Posted by: Richie Bernardo

When deciding where to pursue higher education, the choice between attending a university versus a college can be tough. But for those who prefer widely diverse academic and social opportunities, university is the answer.

Universities boast many advantages over colleges. Besides having big enrollment numbers that promise a dynamic campus life, universities offer both undergraduate- and graduate-level programs that lead to bachelor’s, masters and doctoral degrees. Students with an appetite for different subjects can even pursue multiple degree tracks at once.

But university students also give up certain privileges afforded to their peers at smaller colleges. For instance, university students in lower-level courses often receive classroom instruction from teaching assistants instead of professors who may spend more time researching than teaching. Large, crowded lecture halls can also make learning more of a challenge.

To determine which schools offer top-notch education at the most reasonable prices, WalletHub’s data team compared more than 850 such institutions across 27 key measures. Our data set — grouped into seven categories, such as Student Selectivity, Cost & Financing and Career Outcomes — ranges from student-faculty ratio to graduation rate to post-attendance median salary.

Read on for our findings, a ranking by region and a full description of our methodology. For insight into the most important financial issues facing college students today, check out WalletHub’s expert Q&A below the ranking results. Separate comparisons for colleges as well as for colleges and universities combined also are available on WalletHub.

1. Main Findings
2. Rankings by Region
3. Ask the Experts
4. Methodology

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/39704/geochart-undergrad-college.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2gBDxIU;  

Best Universities in America

*Note: Scores rounded to improve readability.

 

Ranking by Region

Midwest Rank	College (Percentile)	North Rank	College (Percentile)	South Rank	College (Percentile)	West Rank	College (Percentile)
1	Carleton College (MN) (97)	1	Amherst College (MA) (93)	1	Davidson College (NC) (98)	1	Harvey Mudd College (CA) (92)
2	Grinnell College (IA) (95)	2	Swarthmore College (PA) (87)	2	Virginia Military Institute (VA) (95)	2	Pomona College (CA) (85)

 

Ask the Experts

Although renowned for their quality, the biggest names in higher education don’t always prove to be the best value or choice for students. And with tuition rates rising every year, many students are likely to be more selective with their options. To advance the discussion on cost-related matters in post-secondary education, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. Are Ivy League and other “name-brand” schools worth the high sticker price?
2. What type of universities do you think provide the best return on investment?
3. Given that the top 25 universities hold 52 percent of all endowment wealth, should the government consider taxing endowments of the wealthiest universities?
4. Should college be tuition-free? How else can we work to make college more affordable?
5. What tips do you have for a student looking to graduate with minimal debt and great job prospects?

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• Stephen M. Brown Professor Emeritus of Management in the John F. Welch College of Business at Sacred Heart University
• Sean Robinson Associate Professor of Higher Education in the Department of Advanced Studies, Leadership and Policy at Morgan State University
• Scott W. Brown Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut
• Ronald David Glass Associate Professor of Philosophy of Education and Director of the Center for Collaborative Research for an Equitable California (CCREC) at the University of California
• Richard L. Schwab Raymond Neag Endowed Professor of Educational Leadership and Dean Emeritus in the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut
• Ramon B. Goings Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership in the School of Education at Loyola University Maryland
• Pedro Villarreal Assistant Professor of Educational and Psychological Studies in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami
• OiYan Poon Assistant Professor of Higher Education Leadership in the School of Education at Colorado State University
• Michael Giamellaro Assistant Professor of Science & Mathematics Education and Roundhouse Foundation Faculty Scholar of Science Education at Oregon State University College of Education
• Matthew B. Fuller Associate Professor and Director of the Doctoral Program in Higher Education Leadership at Sam Houston State University
• Mark Wiederspan Assistant Professor in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University
• Mark T. Haynal Chair of the Division of Teacher Education at Lewis-Clark State College

