The Best Value Colleges in America by Academic Quality per Dollar for 2022
These colleges are CollegeCalc's 2022 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. Princeton University leads the list with a 99/100 academic rating and a $18,685 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 2020/2021 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2020/2021 academic year.
College | Net Price | Rating | Value |
---|---|---|---|
#1 Princeton UniversityNew Jersey, Private |
$18,685 | 99 | 100 |
#2 Yale UniversityConnecticut, Private |
$17,511 | 99 | 99 |
#3 Harvard UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$18,037 | 99 | 99 |
#4 Amherst CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$18,832 | 97 | 99 |
#5 Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts, Private |
$19,998 | 98 | 99 |
#6 Stanford UniversityCalifornia, Private |
$20,023 | 99 | 99 |
#7 Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, Private |
$22,126 | 95 | 99 |
#8 Rice UniversityTexas, Private |
$19,215 | 98 | 99 |
#9 Johns Hopkins UniversityMaryland, Private |
$25,241 | 97 | 99 |
#10 University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNorth Carolina, Public |
$10,038 | 88 | 99 |
#11 Claremont McKenna CollegeCalifornia, Private |
$22,004 | 95 | 98 |
#12 Colby CollegeMaine, Private |
$18,552 | 91 | 98 |
#13 Wellesley CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$21,614 | 95 | 98 |
#14 University of MichiganMichigan, Public |
$17,832 | 90 | 98 |
#15 Dartmouth CollegeNew Hampshire, Private |
$24,525 | 97 | 98 |
#16 Duke UniversityNorth Carolina, Private |
$26,932 | 98 | 98 |
#17 University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania, Private |
$24,167 | 96 | 98 |
#18 Swarthmore CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$20,360 | 92 | 98 |
#19 California Institute of TechnologyCalifornia, Private |
$26,591 | 98 | 98 |
#20 Emory UniversityGeorgia, Private |
$25,672 | 94 | 97 |
#21 Hamilton CollegeNew York, Private |
$23,936 | 94 | 97 |
#22 Vanderbilt UniversityTennessee, Private |
$25,804 | 96 | 98 |
#23 Northwestern UniversityIllinois, Private |
$28,344 | 96 | 97 |
#24 Washington University in St LouisMissouri, Private |
$27,233 | 96 | 97 |
#25 Brown UniversityRhode Island, Private |
$27,659 | 97 | 97 |
#26 Middlebury CollegeVermont, Private |
$24,517 | 94 | 97 |
#27 University of FloridaFlorida, Public |
$10,075 | 83 | 97 |
#28 Colgate UniversityNew York, Private |
$25,935 | 93 | 97 |
#29 Cornell UniversityNew York, Private |
$27,522 | 96 | 96 |
#30 Haverford CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$25,215 | 92 | 97 |
#31 Vassar CollegeNew York, Private |
$26,028 | 90 | 96 |
#32 University of RichmondVirginia, Private |
$25,700 | 91 | 96 |
#33 University of Virginia Main CampusVirginia, Public |
$19,043 | 86 | 96 |
#34 Washington and Lee UniversityVirginia, Private |
$27,148 | 93 | 96 |
#35 Barnard CollegeNew York, Private |
$30,572 | 94 | 96 |
#36 Davidson CollegeNorth Carolina, Private |
$28,615 | 92 | 96 |
#37 University of California IrvineCalifornia, Public |
$13,106 | 81 | 95 |
#38 Georgetown UniversityDistrict Of Columbia, Private |
$30,710 | 94 | 95 |
#39 University of Notre DameIndiana, Private |
$29,981 | 93 | 95 |
#40 Skidmore CollegeNew York, Private |
$26,995 | 87 | 95 |
#41 College of William and MaryVirginia, Public |
$18,588 | 88 | 95 |
#42 University of Washington Seattle CampusWashington, Public |
$9,661 | 82 | 96 |
#43 University of California San DiegoCalifornia, Public |
$15,222 | 82 | 95 |
#44 University of ChicagoIllinois, Private |
$36,584 | 98 | 95 |
#45 Carleton CollegeMinnesota, Private |
$30,843 | 91 | 95 |
