The Best Value Colleges in America by Academic Quality per Dollar for 2023
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. Yale University leads the list with a 98/100 academic rating and a $17,511 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 2021/2022 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2021/2022 academic year.
College | Net Price | Rating | Value |
---|---|---|---|
#1 Yale UniversityConnecticut, Private |
$17,511 | 98 | 99 |
#2 Harvard UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$18,037 | 98 | 100 |
#3 Princeton UniversityNew Jersey, Private |
$18,685 | 99 | 99 |
#4 Amherst CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$18,832 | 96 | 99 |
#5 Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts, Private |
$19,998 | 98 | 99 |
#6 Stanford UniversityCalifornia, Private |
$20,023 | 99 | 99 |
#7 Rice UniversityTexas, Private |
$19,215 | 98 | 99 |
#8 Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, Private |
$22,126 | 95 | 99 |
#9 University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNorth Carolina, Public |
$10,038 | 84 | 99 |
#10 Claremont McKenna CollegeCalifornia, Private |
$22,004 | 96 | 99 |
#11 Colby CollegeMaine, Private |
$18,552 | 91 | 98 |
#12 Wellesley CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$21,614 | 95 | 98 |
#13 Dartmouth CollegeNew Hampshire, Private |
$24,525 | 97 | 98 |
#14 University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania, Private |
$24,167 | 96 | 98 |
#15 Swarthmore CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$20,360 | 91 | 98 |
#16 Johns Hopkins UniversityMaryland, Private |
$25,241 | 97 | 98 |
#17 University of MichiganMichigan, Public |
$17,832 | 89 | 98 |
#18 Duke UniversityNorth Carolina, Private |
$26,932 | 98 | 98 |
#19 California Institute of TechnologyCalifornia, Private |
$26,591 | 98 | 97 |
#20 Wesleyan UniversityConnecticut, Private |
$22,845 | 92 | 97 |
#21 Emory UniversityGeorgia, Private |
$25,672 | 94 | 97 |
#22 Northwestern UniversityIllinois, Private |
$28,344 | 96 | 97 |
#23 Hamilton CollegeNew York, Private |
$23,936 | 94 | 97 |
#24 Vanderbilt UniversityTennessee, Private |
$25,804 | 96 | 97 |
#25 University of FloridaFlorida, Public |
$10,075 | 82 | 97 |
#26 Washington University in St LouisMissouri, Private |
$27,233 | 96 | 97 |
#27 Colgate UniversityNew York, Private |
$25,935 | 93 | 97 |
#28 Haverford CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$25,215 | 92 | 96 |
#29 Brown UniversityRhode Island, Private |
$27,659 | 97 | 97 |
#30 Middlebury CollegeVermont, Private |
$24,517 | 93 | 97 |
#31 Trinity CollegeConnecticut, Private |
$26,233 | 90 | 96 |
#32 Cornell UniversityNew York, Private |
$27,522 | 96 | 96 |
#33 University of Virginia Main CampusVirginia, Public |
$19,043 | 86 | 96 |
#34 Washington and Lee UniversityVirginia, Private |
$27,148 | 93 | 96 |
#35 Pomona CollegeCalifornia, Private |
$30,392 | 96 | 96 |
#36 Vassar CollegeNew York, Private |
$26,028 | 90 | 96 |
#37 University of RichmondVirginia, Private |
$25,700 | 90 | 96 |
#38 University of California IrvineCalifornia, Public |
$13,106 | 81 | 95 |
#39 University of Notre DameIndiana, Private |
$29,981 | 93 | 95 |
#40 Skidmore CollegeNew York, Private |
$26,995 | 88 | 95 |
#41 Davidson CollegeNorth Carolina, Private |
$28,615 | 91 | 96 |
#42 University of Washington Seattle CampusWashington, Public |
$9,661 | 82 | 95 |
#43 University of California San DiegoCalifornia, Public |
$15,222 | 82 | 94 |
#44 Georgetown UniversityDistrict Of Columbia, Private |
$30,710 | 93 | 95 |
#45 University of ChicagoIllinois, Private |
$36,584 | 98 | 95 |