Stephen M. Brown Professor Emeritus of Management in the John F. Welch College of Business at Sacred Heart University Are Ivy League and other “name brand” schools worth the high sticker price? The sticker price and the price that students actually pay are often different. The good news about the highly endowed universities is that they have made commitments to support students who come from modest backgrounds and may not be able to pay. For many students, the actual cost to them may be less at a high-tuition institution than at one with a smaller tuition. Whether it is worth it depends on the student's goals and abilities. Which college to attend is a highly personal decision. The diversity of institutions provides students with choice and colleges with market competition. The competition has been a force in making most colleges more student-centered, attentive to costs and committed to quality. In the age of the brand, the brand means more in the marketplace and for life chances then it should. However, a school's alumni and support network are a real asset for the school's students and new alumni. What type of universities do you think provide the best return on investment? Evaluation of education programs and corporate training has been a major part of my academic career, and I am not sure that I can measure the ROI of college attendance for a single student. I know that on the whole, graduating from college significantly increases lifetime earnings and life chances. However, those are two variables among many. The success of the next generation of your family, enjoyment of life, understanding of your environment and making informed choices are also potential outcomes for a college education. Again, what college works for you is an individual and personal decision. As a rule, I recommend a well-established university with a wide diversity of majors, a very good program in your major and one that truly cares about students like you. I also think potential students should look for a university that will offer them new experiences and push and stretch them. Given that the top 25 universities hold 52% of all endowment wealth, should the government consider taxing endowments of the wealthiest universities? Absolutely not. The majority of the endowment is the result of donations. The donors have decided to give to support the mission of the university. It is a result of the free market and tax laws. We do not think of it as being negative that certain art museums, foundations or not-for-profits have amassed a large endowment. We monitor how they use the money, and make the information publicly available. Should college be tuition free? How else can we work to make college more affordable? I believe that very inexpensive college education should be available. I also believe that no qualified student should be forced not to attend or drop out of college because of lack of funds. This is not only an equalitarian policy, but it is actually good for our knowledge-based economy. However, students and their families should have a stake in the education as well. Maybe a sliding scale for tuition would work. This is essentially the original intent of the federal financial programs. However, I am cautious on how any "free tuition" scheme would work. Look at public education in the U.S. It is among the most inequitable of social institutions. Additionally, the privileged class has often decided not to participate in the public system altogether, and attend schools with prohibitive tuition cost. There are a few things the industry could do to keep costs down. The first is that we need to let some colleges close. We have excess capacity, and this causes additional cost in competing for students, with marketing and advertising costs, as well as deep tuition discounts. Also, as a result of competition for students, and partly as a result of the generation of the current college-going cohort, universities are in an arms race of spending on options and amenities. Universities are building new and elaborate classroom buildings, luxurious dorms, several dining options and multitudes of activities. These things add cost beyond traditional educational activities. I also believe universities need to decide what they are and are not. Teaching institutions spend considerable resources supporting research instead of teaching activities. Often, the research is not first-rate, and represents no significant addition to the field. What tips do you have for a student looking to graduate with minimal debt and great job prospects? First and foremost, follow your dreams and purpose. Motivation and passion go a long way in distinguishing yourself. When applying to universities, do not assume that the lower the tuition, the less it will cost you. You are interested in what you will have to pay. Financial aid varies greatly among universities. Secondly, there are some truly great colleges with lower tuition. Whatever college you attend, it is possible to get a good education by wisely choosing courses and professors. Do things, study things and get experiences that help you stand out and help give you a good resume. Make connections with faculty members. They can help with connections in the field, recommendations and study/job opportunities. You have a limited time as a student. Embrace every moment. Have different experiences, try