#46 Lehigh UniversityPennsylvania, Private |
$29,098 | 88 | 95 |
#47 University of California DavisCalifornia, Public |
$17,026 | 81 | 94 |
#48 University of California Santa BarbaraCalifornia, Public |
$17,223 | 79 | 94 |
#49 Grinnell CollegeIowa, Private |
$32,091 | 89 | 94 |
#50 Boston CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$30,192 | 88 | 94 |
#51 Tufts UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$32,720 | 93 | 94 |
#52 University of Minnesota MorrisMinnesota, Public |
$11,147 | 65 | 94 |
#53 University of TulsaOklahoma, Private |
$25,333 | 76 | 94 |
#54 Lafayette CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$28,735 | 87 | 94 |
#55 University of California BerkeleyCalifornia, Public |
$19,329 | 86 | 94 |
#56 University of California Los AngelesCalifornia, Public |
$16,474 | 86 | 93 |
#57 University of Illinois at Urbana ChampaignIllinois, Public |
$13,517 | 78 | 93 |
#58 Centre CollegeKentucky, Private |
$22,748 | 73 | 94 |
#59 Boston UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$29,154 | 84 | 94 |
#60 Purdue University Main CampusIndiana, Public |
$12,294 | 79 | 93 |
#61 Florida State UniversityFlorida, Public |
$12,815 | 70 | 93 |
#62 University of MiamiFlorida, Private |
$31,726 | 87 | 92 |
#63 Mercer UniversityGeorgia, Private |
$21,693 | 67 | 92 |
#64 DePauw UniversityIndiana, Private |
$30,183 | 81 | 92 |
#65 Saint Louis University Main CampusMissouri, Private |
$27,872 | 78 | 93 |
#66 The University of Texas at DallasTexas, Public |
$11,185 | 66 | 93 |
#67 University of MississippiMississippi, Public |
$13,540 | 67 | 91 |
#68 Missouri University of Science and TechnologyMissouri, Public |
$13,476 | 69 | 92 |
#69 North Carolina State University at RaleighNorth Carolina, Public |
$14,600 | 79 | 91 |
#70 Rhodes CollegeTennessee, Private |
$29,852 | 79 | 91 |
#71 Austin CollegeTexas, Private |
$24,085 | 70 | 91 |
#72 Trinity UniversityTexas, Private |
$31,141 | 84 | 91 |
#73 University of ArizonaArizona, Public |
$15,620 | 67 | 90 |
#74 University of Southern CaliforniaCalifornia, Private |
$39,759 | 92 | 89 |
#75 Illinois Institute of TechnologyIllinois, Private |
$28,161 | 75 | 90 |
#76 College of the Holy CrossMassachusetts, Private |
$32,061 | 83 | 90 |
#77 Mount Holyoke CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$31,165 | 82 | 90 |
#78 St Olaf CollegeMinnesota, Private |
$27,838 | 75 | 90 |
#79 CUNY Hunter CollegeNew York, Public |
$4,014 | 67 | 91 |
#80 University of RochesterNew York, Private |
$36,254 | 87 | 90 |
#81 St Lawrence UniversityNew York, Private |
$31,578 | 77 | 89 |
#82 Case Western Reserve UniversityOhio, Private |
$36,002 | 87 | 89 |
#83 Allegheny CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$26,376 | 69 | 89 |
#84 Carnegie Mellon UniversityPennsylvania, Private |
$36,983 | 91 | 89 |
#85 Union UniversityTennessee, Private |
$26,906 | 71 | 89 |
#86 University of VermontVermont, Public |
$20,235 | 71 | 90 |
#87 Eastern Mennonite UniversityVirginia, Private |
$22,766 | 70 | 90 |
#88 University of California RiversideCalifornia, Public |
$11,948 | 67 | 88 |
#89 Georgia Institute of Technology Main CampusGeorgia, Public |
$17,410 | 77 | 87 |
#90 University of Illinois at ChicagoIllinois, Public |
$12,614 | 69 | 88 |
#91 Indiana University BloomingtonIndiana, Public |
$13,191 | 71 | 87 |
#92 Babson CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$31,559 | 80 | 87 |
#93 Simmons UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$29,021 | 74 | 88 |
#94 Wheaton CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$28,518 | 71 | 89 |
#95 University of Detroit MercyMichigan, Private |
$18,376 | 68 | 88 |
#96 Michigan Technological UniversityMichigan, Public |