#46 Smith CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$28,422 | 84 | 95 |
#47 Carleton CollegeMinnesota, Private |
$30,843 | 91 | 95 |
#48 Barnard CollegeNew York, Private |
$30,572 | 92 | 95 |
#49 College of William and MaryVirginia, Public |
$18,588 | 86 | 94 |
#50 University of California DavisCalifornia, Public |
$17,026 | 80 | 94 |
#51 Boston CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$30,192 | 88 | 94 |
#52 Lehigh UniversityPennsylvania, Private |
$29,098 | 88 | 94 |
#53 University of California BerkeleyCalifornia, Public |
$19,329 | 85 | 94 |
#54 University of California Los AngelesCalifornia, Public |
$16,474 | 86 | 94 |
#55 University of California Santa BarbaraCalifornia, Public |
$17,223 | 79 | 94 |
#56 University of Illinois at Urbana ChampaignIllinois, Public |
$13,517 | 79 | 94 |
#57 Grinnell CollegeIowa, Private |
$32,091 | 88 | 93 |
#58 Centre CollegeKentucky, Private |
$22,748 | 75 | 94 |
#59 Tufts UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$32,720 | 93 | 93 |
#60 Lafayette CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$28,735 | 85 | 93 |
#61 Mercer UniversityGeorgia, Private |
$21,693 | 69 | 93 |
#62 Boston UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$29,154 | 83 | 93 |
#63 Purdue University Main CampusIndiana, Public |
$12,294 | 78 | 93 |
#64 Florida State UniversityFlorida, Public |
$12,815 | 68 | 92 |
#65 University of MiamiFlorida, Private |
$31,726 | 86 | 92 |
#66 DePauw UniversityIndiana, Private |
$30,183 | 81 | 92 |
#67 Missouri University of Science and TechnologyMissouri, Public |
$13,476 | 69 | 91 |
#68 Truman State UniversityMissouri, Public |
$12,621 | 67 | 92 |
#69 Saint Louis University Main CampusMissouri, Private |
$27,872 | 77 | 91 |
#70 University of TulsaOklahoma, Private |
$25,333 | 73 | 92 |
#71 Austin CollegeTexas, Private |
$24,085 | 70 | 91 |
#72 Trinity UniversityTexas, Private |
$31,141 | 85 | 92 |
#73 University of VermontVermont, Public |
$20,235 | 72 | 91 |
#74 Mount Holyoke CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$31,165 | 82 | 90 |
#75 St Olaf CollegeMinnesota, Private |
$27,838 | 75 | 90 |
#76 The College of Saint ScholasticaMinnesota, Private |
$23,215 | 70 | 90 |
#77 University of RochesterNew York, Private |
$36,254 | 87 | 90 |
#78 North Carolina State University at RaleighNorth Carolina, Public |
$14,600 | 78 | 91 |
#79 Case Western Reserve UniversityOhio, Private |
$36,002 | 89 | 91 |
#80 Rhodes CollegeTennessee, Private |
$29,852 | 78 | 91 |
#81 Union UniversityTennessee, Private |
$26,906 | 72 | 90 |
#82 University of California RiversideCalifornia, Public |
$11,948 | 66 | 89 |
#83 University of Southern CaliforniaCalifornia, Private |
$39,759 | 92 | 90 |
#84 Georgia Institute of Technology Main CampusGeorgia, Public |
$17,410 | 78 | 89 |
#85 University of Illinois at ChicagoIllinois, Public |
$12,614 | 69 | 89 |
#86 Illinois Institute of TechnologyIllinois, Private |
$28,161 | 72 | 89 |
#87 College of the Holy CrossMassachusetts, Private |
$32,061 | 82 | 90 |
#88 Simmons UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$29,021 | 75 | 89 |
#89 University of Detroit MercyMichigan, Private |
$18,376 | 67 | 88 |
#90 Rider UniversityNew Jersey, Private |
$29,396 | 69 | 88 |
#91 Yeshiva UniversityNew York, Private |
$35,603 | 87 | 89 |
#92 Carnegie Mellon UniversityPennsylvania, Private |
$36,983 | 91 | 90 |
#93 Gettysburg CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$34,850 | 84 | 88 |
#94 Washington & Jefferson CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$27,477 | 73 | 90 |
#95 The University of Texas at AustinTexas, Public |
$16,892 | 81 | 88 |
#96 Eastern Mennonite UniversityVirginia, Private |
