The Best Value Colleges in America by Academic Quality per Dollar for 2021
These colleges are CollegeCalc's 2021 ranking of the best value colleges in America based on academic value per tuition dollar. While many of these schools don't have low list prices, attractive net prices through generous financial aid combined with academic excellence offer students great returns on investment. In order to be considered, schools must possess high academic standing coupled with costs commensurate to the education provided. Amherst College leads the list with a 96/100 academic rating and a $16,339 average net price.
Academic Rating is a CollegeCalc rating of a college's overall academics and effectiveness. The score ranges from zero to one hundred, with fifty being the median for all eligible colleges. Dollar value is a measure of a school's academic rating compared with the average price paid by students. Colleges which are ranked "n/a" didn't report sufficient data to formulate a score. Learn more about our rating methodology.
All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's 2019/2020 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2019/2020 academic year.
College | Net Price | Rating | Value |
---|---|---|---|
#41 University of California IrvineCalifornia, Public |
$15,268 | 81 | 93 |
#42 University of California Santa BarbaraCalifornia, Public |
$16,767 | 77 | 92 |
#43 Mercer UniversityGeorgia, Private |
$21,696 | 68 | 93 |
#44 Johns Hopkins UniversityMaryland, Private |
$28,999 | 97 | 93 |
#45 Tufts UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$26,280 | 94 | 92 |
#46 University of Detroit MercyMichigan, Private |
$18,338 | 70 | 94 |
#47 St Catherine UniversityMinnesota, Private |
$20,172 | 66 | 94 |
#48 Washington University in St LouisMissouri, Private |
$27,108 | 96 | 94 |
#49 Barnard CollegeNew York, Private |
$26,649 | 94 | 92 |
#50 CUNY Hunter CollegeNew York, Public |
$3,957 | 66 | 93 |
#51 Davidson CollegeNorth Carolina, Private |
$27,714 | 93 | 94 |
#52 Allegheny CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$24,227 | 71 | 93 |
#53 Brown UniversityRhode Island, Private |
$27,218 | 97 | 94 |
#54 University of RichmondVirginia, Private |
$25,282 | 91 | 93 |
#55 University of Washington Seattle CampusWashington, Public |
$10,692 | 82 | 93 |
#56 Trinity CollegeConnecticut, Private |
$27,829 | 90 | 91 |
#57 Georgetown UniversityDistrict Of Columbia, Private |
$28,442 | 94 | 91 |
#58 Howard UniversityDistrict Of Columbia, Private |
$21,428 | 70 | 92 |
#59 University of Illinois at Urbana ChampaignIllinois, Public |
$14,660 | 77 | 92 |
#60 Grinnell CollegeIowa, Private |
$29,404 | 88 | 92 |