$17,356 | 69 | 87 |
#97 New York Institute of TechnologyNew York, Private |
$21,912 | 71 | 87 |
#98 Yeshiva UniversityNew York, Private |
$35,603 | 87 | 88 |
#99 Muhlenberg CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$35,152 | 80 | 87 |
#100 The University of Texas at AustinTexas, Public |
$16,892 | 81 | 88 |
#101 University of UtahUtah, Public |
$12,881 | 69 | 86 |
#102 Lawrence UniversityWisconsin, Private |
$26,594 | 70 | 88 |
#103 University of ConnecticutConnecticut, Public |
$22,233 | 80 | 86 |
#104 University of GeorgiaGeorgia, Public |
$16,580 | 76 | 85 |
#105 Saint Mary's CollegeIndiana, Private |
$27,121 | 70 | 86 |
#106 Drake UniversityIowa, Private |
$30,321 | 76 | 85 |
#107 Luther CollegeIowa, Private |
$25,291 | 66 | 86 |
#108 University of Maryland College ParkMaryland, Public |
$17,643 | 81 | 84 |
#109 Rutgers University New BrunswickNew Jersey, Public |
$17,835 | 77 | 85 |
#110 University of DallasTexas, Private |
$27,450 | 70 | 85 |
#111 Texas A & M University College StationTexas, Public |
$19,906 | 79 | 86 |
#112 University of Wisconsin MadisonWisconsin, Public |
$14,030 | 79 | 86 |
#113 John Brown UniversityArkansas, Private |
$21,578 | 67 | 84 |
#114 Westmont CollegeCalifornia, Private |
$32,418 | 74 | 82 |
#115 Connecticut CollegeConnecticut, Private |
$40,474 | 86 | 83 |
#116 Howard UniversityDistrict Of Columbia, Private |
$23,233 | 67 | 82 |
#117 Wheaton CollegeIllinois, Private |
$27,474 | 75 | 84 |
#118 University of IowaIowa, Public |
$17,452 | 69 | 82 |
#119 Michigan State UniversityMichigan, Public |
$16,655 | 69 | 82 |
#120 Macalester CollegeMinnesota, Private |
$35,589 | 81 | 83 |
#121 University of Missouri ColumbiaMissouri, Public |
$16,930 | 66 | 84 |
#122 New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNew Jersey, Public |
$18,328 | 71 | 83 |
#123 New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologyNew Mexico, Public |
$14,834 | 68 | 84 |
#124 Clarkson UniversityNew York, Private |
$30,308 | 69 | 83 |
#125 CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeNew York, Public |
$3,897 | 72 | 81 |
#126 Stony Brook UniversityNew York, Public |
$16,478 | 76 | 84 |
#127 SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica RomeNew York, Public |
$14,586 | 68 | 82 |
#128 Kenyon CollegeOhio, Private |
$40,862 | 87 | 84 |
#129 Ohio Northern UniversityOhio, Private |
$26,011 | 71 | 83 |
#130 Ohio State UniversityOhio, Public |
$18,884 | 73 | 83 |
#131 Oklahoma City UniversityOklahoma, Private |
$25,072 | 72 | 83 |
#132 Linfield UniversityOregon, Private |
$28,517 | 71 | 82 |
#133 Whitman CollegeWashington, Private |
$38,989 | 84 | 82 |
#134 Occidental CollegeCalifornia, Private |
$41,102 | 85 | 80 |
#135 University of the PacificCalifornia, Private |
$32,780 | 75 | 81 |
#136 University of RedlandsCalifornia, Private |
$30,240 | 67 | 79 |
#137 University of DenverColorado, Private |
$38,322 | 82 | 79 |
#138 University of DelawareDelaware, Public |
$19,747 | 76 | 81 |
#139 Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois, Private |
$32,545 | 75 | 80 |
#140 University of Minnesota Twin CitiesMinnesota, Public |
$17,729 | 75 | 81 |
#141 College of Saint BenedictMinnesota, Private |
$27,960 | 67 | 80 |
#142 Saint Johns UniversityMinnesota, Private |
$28,128 | 67 | 80 |
#143 Albany College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesNew York, Private |
$30,891 | 79 | 80 |
#144 CUNY City CollegeNew York, Public |
$4,546 | 65 | 80 |
#145 Union CollegeNew York, Private |
$37,630 | 83 | 79 |
#146 Bucknell UniversityPennsylvania, Private |
$39,359 | 84 | 79 |
#147 Ursinus CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$31,400 | 68 | 79 |
