of Mines and TechnologySouth Dakota State UniversitySoutheast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health SciencesSoutheast Missouri State UniversitySoutheastern Baptist CollegeSouthern California Institute of ArchitectureSouthern California University of Health SciencesSouthern Connecticut State UniversitySouthern Illinois University EdwardsvilleSouthern Illinois University-CarbondaleSouthern Methodist UniversitySouthern Nazarene UniversitySouthern Utah UniversitySouthern Wesleyan UniversitySouthwest Baptist UniversitySouthwestern Adventist UniversitySouthwestern UniversitySpalding UniversitySpelman CollegeSpring Arbor UniversitySpring Hill CollegeSpringfield CollegeSt Bonaventure UniversitySt Catherine UniversitySt Lawrence UniversitySt Luke's CollegeSt Olaf CollegeSt. Francis CollegeSt. John Fisher UniversitySt. John's CollegeSt. John's University-New YorkSt. Joseph's University-New YorkSt. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's UniversitySt. Thomas Aquinas CollegeStanford UniversityState University of New York at CortlandState University of New York at New PaltzState University of New York at OswegoState University of New York at PlattsburghStephen F Austin State UniversityStetson UniversityStevens Institute of TechnologyStevenson UniversityStockton UniversityStonehill CollegeStony Brook UniversitySuffolk UniversitySUM Bible College and Theological SeminarySUNY at FredoniaSUNY at Purchase CollegeSUNY BrockportSUNY College at GeneseoSUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestrySUNY Maritime CollegeSUNY OneontaSUNY Polytechnic InstituteSusquehanna UniversitySwarthmore CollegeSweet Briar CollegeSyracuse UniversityTalmudical Academy-New JerseyTaylor UniversityTemple UniversityTennessee Technological UniversityTexas A&M University-College StationTexas Christian UniversityTexas Lutheran UniversityTexas State UniversityTexas Tech UniversityThe Catholic University of AmericaThe Christ College of Nursing and Health SciencesThe College of IdahoThe College of New JerseyThe College of Saint ScholasticaThe College of WoosterThe Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and ArtThe Juilliard SchoolThe Master's University and SeminaryThe New England Conservatory of MusicThe New SchoolThe University of AlabamaThe University of FindlayThe University of Montana-WesternThe University of TampaThe University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaThe University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleThe University of Tennessee-MartinThe University of Texas at ArlingtonThe University of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at DallasThe University of Texas at El PasoThe University of Texas at San AntonioThe University of Texas at TylerThe University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyThe University of the SouthThomas Aquinas CollegeThomas CollegeThomas Jefferson UniversityThomas More College of Liberal ArtsTouro UniversityTowson UniversityTransylvania UniversityTrevecca Nazarene UniversityTrine UniversityTrinity Christian CollegeTrinity CollegeTrinity UniversityTroy UniversityTruman State UniversityTufts UniversityTulane University of LouisianaTuskegee UniversityUnion Adventist UniversityUnion CollegeUnion UniversityUnited States Merchant Marine AcademyUnited Talmudical SeminaryUniversal Technology College of Puerto RicoUniversidad del Sagrado CorazonUniversity at AlbanyUniversity at BuffaloUniversity of Akron Main CampusUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamUniversity of Alabama in HuntsvilleUniversity of ArizonaUniversity of ArkansasUniversity of California-BerkeleyUniversity of California-DavisUniversity of California-IrvineUniversity of California-Los AngelesUniversity of California-MercedUniversity of California-RiversideUniversity of California-San DiegoUniversity of California-Santa BarbaraUniversity of California-Santa CruzUniversity of Central ArkansasUniversity of Central FloridaUniversity of Central MissouriUniversity of ChicagoUniversity of Cincinnati-Main CampusUniversity of Colorado BoulderUniversity of ConnecticutUniversity of DallasUniversity of DaytonUniversity of DelawareUniversity of DenverUniversity of Detroit MercyUniversity of EvansvilleUniversity of FloridaUniversity of Fort LauderdaleUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of HartfordUniversity of Hawaii at ManoaUniversity of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. LouisUniversity of HoustonUniversity of Houston-Clear LakeUniversity of IdahoUniversity of Illinois ChicagoUniversity of Illinois SpringfieldUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUniversity of IndianapolisUniversity of IowaUniversity of KansasUniversity of KentuckyUniversity of La VerneUniversity of Louisiana at LafayetteUniversity of Louisiana at MonroeUniversity of LouisvilleUniversity of LynchburgUniversity of MaineUniversity of Maine at FarmingtonUniversity of Maine at Presque IsleUniversity of MaryUniversity of Mary WashingtonUniversity of Maryland-Baltimore CountyUniversity of Maryland-College ParkUniversity of Massachusetts-AmherstUniversity of Massachusetts-DartmouthUniversity of Massachusetts-LowellUniversity of MemphisUniversity of MiamiUniversity of Michigan-Ann ArborUniversity of Michigan-DearbornUniversity of Minnesota-DuluthUniversity of Minnesota-Twin CitiesUniversity of MississippiUniversity of Missouri-ColumbiaUniversity of Missouri-Kansas CityUniversity of Missouri-St LouisUniversity of MobileUniversity of MontevalloUniversity of Mount OliveUniversity of Mount Saint VincentUniversity of Mount UnionUniversity of Nebraska at KearneyUniversity of Nebraska-LincolnUniversity of Nevada-Las VegasUniversity of Nevada-RenoUniversity of New EnglandUniversity of New Hampshire at ManchesterUniversity of New Hampshire-Main CampusUniversity of New HavenUniversity of New Mexico-Main CampusUniversity of North AlabamaUniversity of North Carolina AshevilleUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at CharlotteUniversity of North Carolina at GreensboroUniversity of North Carolina School of the