different things and develop your brand and passion. Do at least two internships. They often lead to jobs. Writing, speaking and critical thinking skills are imperative. Develop some useful skills. Above all, be yourself and follow your dream with intensity. Sean Robinson Associate Professor of Higher Education in the Department of Advanced Studies, Leadership and Policy at Morgan State University Are Ivy League and other “name brand” schools worth the high sticker price? What type of universities do you think provide the best return on investment? This time every year, thousands of high school seniors begin the long-awaited process of visiting colleges and filling out lengthy applications. While some of the students have been narrowing their lists of schools to which they will apply, a vast majority will spend hour after hour pouring over brochures, combing websites, talking with friends, family, and teachers, or perhaps students who are already attending particular institutions. Inevitably, one key factor will creep into the equation of which schools they apply to, and ultimately, which one they attend -- finances. Parents will undoubtedly ask how much any one school will cost them. Students, however, are more likely to be concerned about student clubs, athletics, making new friends, and while not necessarily at the top of their list initially, at some point, they will probably wonder which school will give them the best chances for a job after graduation. And it’s almost guaranteed that if students don’t have this concern, parents do, given the exponentially risen costs of a college education. Most high school counselors, admissions officers, college faculty, and those who study higher education would say there is not one “right” answer to the question about which college is the “best” one to attend, and that it boils down to goodness of fit between the student and the institution as a whole. But wrapped up in this question is a deeper question that lurks for many students and their parents -- should I try to get into an elite, private Ivy League university, and is it worth the price compared to a less competitive, less selective school? In essence, families want to know what’s the return on investment for attending elite universities, and if their child could fare just as well at a non-elite school, if not better, considering the costs to attend a “brand name” university. I don’t mean to tick off the Ivies, but for most students, going to a university other than one of the top elites will actually be a better deal, both in the short term and the long term. This stems from a number of studies that have explored the value of a college education, and the actual return on investment 20 years after graduation. Let’s start with the basics -- the actual value of a college degree. By attending and finishing college, college graduates have made a significant initial investment in their career in terms of both time and money, and they typically have very high labor force participation. And because a college degree affords more opportunities in the labor market -- not least of which is the fact that college graduates are often more competitive relative to non-college graduates when it comes to landing jobs not requiring a college degree -- unemployment among those with a college degree is substantially lower than among those without a college degree. According to Teresa Kroeger, Tanyell Cooke, and Elise Gould of the Economic Policy Institute, in February 2016, 17.9 percent of high school graduates were unemployed; yet only 5.6 percent of college graduates were unemployed -- although 12.6 percent were underemployed. Based simply on employment rates, it is clear that a college degree significantly impacts job prospects. Furthermore, according to Anthony Carnevale, Ban Cheah, and Andrew Hanson from Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce, the difference between the lifetime wages of those who graduate college versus those who only graduated from high school is $1 million. While attending college is certainly a boon for one’s lifetime salary, the bigger factor affecting salary is college major. Carnevale, Cheah, and Hanson found that majors play a larger role in determining earnings than the simple decision to go to college. Graduating the part of the equation; what one studies is the second part. The top-paying college majors earn $3.4 million more than the lowest-paying majors over a lifetime. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), health, and business majors are the highest-paying; the lowest-paying majors are in education, arts, and social work fields. But there is one caveat, as the authors caution -- your major isn’t your destiny. They also found that some college graduates who have generally low-paying majors earn more than some college graduates with generally higher-paying majors: for example, the top 25 percent of education majors earn $59,000 or more annually, while the bottom 25 percent of engineering majors earn $59,000 or less annually. Does earning a college degree make a difference to your future? Absolutely. Put another way, on average, those who have a college degree earn almost twice as much as those who do not. This table shows the average yearly salary based on educational level. Clearly, on average, those with more education benefit more in the workforce.