$22,766 | 69 | 89 |
#97 Lawrence UniversityWisconsin, Private |
$26,594 | 69 | 87 |
#98 University of ConnecticutConnecticut, Public |
$22,233 | 82 | 87 |
#99 Indiana University BloomingtonIndiana, Public |
$13,191 | 70 | 86 |
#100 Wheaton CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$28,518 | 69 | 86 |
#101 Rutgers University New BrunswickNew Jersey, Public |
$17,835 | 78 | 85 |
#102 New York Institute of TechnologyNew York, Private |
$21,912 | 69 | 87 |
#103 St Lawrence UniversityNew York, Private |
$31,578 | 75 | 87 |
#104 The College of WoosterOhio, Private |
$27,923 | 70 | 87 |
#105 Allegheny CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$26,376 | 67 | 87 |
#106 Muhlenberg CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$35,152 | 81 | 86 |
#107 Wofford CollegeSouth Carolina, Private |
$30,431 | 77 | 87 |
#108 Westminster CollegeUtah, Private |
$25,278 | 73 | 85 |
#109 University of Wisconsin MadisonWisconsin, Public |
$14,030 | 79 | 86 |
#110 John Brown UniversityArkansas, Private |
$21,578 | 66 | 83 |
#111 Scripps CollegeCalifornia, Private |
$40,259 | 89 | 84 |
#112 University of GeorgiaGeorgia, Public |
$16,580 | 74 | 84 |
#113 Lake Forest CollegeIllinois, Private |
$26,968 | 66 | 84 |
#114 Saint Mary's CollegeIndiana, Private |
$27,121 | 70 | 85 |
#115 Drake UniversityIowa, Private |
$30,321 | 75 | 83 |
#116 University of IowaIowa, Public |
$17,452 | 70 | 83 |
#117 University of Maryland College ParkMaryland, Public |
$17,643 | 81 | 84 |
#118 Babson CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$31,559 | 78 | 85 |
#119 Michigan Technological UniversityMichigan, Public |
$17,356 | 67 | 83 |
#120 University of Missouri ColumbiaMissouri, Public |
$16,930 | 67 | 83 |
#121 New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNew Jersey, Public |
$18,328 | 71 | 83 |
#122 Rutgers University NewarkNew Jersey, Public |
$13,832 | 71 | 85 |
#123 Clarkson UniversityNew York, Private |
$30,308 | 72 | 85 |
#124 Stony Brook UniversityNew York, Public |
$16,478 | 76 | 83 |
#125 University of North Carolina School of the ArtsNorth Carolina, Public |
$11,940 | 66 | 85 |
#126 Ohio State UniversityOhio, Public |
$18,884 | 75 | 84 |
#127 University of DallasTexas, Private |
$27,450 | 69 | 82 |
#128 Texas A & M University College StationTexas, Public |
$19,906 | 78 | 84 |
#129 University of UtahUtah, Public |
$12,881 | 67 | 84 |
#130 University of California Santa CruzCalifornia, Public |
$17,842 | 68 | 81 |
#131 University of the PacificCalifornia, Private |
$32,780 | 76 | 82 |
#132 Westmont CollegeCalifornia, Private |
$32,418 | 74 | 82 |
#133 Connecticut CollegeConnecticut, Private |
$40,474 | 84 | 80 |
#134 University of DelawareDelaware, Public |
$19,747 | 75 | 80 |
#135 Wheaton CollegeIllinois, Private |
$27,474 | 74 | 81 |
#136 St Mary's College of MarylandMaryland, Public |
$20,237 | 77 | 81 |
#137 Kalamazoo CollegeMichigan, Private |
$27,596 | 67 | 82 |
#138 Michigan State UniversityMichigan, Public |
$16,655 | 67 | 79 |
#139 Macalester CollegeMinnesota, Private |
$35,589 | 80 | 82 |
#140 University of Minnesota Twin CitiesMinnesota, Public |
$17,729 | 75 | 81 |
#141 Albany College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesNew York, Private |
$30,891 | 80 | 82 |
#142 CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeNew York, Public |
$3,897 | 70 | 80 |
#143 SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica RomeNew York, Public |
$14,586 | 68 | 80 |
#144 Linfield UniversityOregon, Private |
$28,517 | 70 | 80 |
#145 Ursinus CollegePennsylvania, Private |
$31,400 | 70 | 81 |
#146 Occidental CollegeCalifornia, Private |
$41,102 | 84 | 77 |
