The 30 Best Colleges for Your Money — at Every Degree Level

The already tight job market could get tighter, amplifying the importance of competitive credentials.

Obtaining those credentials usually isn’t cheap, though. At least some schools offer more bang for your buck when seeking undergraduate training and education.

A recent ranking from Georgetown University compiled data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scoreboard from 2009-2022 to find the best return on investment (ROI) for certificate, associate’s and bachelor’s programs.

The ROI is calculated by subtracting the institution’s average out-of-pocket cost from students’ median earnings.

Following are the top institutions by program for anyone looking to minimize spending on a degree. All amounts are in 2023 dollars.

Certificate

Certificate programs are a strategic choice for students hoping to gain skills and resume-boosting credentials for certain fields in a more timely manner. Here are the top institutions for certificates, with their projected 10- and 20-year ROI.

1. Unitek College (private for-profit institution in California): about $606,000; about $1,527,000
2. Marion S Whelan School of Nursing of Geneva General Hospital (private nonprofit institution in New York): $567,000; $1,309,000
3. Brownson Technical School (private for-profit institution in California): $547,000; $1,086,000
4. Rockland County BOCES-Practical Nursing Program (public institution in New York): $531,000; $1,161,000
5. Heritage Valley Kennedy School of Nursing (private nonprofit institution in Pennsylvania): $508,000; $1,345,000
6. Holy Name Medical Center-Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing (private nonprofit institution in New Jersey): $506,000; $1,308,000
7. Applied Technology Services (public institution in Missouri): $500,000; $1,048,000
8. Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (public institution in Pennsylvania): $495,000; $1,042,000
9. Marian Health Careers Center-Los Angeles Campus (private for-profit institution in California): $493,000; $1,136,000
10. Hobart Institute of Welding Technology (private nonprofit institution in Ohio): $487,000; $1,055,000

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Associate’s

Associate’s programs are a cost-effective way to gain an education and create more employment opportunities without committing to four years of schooling. Here are the top institutions for associate’s degrees, with their projected 10- and 20-year ROI.

1. Helene Fuld College of Nursing (private nonprofit institution in New York): $604,000; $1,662,000
2. St Paul’s School of Nursing-Queens (private for-profit institution in New York): $500,000; $1,450,000
3. St. Joseph’s College of Nursing (private nonprofit institution in New York): $463,000; $1,203,000
4. Belanger School of Nursing (private nonprofit institution in New York): $448,000; $1,175,000
5. Emory University-Oxford College (private nonprofit institution in Georgia): $429,000; $1,286,000
6. Pomeroy College of Nursing at Crouse Hospital (private nonprofit institution in New York): $408,000; $1,064,000
7. Ambria College of Nursing (private for-profit institution in Illinois): $403,000; $1,110,000
8. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science (private nonprofit institution in California): $398,000; $1,484,000
9. Mercy College of Ohio (private nonprofit institution in Ohio): $397,000; $1,024,000
10. Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences (private nonprofit institution in Missouri): $389,000; $950,000

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Bachelor’s

Bachelor’s degrees are often a requirement for higher-level positions, and they can be worth pursuing for anyone seeking to improve their earning potential. Here are the top institutions for bachelor’s degrees, with their projected 10- and 20-year ROI.

1. California Institute of Technology (private nonprofit institution in California): $627,000; $1,719,000
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (private nonprofit institution in Massachusetts): $579,000; $1,881,000
3. Stanford University (private nonprofit institution in California): $509,000; $1,630,000
4. University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis (private nonprofit institution in Missouri): $502,000; $1,855,000
5. Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (private nonprofit institution in New York): $492,000; $1,810,000
6. Franklin W Olin College of Engineering (private nonprofit institution in Massachusetts): $483,000; $1,709,000
7. Princeton University (private nonprofit institution in New Jersey): $477,000; $1,635,000
8. Harvey Mudd College (private nonprofit institution in California): $476,000; $1,819,000
9. United States Merchant Marine Academy (public institution in New York): $453,000; $1,328,000
10. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus (public institution in Georgia): $407,000; $1,417,000

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