Education Level	Avg. Yearly Income	Increase
Drop-out	$20,873	—
High school	$31,071	48.9%
College	$56,788	82.8%
Advanced degree	$82,320	45.0%

Just as one picks a college based on goodness of fit, so too should one pick their major based on fit. Career counselors routinely tell students to pick a major and career area that one is passionate about, that one enjoys, and where one’s talents, skills, and value are aligned. These are the keys to success in the job market. Choosing a major just because of potential job prospects, without doing soul searching about whether it’s the right one is a recipe for frustration, and potentially failure. Now that we have established that going to college and picking a “good” major are worthwhile investments in one’s career, let’s revisit the question about whether it’s actually worth it to attend an elite university versus a non-elite one. In two separate, but similar research studies conducted in 2001 and 2011, economists Stacy Dale and Alan Krueger argued that elite colleges did not seem to give most graduates an earnings boost. These researchers tracked two groups of students -- one that attended college in the 1970s, and another in the early 1990s. They wanted to know: did students attending the most elite colleges earn more in their 30s, 40s, and 50s than students with similar SAT scores, who were rejected from those elite colleges? The short answer was no, attending an elite university was not a guarantee of higher earnings. What does that mean for college seniors applying to school this fall? It means that for many students, the school one attend holds far less significance than who you are as an individual. After correcting for a student’s pre-existing talent, ambition, and habits, it's hard to show that highly selective colleges (the Ivies) add much earning power, even with their vaunted professors, professional networks, and signaling. Yet this did not hold true for a particular sub-group of students, namely for black and Hispanic students, and students who had parents with an average of less than 16 years of schooling. Dale and Krueger found that the most selective schools really do make an extraordinary difference in life earnings for these students. But for a vast majority, there was no difference at all. Why might this be the case? According to the researchers, minority students from less-educated families are more likely to rely on colleges to provide the internship and job networks, that come automatically from living in a rich neighborhood with wealthy parents. In essence, these students lack the social and cultural capital that would allow them to be successful in a university setting. In theory, elite schools ought to provide more of the networking and career-oriented opportunities for minority students, that one’s family cannot. But the sad fact is, elite colleges appear to be most valuable for the students they are least likely to admit --and least valuable for the students they are most likely to admit. As if the studies by Dale and Krueger weren’t enough, every year, PayScale Human Capital conducts a ROI report highlighting the best college value for the money, based on the difference between a 20-year pay median for a graduate from that college, and a 24-year pay median of a high school graduate, minus the costs to attend and graduate from that particular college. In the top 100 schools, only 44 were private schools. This suggests that two-thirds of the schools offering the best ROI are in fact public state institutions. While 7 of the 8 Ivy League schools were in the top 50, none were in the top 10. The following chart shows the top elite schools and how they ranked according to their ROI.

University	ROI Ranking
MIT	3
Princeton	15
Stanford	16
Harvard	26
University of Pennsylvania	32
Dartmouth	37
Columbia	40
Duke	43
Yale	45
Cornell	46
Brown	62

