Best colleges under $20,000 a year
The highest-rated colleges whose average yearly price after grants is under $20,000.
Best colleges under $20,000 a year197 schools
197 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Net price (average yearly cost after grants) under $20,000 from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in California
- Net price $16,075 a year
- 94% graduate
- 2
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#1 in New Jersey
- Net price $6,128 a year
- 98% graduate
- 3
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $13,807 a year
- 92% graduate
- 4
Rice University
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Texas
- Net price $13,370 a year
- 95% graduate
- 5
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Maryland
- Net price $18,809 a year
- 94% graduate
- 6Tie
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Illinois
- Net price $14,860 a year
- 96% graduate
- 6Tie
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $17,716 a year
- 94% graduate
- 8
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $19,066 a year
- 98% graduate
- 9
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Tennessee
- Net price $15,846 a year
- 94% graduate
- 10
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $19,285 a year
- 93% graduate
- 11
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Maine
- Net price $14,398 a year
- 95% graduate
- 12
Davidson College
Davidson, NC · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $17,379 a year
- 91% graduate
- 13
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $11,655 a year
- 91% graduate
- 14
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $13,138 a year
- 93% graduate
- 15
Colby College
Waterville, ME · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $17,180 a year
- 89% graduate
- 16
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $13,481 a year
- 93% graduate
- 17
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- Net price $12,116 a year
- 94% graduate
- 18
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Iowa
- Net price $17,648 a year
- 88% graduate
- 19
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $12,548 a year
- 93% graduate
- 20
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · PublicHonor Roll#1 in Florida
- Net price $6,541 a year
- 91% graduate
- 21
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $13,269 a year
- 81% graduate
- 22
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $19,096 a year
- 89% graduate
- 23
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · PublicHonor Roll#2 in Texas
- Net price $19,857 a year
- 89% graduate
- 24
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Florida
- Net price $11,297 a year
- 86% graduate
- 25
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $12,470 a year
- 86% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology | $16,075 | — | $128,566 | 94% |
| Princeton University | $6,128 | $10,320 | $110,066 | 98% |
| Stanford University | $13,807 | $12,000 | $124,080 | 92% |
| Rice University | $13,370 | $11,000 | $89,718 | 95% |
| Johns Hopkins University | $18,809 | $10,250 | $87,555 | 94% |
| University of Chicago | $14,860 | $15,000 | $91,885 | 96% |
| Williams College | $17,716 | $12,761 | $88,665 | 94% |
| Harvard University | $19,066 | $14,000 | $101,817 | 98% |
| Vanderbilt University | $15,846 | $14,000 | $91,565 | 94% |
| Pomona College | $19,285 | $11,782 | $77,779 | 93% |
| Bowdoin College | $14,398 | $18,500 | $82,735 | 95% |
| Davidson College | $17,379 | $18,688 | $81,400 | 91% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $11,655 | $14,000 | $72,200 | 91% |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $13,138 | $19,500 | $83,648 | 93% |
| Colby College | $17,180 | $19,157 | $80,490 | 89% |
| University of California-Berkeley | $13,481 | $13,000 | $92,446 | 93% |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | $12,116 | $21,672 | $102,772 | 94% |
| Grinnell College | $17,648 | $17,500 | $62,830 | 88% |
| University of California-Los Angeles | $12,548 | $14,000 | $82,511 | 93% |
| University of Florida | $6,541 | $15,000 | $71,588 | 91% |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | $13,269 | $15,000 | $83,847 | 81% |
| William & Mary | $19,096 | $18,500 | $73,490 | 89% |
| The University of Texas at Austin | $19,857 | $20,500 | $75,121 | 89% |
| Florida State University | $11,297 | $18,000 | $61,675 | 86% |
| University of California-San Diego | $12,470 | $15,500 | $84,943 | 86% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.