#147 University of RedlandsCalifornia, Private |
$30,240 | 66 | 77 |
#148 University of DenverColorado, Private |
$38,322 | 82 | 79 |
#149 George Washington UniversityDistrict Of Columbia, Private |
$40,308 | 84 | 76 |
#150 Bradley UniversityIllinois, Private |
$25,850 | 69 | 78 |
#151 Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois, Private |
$32,545 | 74 | 77 |
#152 Saint Johns UniversityMinnesota, Private |
$28,128 | 67 | 78 |
#153 Creighton UniversityNebraska, Private |
$32,355 | 77 | 78 |
#154 State University of New York at New PaltzNew York, Public |
$16,079 | 68 | 76 |
#155 Union CollegeNew York, Private |
$37,630 | 82 | 75 |
#156 Kenyon CollegeOhio, Private |
$40,862 | 87 | 78 |
#157 Ohio Northern UniversityOhio, Private |
$26,011 | 68 | 78 |
#158 Oklahoma City UniversityOklahoma, Private |
$25,072 | 69 | 79 |
#159 Bucknell UniversityPennsylvania, Private |
$39,359 | 85 | 79 |
#160 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh CampusPennsylvania, Public |
$22,346 | 75 | 77 |
#161 Villanova UniversityPennsylvania, Private |
$38,303 | 84 | 76 |
#162 Sewanee The University of the SouthTennessee, Private |
$36,244 | 80 | 75 |
#163 Southern Methodist UniversityTexas, Private |
$41,444 | 84 | 76 |
#164 Southwestern UniversityTexas, Private |
$29,830 | 71 | 76 |
#165 Whitman CollegeWashington, Private |
$38,989 | 82 | 76 |
#166 Milwaukee School of EngineeringWisconsin, Private |
$26,541 | 68 | 77 |
#167 University of KansasKansas, Public |
$20,054 | 66 | 75 |
#168 Clark UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$30,617 | 72 | 73 |
#169 Springfield CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$29,395 | 69 | 74 |
#170 SUNY at BinghamtonNew York, Public |
$19,061 | 76 | 74 |
#171 University at BuffaloNew York, Public |
$18,119 | 77 | 74 |
#172 Furman UniversitySouth Carolina, Private |
$37,761 | 80 | 75 |
#173 Regis UniversityColorado, Private |
$27,785 | 66 | 69 |
#174 Northeastern UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$37,738 | 77 | 71 |
#175 University of St ThomasMinnesota, Private |
$31,799 | 70 | 68 |
#176 Hobart William Smith CollegesNew York, Private |
$38,247 | 75 | 69 |
#177 New York UniversityNew York, Private |
$45,417 | 92 | 71 |
#178 Denison UniversityOhio, Private |
$39,808 | 80 | 71 |
#179 University of Oklahoma Norman CampusOklahoma, Public |
$21,836 | 68 | 70 |
#180 University of PortlandOregon, Private |
$37,317 | 77 | 69 |
#181 Saint Joseph's UniversityPennsylvania, Private |
$35,780 | 74 | 69 |
#182 Clemson UniversitySouth Carolina, Public |
$22,935 | 76 | 71 |
#183 American UniversityDistrict Of Columbia, Private |
$37,319 | 79 | 66 |
#184 Brandeis UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$41,222 | 81 | 66 |
#185 University of Massachusetts AmherstMassachusetts, Public |
$22,505 | 72 | 67 |
#186 Bethel UniversityMinnesota, Private |
$29,107 | 66 | 66 |
#187 Saint Anselm CollegeNew Hampshire, Private |
$33,292 | 69 | 66 |
#188 Ramapo College of New JerseyNew Jersey, Public |
$17,286 | 67 | 66 |
#189 Hofstra UniversityNew York, Private |
$34,011 | 71 | 64 |
#190 Molloy CollegeNew York, Private |
$27,454 | 71 | 67 |
#191 Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteNew York, Private |
$40,661 | 78 | 67 |
#192 Saint John Fisher CollegeNew York, Private |
$29,722 | 72 | 68 |
#193 Providence CollegeRhode Island, Private |
$37,284 | 76 | 64 |
#194 Texas Christian UniversityTexas, Private |
$40,220 | 80 | 65 |
#195 Seattle UniversityWashington, Private |
$36,843 | 75 | 67 |
#196 Samford UniversityAlabama, Private |
$31,322 | 72 | 64 |
#197 Colorado School of MinesColorado, Public |
$27,675 | 75 | 61 |
