Colleges with the best earnings for the price

Colleges ranked by what former students earn ten years after enrolling, compared with four years of net price.

Colleges with the best earnings for the price681 schools

681 schools qualify, ranked by earnings for the price. 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).
Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Ordered by earnings divided by four years of net price, highest first.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · PublicHonor Roll
Top 2% for low net price
- Earnings are 6.3× the four-year net price
- Earnings $75,971 ten years out
2
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY · Public
Top 2% for low net price
- Earnings are 5.3× the four-year net price
- Earnings $63,163 ten years out
3
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll
#1 in New Jersey
- Earnings are 4.5× the four-year net price
- Earnings $110,066 ten years out
4
CUNY City College
New York, NY · Public
Top 2% for low net price
- Earnings are 4.4× the four-year net price
- Earnings $66,039 ten years out
5
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · PublicHonor Roll
Top 4% for low net price
- Earnings are 3.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $71,588 ten years out
5
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · PublicHonor Roll
Top 4% for earnings
- Earnings are 3.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $90,610 ten years out
7
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · PublicHonor Roll
#1 in Florida
- Earnings are 2.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $71,588 ten years out
8
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Earnings are 2.2× the four-year net price
- Earnings $124,080 ten years out
9
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA · PublicHonor Roll
Top 2% for earnings
- Earnings are 2.1× the four-year net price
- Earnings $102,772 ten years out
10
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in California
- Earnings are 2.0× the four-year net price
- Earnings $128,566 ten years out
11
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM · Public
#2 in New Mexico
- Earnings are 1.9× the four-year net price
- Earnings $76,489 ten years out
12
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Columbus, OH · Private nonprofit
Top 11% for earnings
- Earnings are 1.8× the four-year net price
- Earnings $75,103 ten years out
12
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Massachusetts
- Earnings are 1.8× the four-year net price
- Earnings $143,372 ten years out
12
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses
Stockton, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 5% for low net price
- Earnings are 1.8× the four-year net price
- Earnings $39,248 ten years out
12
Berea College
Berea, KY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Kentucky
- Earnings are 1.8× the four-year net price
- Earnings $43,150 ten years out
16
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Earnings are 1.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $92,446 ten years out
16
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#2 in Missouri
- Earnings are 1.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $41,592 ten years out
16
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Earnings are 1.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $84,943 ten years out
16
Rice University
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Texas
- Earnings are 1.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $89,718 ten years out
16
New College of Florida
Sarasota, FL · Public
Top 8% for low net price
- Earnings are 1.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $48,082 ten years out
16
University of New Hampshire at Manchester
Manchester, NH · Public
Top 15% for low net price
- Earnings are 1.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $66,479 ten years out
22
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Earnings are 1.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $82,511 ten years out
22
Florida International University
Miami, FL · Public
Top 13% for low net price
- Earnings are 1.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $60,249 ten years out
22
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Earnings are 1.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $83,648 ten years out
22
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Earnings are 1.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $83,847 ten years out

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College	$3,033	$11,512	$75,971	72%
CUNY Hunter College	$2,984	$11,000	$63,163	57%
Princeton University	$6,128	$10,320	$110,066	98%
CUNY City College	$3,776	$11,990	$66,039	57%
University of Florida-Online	$4,815	$15,000	$71,588	85%
United States Merchant Marine Academy	$6,174	$8,833	$90,610	82%
University of Florida	$6,541	$15,000	$71,588	91%
Stanford University	$13,807	$12,000	$124,080	92%
Georgia Institute of Technology	$12,116	$21,672	$102,772	94%
California Institute of Technology	$16,075	—	$128,566	94%
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology	$9,873	$19,085	$76,489	57%
Mount Carmel College of Nursing	$10,420	$22,082	$75,103	54%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	$20,111	$14,768	$143,372	96%
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses	$5,524	$35,500	$39,248	62%
Berea College	$6,106	$3,591	$43,150	58%
University of California-Berkeley	$13,481	$13,000	$92,446	93%
College of the Ozarks	$6,100	—	$41,592	64%
University of California-San Diego	$12,470	$15,500	$84,943	86%
Rice University	$13,370	$11,000	$89,718	95%
New College of Florida	$7,195	$17,375	$48,082	67%
University of New Hampshire at Manchester	$9,992	$26,814	$66,479	50%
University of California-Los Angeles	$12,548	$14,000	$82,511	93%
Florida International University	$9,288	$16,500	$60,249	74%
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	$13,138	$19,500	$83,648	93%
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art	$13,269	$15,000	$83,847	81%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

All top school lists →

Colleges with the best earnings for the price

How this list is made

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

CUNY Hunter College

Princeton University

CUNY City College

University of Florida-Online

United States Merchant Marine Academy

University of Florida

Stanford University

Georgia Institute of Technology

California Institute of Technology

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Mount Carmel College of Nursing

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses

Berea College

University of California-Berkeley

College of the Ozarks

University of California-San Diego

Rice University

New College of Florida

University of New Hampshire at Manchester

University of California-Los Angeles

Florida International University

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

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