So, what’s the bottom line? Should individuals go to college -- in short, yes. But a four-year degree isn’t for everyone, and community colleges are a fantastic way to further one’s education, since they offer a wealth of career and technical education. Does it matter where one goes? Are elite colleges worth the price of admission? The reality is -- no, it doesn’t matter for most people whether they attend an elite school, a public land grant, or a small liberal arts college. What matters the most is that if one decides to go to college, she chooses the one with the best fit and feel, and that she chooses a major that is also a good fit. Once those decisions are made, the fun can really begin. Scott W. Brown Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut Are Ivy League and other “name brand” schools worth the high sticker price? That all depends on what you think you are buying with the sticker price. If it is an education, then no, because you can get an excellent education at a wide variety of colleges/universities. If it is making connections and a “pedigree,” then maybe -- your call as the consumer. It is like buying a new car -- they sell them for $15,000, or more than $150,000, and they are basically all the same -- transportation vehicles. But people will pay for luxury, speed, prestige and reliability. Education is expensive, but so are the supporting systems that many college students want -- recreation centers, Wi-Fi everywhere (but secure and fast), large dorm rooms, great meals, activities, beautiful buildings. The common factor is -- all colleges/universities have a number of great professors for students to tap into. What type of universities do you think provide the best return on investment? The type is not private or public, prestigious or middle-of-the-road, large or small -- it is the one that fits the student’s goals and objectives for his/her education best. Does it have the major they want? Internship opportunities? Support for research opportunities? Another important consideration is flexibility, as roughly 50 percent of entering college students change their major before their junior year, because they often make ill-informed decisions on what their major would be. They may have thought that major would define what they would do for the rest of their lives -- it doesn’t. So, the best investment is about fit -- of the college/university mission and offerings, and what the student thinks he/she may want. Given that the top 25 universities hold 52% of all endowment wealth, should the government consider taxing endowments of the wealthiest universities? Definitely not. Those endowments are used for scholarships, endowed professors, research support, infrastructure upgrades -- all of which would be drastically reduced, if taxed. Should college be tuition free? How else can we work to make college more affordable? Free college is the hot button right now, based on our recent presidential debates and the skyrocketing costs of tuition. It can’t be free until we find a different business model to replace it. Free tuition is possible if state taxes and endowments can be raised to pay for these institutions of higher learning -- but no one wants to pay more taxes, even though some countries like Norway have found a way to provide free college education through a student’s Master’s degree. What tips do you have for a student looking to graduate with minimal debt and great job prospects? See your financial aid office and apply for grants, work-study, and/or find a job on campus. Consider going to a community college for your first two years -- they provide a solid education and are less expensive -- then transfer to a four-year school to finish your degree. 40 percent of college students today are in community colleges. Professor Brown’s opinions do not reflect those of the University of Connecticut. Ronald David Glass Associate Professor of Philosophy of Education and Director of the Center for Collaborative Research for an Equitable California (CCREC) at the University of California Are Ivy League and other “name brand” schools worth the high sticker price? What type of universities do you think provide the best return on investment? Both of these questions make problematic assumptions that higher education is a financial "investment" that requires a "return" in kind. What matters is not the money invested, but the time and energy invested in learning. The more time and energy invested, the greater the rate of return, regardless of how much money was spent. Given that the top 25 universities hold 52% of all endowment wealth, should the government consider taxing endowments of the wealthiest universities? If we are going to tax universities, we should be taxing churches. If we are going to tax the holdings of universities, we should be taxing the holdings of the churches, banks and insurance companies, where the wealth is actually concentrated. Should college be tuition free? How else can we work to make college more affordable? There should be high-quality four-year college/university public options that are readily affordable for the least advantaged. These should be primarily funded through progressive taxation. Community colleges should be tuition-free and similarly funded. What tips do you have for a student looking to graduate with minimal debt and great job prospects? High-quality learning is possible in virtually every context, so make the most of whatever college you attend. Pursue your interests and passions, get to know professors, and study with intention and discipline. If you have to borrow money to go to school, minimize it, and make sure you use that purchased time wisely. Richard L. Schwab Raymond Neag Endowed Professor of Educational Leadership and Dean Emeritus in the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut Are Ivy League and other “name brand” schools worth the high sticker price? I believe the most important thing for choosing a college or university is fit -- in some cases, a large public institution offers the variety in degrees and experiences that will be best for the student. In others, it’s the class size and intellectual challenges that can happen in smaller liberal arts colleges and Ivy League-type universities. Having the options for meeting students’ needs, interests and intellectual curiosity is what makes higher education institutions in this nation so revered across the world. So, for the right student in the right setting, Ivy League and other name brand institutions are worth the cost, as a high-quality