#148 Southern Methodist UniversityTexas, Private |
$41,444 | 86 | 79 |
#149 Milwaukee School of EngineeringWisconsin, Private |
$26,541 | 67 | 79 |
#150 University of California Santa CruzCalifornia, Public |
$17,842 | 67 | 76 |
#151 George Washington UniversityDistrict Of Columbia, Private |
$40,308 | 83 | 76 |
#152 University of KansasKansas, Public |
$20,054 | 67 | 76 |
#153 St Mary's College of MarylandMaryland, Public |
$20,237 | 75 | 78 |
#154 Clark UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$30,617 | 73 | 77 |
#155 Northeastern UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$37,738 | 79 | 76 |
#156 Andrews UniversityMichigan, Private |
$22,850 | 67 | 77 |
#157 SUNY at BinghamtonNew York, Public |
$19,061 | 76 | 77 |
#158 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh CampusPennsylvania, Public |
$22,346 | 74 | 78 |
#159 Villanova UniversityPennsylvania, Private |
$38,303 | 84 | 78 |
#160 Furman UniversitySouth Carolina, Private |
$37,761 | 80 | 77 |
#161 Sewanee The University of the SouthTennessee, Private |
$36,244 | 81 | 78 |
#162 Westminster CollegeUtah, Private |
$25,278 | 67 | 77 |
#163 Bradley UniversityIllinois, Private |
$25,850 | 66 | 74 |
#164 University of Maryland Baltimore CountyMaryland, Public |
$16,868 | 66 | 75 |
#165 Springfield CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$29,395 | 69 | 74 |
#166 Calvin CollegeMichigan, Private |
$26,482 | 66 | 75 |
#167 Saint Anselm CollegeNew Hampshire, Private |
$33,292 | 71 | 72 |
#168 University at BuffaloNew York, Public |
$18,119 | 76 | 73 |
#169 State University of New York at New PaltzNew York, Public |
$16,079 | 66 | 74 |
#170 Denison UniversityOhio, Private |
$39,808 | 81 | 73 |
#171 Lipscomb UniversityTennessee, Private |
$26,421 | 67 | 74 |
#172 Regis UniversityColorado, Private |
$27,785 | 66 | 69 |
#173 American UniversityDistrict Of Columbia, Private |
$37,319 | 82 | 71 |
#174 Brandeis UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$41,222 | 82 | 67 |
#175 Bethel UniversityMinnesota, Private |
$29,107 | 67 | 69 |
#176 Hobart William Smith CollegesNew York, Private |
$38,247 | 76 | 72 |
#177 Molloy CollegeNew York, Private |
$27,454 | 68 | 68 |
#178 New York UniversityNew York, Private |
$45,417 | 91 | 72 |
#179 SUNY at AlbanyNew York, Public |
$17,486 | 66 | 70 |
#180 University of Oklahoma Norman CampusOklahoma, Public |
$21,836 | 67 | 68 |
#181 Elizabethtown CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$25,767 | 67 | 67 |
#182 Providence CollegeRhode Island, Private |
$37,284 | 78 | 70 |
#183 Clemson UniversitySouth Carolina, Public |
$22,935 | 76 | 71 |
#184 Southwestern UniversityTexas, Private |
$29,830 | 67 | 70 |
#185 Texas Christian UniversityTexas, Private |
$40,220 | 82 | 68 |
#186 Seattle UniversityWashington, Private |
$36,843 | 76 | 68 |
#187 Samford UniversityAlabama, Private |
$31,322 | 72 | 66 |
#188 University of Massachusetts AmherstMassachusetts, Public |
$22,505 | 72 | 67 |
#189 University of St ThomasMinnesota, Private |
$31,799 | 68 | 64 |
#190 Stevens Institute of TechnologyNew Jersey, Private |
$40,303 | 77 | 63 |
#191 The College of New JerseyNew Jersey, Public |
$24,617 | 76 | 63 |
#192 Fordham UniversityNew York, Private |
$41,569 | 79 | 64 |
#193 Saint John Fisher CollegeNew York, Private |
$29,722 | 69 | 64 |
#194 Cedarville UniversityOhio, Private |
$24,965 | 65 | 66 |
#195 University of PortlandOregon, Private |
$37,317 | 76 | 67 |
#196 Saint Joseph's UniversityPennsylvania, Private |
$35,780 | 74 | 67 |
#197 Colorado School of MinesColorado, Public |
$27,675 | 75 | 61 |
#198 Bentley UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$42,759 | 81 | 59 |