#198 Seton Hall UniversityNew Jersey, Private |
$33,652 | 69 | 59 |
#199 Stevens Institute of TechnologyNew Jersey, Private |
$40,303 | 77 | 63 |
#200 The College of New JerseyNew Jersey, Public |
$24,617 | 74 | 59 |
#201 Adelphi UniversityNew York, Private |
$29,821 | 70 | 62 |
#202 Fordham UniversityNew York, Private |
$41,569 | 78 | 59 |
#203 SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestryNew York, Public |
$22,133 | 73 | 62 |
#204 SUNY at GeneseoNew York, Public |
$18,684 | 68 | 61 |
#205 University of DaytonOhio, Private |
$32,768 | 66 | 61 |
#206 Drexel UniversityPennsylvania, Private |
$39,463 | 76 | 62 |
#207 Rhode Island School of DesignRhode Island, Private |
$40,048 | 81 | 63 |
#208 The University of TennesseeTennessee, Public |
$21,133 | 68 | 64 |
#209 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginia, Public |
$20,247 | 78 | 64 |
#210 Virginia Military InstituteVirginia, Public |
$18,969 | 75 | 59 |
#211 Chapman UniversityCalifornia, Private |
$44,327 | 80 | 57 |
#212 University of Colorado BoulderColorado, Public |
$21,198 | 70 | 59 |
#213 University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaii, Public |
$15,193 | 67 | 58 |
#214 Bentley UniversityMassachusetts, Private |
$42,759 | 79 | 55 |
#215 Sarah Lawrence CollegeNew York, Private |
$41,396 | 76 | 57 |
#216 Oberlin CollegeOhio, Private |
$42,745 | 75 | 55 |
#217 Lewis & Clark CollegeOregon, Private |
$37,478 | 71 | 58 |
#218 George Mason UniversityVirginia, Public |
$18,285 | 67 | 58 |
#219 Gonzaga UniversityWashington, Private |
$36,880 | 73 | 59 |
#220 University of Puget SoundWashington, Private |
$38,127 | 70 | 54 |
#221 Marquette UniversityWisconsin, Private |
$34,732 | 69 | 56 |
#222 Biola UniversityCalifornia, Private |
$34,713 | 66 | 50 |
#223 Santa Clara UniversityCalifornia, Private |
$48,284 | 86 | 54 |
#224 Rose Hulman Institute of TechnologyIndiana, Private |
$43,606 | 77 | 54 |
#225 Kettering UniversityMichigan, Private |
$34,713 | 66 | 52 |
#226 Rochester Institute of TechnologyNew York, Private |
$36,514 | 72 | 50 |
#227 Duquesne UniversityPennsylvania, Private |
$32,408 | 67 | 53 |
#228 University of South Carolina ColumbiaSouth Carolina, Public |
$21,784 | 69 | 51 |
#229 Baylor UniversityTexas, Private |
$40,133 | 73 | 50 |
#230 California Polytechnic State University San Luis ObispoCalifornia, Public |
$20,491 | 74 | 48 |
#231 Loyola Marymount UniversityCalifornia, Private |
$48,758 | 84 | 48 |
#232 University of San FranciscoCalifornia, Private |
$42,801 | 75 | 47 |
#233 Saint Marys College of CaliforniaCalifornia, Private |
$40,401 | 71 | 49 |
#234 Pepperdine UniversityCalifornia, Private |
$46,550 | 75 | 41 |
#235 Fairfield UniversityConnecticut, Private |
$43,173 | 76 | 43 |
#236 Loyola University ChicagoIllinois, Private |
$37,731 | 70 | 44 |
#237 Rowan UniversityNew Jersey, Public |
$24,810 | 66 | 43 |
#238 University of the SciencesPennsylvania, Private |
$31,497 | 72 | 45 |
#239 University of ScrantonPennsylvania, Private |
$36,093 | 66 | 44 |
#240 University of Mary WashingtonVirginia, Public |
$22,569 | 67 | 45 |
#241 Marist CollegeNew York, Private |
$38,797 | 70 | 40 |
#242 Bryant UniversityRhode Island, Private |
$39,919 | 69 | 35 |
#243 Butler UniversityIndiana, Private |
$42,627 | 71 | 33 |
#244 Syracuse UniversityNew York, Private |
$47,177 | 74 | 32 |
#245 Elon UniversityNorth Carolina, Private |
$39,401 | 75 | 30 |
#246 Emerson CollegeMassachusetts, Private |
$47,594 | 71 | 25 |
#247 Pratt Institute MainNew York, Private |
$47,516 | 70 | 19 |
#248 The New SchoolNew York, Private |
$50,908 | 73 | 17 |
#249 Brigham Young University ProvoUtah, Private |
$13,150 | 77 | 88 |