university/college experience is the best lifetime investment one can make. What type of universities do you think provide the best return on investment? I have always felt that a strong liberal arts education is the best value for a lifetime of learning and enjoying life. Such a foundation can be found at both smaller liberal arts colleges, and universities who value liberal arts education. I say that as former dean of the Neag School of Education, which is a professional school. Our teacher education program starts at the undergraduate level and continues into the fifth year or master’s degree level, in order to ensure that all our graduates have both a strong liberal arts foundation, as well as the pedagogical knowledge to be effective K-12 teachers. Given that the top 25 universities hold 52% of all endowment wealth, should the government consider taxing endowments of the wealthiest universities? No. Endowments make expensive colleges affordable for a range of students. Many of these endowments were given by generous donors to help talented students attend colleges that will challenge them and are the right fit. Eroding such endowments means only the sons and daughters of rich parents will have the opportunity to attend great institutions. Should college be tuition free? How else can we work to make college more affordable? Expand work study, open it up to a wider range of SES parents -- up the pay, too. I have always felt that students who work at the college and university have a healthier attitude toward learning. Second, fix student loans -- they are a rip-off with exorbitant interest rates. Also, expand forgivable loans opportunities for service in great postgraduate programs, like AmeriCorps. It’s a double win for America -- we allow students to attend college and we get services that greatly help our country. What tips do you have for a student looking to graduate with minimal debt and great job prospects? Be a thoughtful about the educational experience, as you are about how the recreational facilities look. When visiting colleges, look at things such as class size, retention rates from year one to two, average student debt load of graduates, what the college and university graduate school and job placement rates are, and who some of their alumni are. Also, consider starting at a community college, and save funds for the second two years at the college of your choice. Ramon B. Goings Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership in the School of Education at Loyola University Maryland Are Ivy League and other “name brand” schools worth the high sticker price? I believe it depends on the student and their plans after completing the degree to decide if these schools are worth the high sticker price. For instance, if you plan to attend one of these schools and amass a large amount of student loan debt to then enter a field that will not provide the future salary potential to pay back the debt, then these types of schools may not be worth the price. In addition, this matter becomes more complex -- while these schools have great reputations, many have historically been unwelcoming to marginalized and underserved populations (e.g., students of color). Thus, many students from these populations must also contemplate if paying a high price for the degree is worth to potentially be in a racially hostile environment. What type of universities do you think provide the best return on investment? I think universities that allow students to minimize their student loan debt while providing an academic environment that trains students for their future careers provide the best return on investment. Also, recent research (e.g., Gallup-USA Funds Minority College Graduates Report) has shown that historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) provide a strong return on investment for Black students in particular. Should college be tuition free? How else can we work to make college more affordable? While I would love for college tuition to be free, I understand that the money to make this happen has to come from somewhere (e.g., increase in taxes). However, I would like to see more colleges adapt Paul Quinn College’s Work Program model, where residential full-time students attend college while working on campus or with one of their corporate partners, and are provided a tuition assistance grant along with a stipend. These types of experiences not only offset the cost of college, but provide students with job experience that can give them a leg up on their competition on the job market, once they earn their degree. What tips do you have for a student looking to graduate with minimal debt and great job prospects? For students who are looking to limit debt, I would recommend that they attend community college for two years, and then transfer to a state university. Given the first two years are often spent completing general education requirements, it would be beneficial to do this in the community college setting, where tuition is more affordable. Moreover, for many states, there are admission agreements in place between state institutions and community colleges. Thus, some students may be able to earn large academic awards as a transfer student that can offset the cost of attending a four-year university. In terms of job prospects, I believe that along with looking for a job, students should consider how they can take their skill set to create their own business. More specifically, with the rapid changes in technology, students should consider how they can leverage these platforms to build businesses that can revolutionize their respective industries. Pedro Villarreal Assistant Professor of Educational and Psychological Studies in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami Are Ivy League and other “name brand” schools worth the high sticker price? Yes, I believe that Ivy League institutions and most name brand institutions are still worth pursuing. However, I think that a student’s return on investment from a personal standpoint will be largely affected by the choice of degree majors. Some degree programs are likely to return much, while other degree programs are likely to cost more than the likely return will be within a reasonable period of time after degree completion. For example, a degree at NYU is one of the costliest brand institutions, with tuition and fees approximating $49,000 per academic year, and the total cost of attendance nearing $72,000 per academic year. This is a substantial amount for most degree programs, if one is to