#199 Ramapo College of New JerseyNew Jersey, Public |
$17,286 | 65 | 61 |
#200 Seton Hall UniversityNew Jersey, Private |
$33,652 | 69 | 59 |
#201 Adelphi UniversityNew York, Private |
$29,821 | 69 | 58 |
#202 Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteNew York, Private |
$40,661 | 75 | 59 |
#203 Sarah Lawrence CollegeNew York, Private |
$41,396 | 78 | 63 |
#204 SUNY at GeneseoNew York, Public |
$18,684 | 68 | 61 |
#205 University of DaytonOhio, Private |
$32,768 | 67 | 62 |
#206 Lewis & Clark CollegeOregon, Private |
$37,478 | 72 | 61 |
#207 Drexel UniversityPennsylvania, Private |
$39,463 | 76 | 61 |
#208 Rhode Island School of DesignRhode Island, Private |
$40,048 | 80 | 62 |
#209 The University of TennesseeTennessee, Public |
$21,133 | 68 | 62 |
#210 George Mason UniversityVirginia, Public |
$18,285 | 68 | 60 |
#211 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginia, Public |
$20,247 | 76 | 61 |
#212 Gonzaga UniversityWashington, Private |
$36,880 | 74 | 62 |
#213 Marquette UniversityWisconsin, Private |
$34,732 | 70 | 58 |
#214 Chapman UniversityCalifornia, Private |
$44,327 | 80 | 57 |
#215 Santa Clara UniversityCalifornia, Private |
$48,284 | 87 | 56 |
#216 University of Colorado BoulderColorado, Public |
$21,198 | 69 | 57 |
#217 University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaii, Public |
$15,193 | 66 | 56 |
#218 Rose Hulman Institute of TechnologyIndiana, Private |
$43,606 | 78 | 55 |
#219 SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestryNew York, Public |
$22,133 | 71 | 55 |
#220 Oberlin CollegeOhio, Private |
$42,745 | 75 | 55 |
#221 Duquesne UniversityPennsylvania, Private |
$32,408 | 67 | 55 |
#222 Virginia Military InstituteVirginia, Public |
$18,969 | 75 | 58 |
#223 California Polytechnic State University San Luis ObispoCalifornia, Public |
$20,491 | 75 | 52 |
#224 Loyola Marymount UniversityCalifornia, Private |
$48,758 | 86 | 51 |
#225 University of San FranciscoCalifornia, Private |
$42,801 | 76 | 49 |
#226 Saint Marys College of CaliforniaCalifornia, Private |
$40,401 | 71 | 50 |
#227 Kettering UniversityMichigan, Private |
$34,713 | 67 | 53 |
#228 Hope CollegeMichigan, Private |
$30,320 | 65 | 49 |
#229 Rochester Institute of TechnologyNew York, Private |
$36,514 | 72 | 50 |
#230 University of South Carolina ColumbiaSouth Carolina, Public |
$21,784 | 69 | 51 |
#231 James Madison UniversityVirginia, Public |
$18,592 | 66 | 52 |
#232 Biola UniversityCalifornia, Private |
$34,713 | 66 | 48 |
#233 Pepperdine UniversityCalifornia, Private |
$46,550 | 77 | 46 |
#234 Loyola University ChicagoIllinois, Private |
$37,731 | 70 | 46 |
#235 Xavier UniversityOhio, Private |
$34,945 | 66 | 47 |
#236 University of ScrantonPennsylvania, Private |
$36,093 | 67 | 47 |
#237 Fairfield UniversityConnecticut, Private |
$43,173 | 76 | 44 |
#238 University of the SciencesPennsylvania, Private |
$31,497 | 71 | 41 |
#239 Embry Riddle Aeronautical University PrescottArizona, Private |
$36,356 | 65 | 36 |
#240 Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona BeachFlorida, Private |
$36,906 | 67 | 34 |
#241 Penn State Main CampusPennsylvania, Public |
$25,548 | 69 | 33 |
#242 Butler UniversityIndiana, Private |
$42,627 | 70 | 30 |
#243 Elon UniversityNorth Carolina, Private |
$39,401 | 77 | 32 |
#244 Bryant UniversityRhode Island, Private |
$39,919 | 68 | 32 |
#245 Emerson CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$47,594 | 72 | 25 |
#246 The New SchoolNew York, Private |
$50,908 | 74 | 21 |
#247 Pratt Institute MainNew York, Private |
$47,516 | 70 | 20 |
#248 Brigham Young University ProvoUtah, Private |
$13,150 | 77 | 87 |