Colleges where Pell Grant students thrive
Colleges where at least a third of students receive federal Pell Grants, ranked by graduation rate.
154 schools qualify, ranked by graduation rate. 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).
- At least a third of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, and the college has a graduation rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by graduation rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1Tie
Riverside College of Health Careers
Newport News, VA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- 100% graduate
- 46% receive Pell Grants
- 1Tie
American College of Healthcare Sciences
Portland, OR · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- 100% graduate
- 66% receive Pell Grants
- 1Tie
Chamberlain University-Virginia
Vienna, VA · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- 100% graduate
- 44% receive Pell Grants
- 1Tie
Centra College
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- 100% graduate
- 47% receive Pell Grants
- 1Tie
Laboure College of Healthcare
Milton, MA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- 100% graduate
- 35% receive Pell Grants
- 1Tie
Chamberlain University-Michigan
Troy, MI · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- 100% graduate
- 50% receive Pell Grants
- 1Tie
St. Luke's College
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- 100% graduate
- 50% receive Pell Grants
- 1Tie
Chamberlain University-Missouri
St. Louis, MO · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- 100% graduate
- 55% receive Pell Grants
- 1Tie
Cox College
Springfield, MO · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- 100% graduate
- 36% receive Pell Grants
- 10
InterCoast Colleges-West Covina
West Covina, CA · Private for-profitTop 2% for graduation
- 97% graduate
- 73% receive Pell Grants
- 11
Angeles College
Los Angeles, CA · Private for-profitTop 4% for graduation
- 93% graduate
- 48% receive Pell Grants
- 12
Bolivar Technical College
Bolivar, MO · Private nonprofitTop 4% for graduation
- 92% graduate
- 65% receive Pell Grants
- 13
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel
Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 4% for graduation
- 91% graduate
- 44% receive Pell Grants
- 14
Felbry College
Columbus, OH · Private for-profitTop 4% for graduation
- 91% graduate
- 84% receive Pell Grants
- 15
Career Networks Institute
Santa Ana, CA · Private for-profitTop 5% for graduation
- 89% graduate
- 52% receive Pell Grants
- 16
Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe
Tempe, AZ · Private for-profit#1 in Arizona
- 89% graduate
- 47% receive Pell Grants
- 17
Southeastern College-West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, FL · Private for-profitTop 6% for graduation
- 88% graduate
- 77% receive Pell Grants
- 18
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 87% graduate
- 36% receive Pell Grants
- 19
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 86% graduate
- 34% receive Pell Grants
- 20
- 21
Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV · Private for-profitTop 6% for low debt
- 82% graduate
- 53% receive Pell Grants
- 22
Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio
San Antonio, TX · Private for-profitTop 10% for graduation
- 81% graduate
- 55% receive Pell Grants
- 23
Yeshivas Novominsk
Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitTop 8% for low net price
- 81% graduate
- 34% receive Pell Grants
- 24
Boricua College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for low debt
- 81% graduate
- 86% receive Pell Grants
- 25
Associated Beth Rivkah Schools
Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitTop 12% for graduation
- 77% graduate
- 64% receive Pell Grants
Compare cost and outcomes
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.