pay most of it out of pocket. In most cases, however, most students will receive some financial assistance from one source or another, such as federal, state, or institutional aid packages, or financial assistance from parents or even employer-based professional development funds. But this should be concerning for many who attend an institution like NYU and attain a degree in a field with low employment and/or salary opportunities. It is not that the student will not be able to pay their education, it only means that it will take longer to get a return on that investment. If someone comes from a low-income background, opportunities at some of the Ivy Leagues, such as Harvard University, Colombia University, or University of Pennsylvania can be quite significant, as many of these institutions promise a no-loan policy for some or all of their students. That is, students will not be required to take out student educational loans to pay for their college. This means low, out-of-pocket expenses to be paid by the student. Some institutions have a no-loan policy that aides any student regardless of income backgrounds, while other institutions promise no student loans to certain low-income students. These institutional policies are largely seen at some of these high prestige private institutions of higher education. Since these institutional policies are constantly in flux, I would recommend that you communicate with institutional representatives when making decisions about college admissions based on this type of policy. What type of universities do you think provide the best return on investment? The answer to this question is, it depends. Some students are likely to earn a better return on investment for attending the same institution. For example, a low-income student who attends a private institution, but majors in journalism will likely not return as much or as soon as a student who attends a public community college degree in a technical program of instruction, provided at a fraction of the costs. It is not that students will never be able to have a return on their educational investments, it is more about the amount of time it will take to have a return on that investment. You also need to make this decision based on one’s age at time of enrollment. Similar to retirement or other types of investments, an 18-year-old has more time to make a return on investment than a 38-year-old who wants to go to the same college for the same degree program. Decisions about whether an individual can have a return on investment requires one to think about several things, such as student’s age, institution’s name, total costs to be paid out-of-pocket by the student, including loans, time-to-degree, and time until retirement age. These will give you enough information to make an intelligible decision regarding your educational prospects at any institution. Given that the top 25 universities hold 52% of all endowment wealth, should the government consider taxing endowments of the wealthiest universities? Personally, I think that endowments should fall under the same rules of other organizations with similar investment interests. I think that corporate investment companies have significant influence, and I find no reason at this point to have differed rules for hedge funds than we have for educational investment companies. But that is more of a political issue beyond my control, rather than a policy consideration. From an economic policy perspective, I suspect that a progressive tax system would produce better results from the broader group of Americans, producing positive social and economic gains for the country and the society at large. But changing the rules for these educational investment companies would make it difficult for these institutions to maintain some of the no-loan policies I spoke about above. Some of these favorable tax policies have provided these institutions with the opportunity to implement these no-loan policies. I would make it a requirement for these organizations to continue to operate similar no-loan policies to maintain their favorable tax treatment. This would ensure that the institution’s endowments are being used for the benefit of future students. Should college be tuition free? How else can we work to make college more affordable? I, personally, believe that experimenting with free college is a good thing. I would recommend that more institutions or state governments consider experimenting with these options. I also understand that the potential consequence to these decisions is that it could drive enrollment away from private institutions toward the free public universities. Many of the free colleges are private institutions, but they maintain small admissions classes and are scarce. More recently, some states have passed legislation offering their students the equivalent of no tuitions if they meet certain characteristics, such as New York State’s new policy regarding state resident tuitions at their public universities, for families who earn below a set maximum family income. Similarly, residents in Tennessee will pay no tuition to attend any of their state’s community colleges. There are a few nuanced requirements with each of these approaches that desire attention for the student who wishes to use them. New York requires that the student remain a resident of the state for a few years after graduating. Otherwise, they will be required to pay back a portion of their tuition and fees that was paid by the state. A national system of free public education is an unlikely possibility in the foreseeable future, given the political realities of the federal government. What tips do you have for a student looking to graduate with minimal debt and great job prospects? Student employment prospects are a priority for people who attend college. If possible, I would recommend that students review data on the institutions’ employment outcome data, if the institutions report it. Also, speaking to graduates of these institutions will offer you insights on their personal financial situations. So, if you are lucky to have the social capital of knowing people who graduated from these institutions, you should ask them questions about whether they regret attending college where they did. I would also recommend that you establish and build great relationships with fellow student colleagues. Often, it will be them who will open the doors to opportunities. People who attend University of Pennsylvania’s Business School do so because they understand that many of their colleagues