US college rankings

These rankings sort 167 major US colleges by the questions families ask most: which are the cheapest by net price, which have the highest graduate earnings, which offer the best ROI (earnings versus cost), and which have the highest graduation rate. Every figure is from the official U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Data as of June 2026.

Cheapest colleges by net price

Lowest average cost after grants and scholarships — what families actually pay.

Highest graduate earnings

Median earnings 10 years after entry, highest first.

Best ROI (earnings vs net price)

Our value signal: median earnings divided by annual net price.

Highest graduation rate

Schools where the most students finish their degree on time.

Want every school in one table? See the full school index, browse by state, or use the net price & payback calculator.

Last updated: 2026-06-20