ArtsUniversity of North Carolina WilmingtonUniversity of North DakotaUniversity of North FloridaUniversity of North TexasUniversity of Northern ColoradoUniversity of Northern IowaUniversity of Northwestern OhioUniversity of Northwestern-St PaulUniversity of Notre DameUniversity of Oklahoma-Norman CampusUniversity of OregonUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusUniversity of PortlandUniversity of Puerto Rico-AreciboUniversity of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasUniversity of Puget SoundUniversity of RedlandsUniversity of Rhode IslandUniversity of RichmondUniversity of RochesterUniversity of Saint Francis-Fort WayneUniversity of Saint JosephUniversity of San DiegoUniversity of San FranciscoUniversity of ScrantonUniversity of Sioux FallsUniversity of South AlabamaUniversity of South Carolina-ColumbiaUniversity of South DakotaUniversity of South FloridaUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of St FrancisUniversity of St ThomasUniversity of the CumberlandsUniversity of the Incarnate WordUniversity of the OzarksUniversity of the PacificUniversity of ToledoUniversity of TulsaUniversity of UtahUniversity of VermontUniversity of Virginia-Main CampusUniversity of Washington-Bothell CampusUniversity of Washington-Seattle CampusUniversity of Washington-Tacoma CampusUniversity of West FloridaUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireUniversity of Wisconsin-La CrosseUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin-PlattevilleUniversity of Wisconsin-River FallsUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens PointUniversity of Wisconsin-StoutUniversity of Wisconsin-WhitewaterUniversity of WyomingUrsinus CollegeUrsuline CollegeUta Mesivta of Kiryas JoelUtah State UniversityUtica UniversityValley City State UniversityValparaiso UniversityVanderbilt UniversityVanderCook College of MusicVanguard University of Southern CaliforniaVassar CollegeVillanova UniversityVirginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityViterbo UniversityWabash CollegeWagner CollegeWake Forest UniversityWalla Walla UniversityWalsh UniversityWartburg CollegeWashburn UniversityWashington & Jefferson CollegeWashington and Lee UniversityWashington CollegeWashington State UniversityWashington University in St LouisWayne State CollegeWayne State UniversityWaynesburg UniversityWebster UniversityWelch CollegeWellesley CollegeWentworth Institute of TechnologyWesleyan UniversityWest Chester University of PennsylvaniaWest Liberty UniversityWest Texas A & M UniversityWest Virginia UniversityWest Virginia Wesleyan CollegeWestern Carolina UniversityWestern Colorado UniversityWestern Connecticut State UniversityWestern Kentucky UniversityWestern Michigan UniversityWestern New England UniversityWestern Washington UniversityWestfield State UniversityWestminster CollegeWestminster UniversityWestmont CollegeWheaton CollegeWheaton College (Massachusetts)Whitman CollegeWhittier CollegeWhitworth UniversityWichita State UniversityWidener UniversityWilkes UniversityWillamette UniversityWilliam & MaryWilliam Carey UniversityWilliam Jessup UniversityWilliam Jewell CollegeWilliams CollegeWilliamson Christian CollegeWinona State UniversityWinthrop UniversityWisconsin Lutheran CollegeWittenberg UniversityWofford CollegeWoodbury UniversityWorcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester State UniversityXavier UniversityYale UniversityYeshiva UniversityYork College of PennsylvaniaYork UniversityYoungstown State University
178 Schools Where Graduates Earn Less Than a High School Graduate
At 178 four-year, non-profit schools in our database, median graduate earnings fall below the $47,000 high school baseline. The average student at these schools would have been better off, financially, never enrolling. They're excluded from the rankings above. You won't see this on Niche or US News.
See all schools ranked by earnings →Frequently Asked Questions
Why do CUNY schools rank so highly?
New York City and New York State heavily subsidize CUNY tuition. Net price after aid runs $2,000–$4,000/yr, among the lowest of any 4-year system in the country. Combined with $60k–$75k median earnings at 10 years, that math produces very short recoup times. CUNY is genuinely one of the best deals in American higher education for New York residents. If you'd need to relocate to attend, your actual costs are substantially higher. This ranking doesn't show that.
Why is Princeton near the top?
Princeton's endowment funds some of the most generous need-based grants in the country. Net price after aid: $10,555/yr, less than most state schools. Median graduate earnings at 10 years: $110,066. That math produces a recoup time under one year. The figures come from IPEDS and the College Scorecard.
Does this ranking account for cost of living?
No, and that matters a lot. A school in New York City shows the same net price in this ranking as a school in rural Alabama, even though it costs far more to actually live there. We're building a personalized version that adjusts for cost of living based on where you're from. For now, treat this as a starting point.
What about my major?
The earnings figure is school-wide, not broken out by major. A school heavy in nursing and engineering will show higher median earnings than one heavy in humanities, regardless of how good those programs actually are. Program-level value rankings are on the way. For now, use the major filter in the full search alongside this.
Where does the earnings data come from?
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median earnings of students 10 years after first enrolling. Same data used by Third Way, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and federal Gainful Employment rules. It comes from IRS tax records matched to federal student aid data. Not a survey. Not self-reported.
Value Is Personal
This is one metric. Every school in the table above links to a full profile: costs, acceptance rate, majors, outcomes. Search 6,000+ schools by what actually matters to you.
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