Universities with the Best Value
The value of a university education is something that is difficult to calculate, and this list of best value universities strives to factor in financial information provided from reliable sources. Those sources are Kiplinger's Best Values in Private Colleges and Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges, which were used primarily for the total cost of attendance and average student debt figures; and Payscale's College ROI Rankings which was used for the figures on each college's 30 year net return on investment (ROI).
There are many factors that play into the success of an individual that have nothing to do with where or if they attend college. This list is not a guarantee. This list is designed to act as a guide for students as they consider what kind of college they wish to attend. Earnings depend very much on the degree that is earned, and the ambition and ability of the person who earns the degree. So just getting into one of these schools doesn't guarantee that you will make the average earnings of graduates from that school.
Methodology
There is no perfect system for ranking colleges by any standard. All such ranking systems are subjective. This ranking system prizes a low average student debt, and a high average 30 year net ROI. The reason behind this is simple. The low average student debt is important because every student, regardless of their future career, benefits from graduating with as little debt as possible. Even if a student does not choose a career that will earn the average 30 year net ROI of a given school, the lower their debt, the better their life. This is why we factor in the average student debt separately even though it is already factored into the average net return on investment. Schools are presented in ascending order by ROI.
25 Low Debt and High ROI Universities
The schools listed here represent a wide range of options. This list is intended to function as a guide. Many schools have comparable statistics to the ones listed here. The schools on this list represent different kinds of schools and the values one can find there. Not everybody can get into the Princetons and Browns of the higher education system. This list includes both very exclusive, high level universities, and very accessible universities many might not even have heard of that still offer a great value to students.
Featured Online Programs
Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.
We hope that this list of the best value universities is of great help to you as you conduct your search for the best matching college program for you. For further reading, please see: 25 Best Value Colleges 2014 and 30 Best Affordable Online Colleges 2014