are likely to have the connections and relationships with people in the field, who will hire future employees. Most students who attend many of these elite, private institutions tend to be Type-A personalities, who are very likely to be successful even without a college education, so connecting with a broad swath of student colleagues during undergraduate school can be a powerful way to gain access to at least an interview, if not employment, after one graduates college. OiYan Poon Assistant Professor of Higher Education Leadership in the School of Education at Colorado State University Are Ivy League and other “name brand” schools worth the high sticker price? The answer to this question depends on the student and their personal educational goals, needs, and interests. Name brand does not necessarily mean they offer the best kind of education for every student. Education is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Prestige in higher education is not a notion based on an assessment of how teaching and learning (the quality of education) happens in any given campus. National rankings are less concerned with quality of education, and more concerned with measures that are unrelated with teaching and learning. What type of universities do you think provide the best return on investment? Again, this depends on a student’s goals and interests. I agree with Lani Guinier who argued in her latest book that elite universities admit the most privileged students and simply polish them a bit. The colleges and universities I’m more impressed with are those that work with students who are talented, but have not had the best opportunities and mentoring -- diamonds in the rough, so to speak. The institutions capable of providing these students with opportunities to excel not only benefit students, but they also contribute toward the national development and growth of a citizenry capable of working toward solving social, scientific, economic, and other problems in the world. These institutions are worth public investment, because the ROI can be immeasurable. Should college be tuition free? How else can we work to make college more affordable? Yes. Higher education is good for individuals and the overall economy. It is unfortunately unaffordable for too many talented students, due to a consistent decline in public investments in higher education since the early 1970s. What tips do you have for a student looking to graduate with minimal debt and great job prospects? Learning happens in and out of the classroom. Get to know the faculty, ask for help from them, and ask questions to gain a deeper understanding of course content. Take advantage of the student support services and student involvement opportunities on campus, to engage in developing your skills in leadership, problem solving, community engagement, and communication. Think of college holistically and beyond the walls of the classroom. Michael Giamellaro Assistant Professor of Science & Mathematics Education and Roundhouse Foundation Faculty Scholar of Science Education at Oregon State University College of Education Are Ivy League and other “name brand” schools worth the high sticker price? That can be either an individual or an economic question. As an individual, an Ivy League school is worth as much as people are willing to pay for it. I see it as the same as any other commodity. If an individual feels like it is worth paying $250,000 for a car, then the performance or status it conveys is very likely worth it to him or her. As an economic question, in which future income is the dependent variable, the models I have seen suggest the high price tag never pays off, particularly when one takes into account the differences in selectivity and starting wealth associated with high-priced private schools. Again, though, people don’t buy luxury goods because they are going to last longer. For students who wish to attend graduate school, Ivy League credentials probably do lead to higher acceptance rates. What type of universities do you think provide the best return on investment? The right schools for the individual. We can look at statistical models here, but that is not the best way to choose a college. There is no best school for everyone, and choosing the wrong one or choosing based on the wrong criteria will result in the worst return on investment, because it will probably mean dropping out. While I believe that even some college education will allow you to develop as a person, it is the degree that will change your income and career options. An incomplete degree is a worse investment than the cost of any completed degree. For many students, public universities provide an excellent balance of student needs and the ability to find the best niche. For others, specialty programs or tiny class sizes offered by private schools might be the better call. Still, others may benefit from a community college to university track. Knowing what your end game is and understanding what factors help allow you to be successful, and then finding the institution that meets your needs is the best possible scenario. It is also important to keep in mind that universities vary by department and therefore, one degree program may not be of the same quality as another. Talk to a few people in your chosen field and ask if they would hire someone from programs X, Y, and Z. Some fields may favor specific college programs, and this is almost always a sign that they truly are high-quality programs. Given that the top 25 universities hold 52% of all endowment wealth, should the government consider taxing endowments of the wealthiest universities? Absolutely not. The first cuts would be made to financial aid awards made to students who most need them. Should college be tuition free? How else can we work to make college more affordable? We all benefit from a well-educated society, so that seems like a good return on investment. However, those dollars need to come from somewhere. I would like to see a system where tuition was waived for students who commit to giving back to society before, during, or after their college coursework. Students could commit to a lower introductory wage in the military, Peace Corps, government agencies, non-profits, or medical system in exchange for their post-secondary education. Similarly, I would love to see industry invest in individuals by sponsoring their path through college, providing an ongoing internship, and then guaranteeing employment that also may include a lower starting wage. Ideally, this would mean investment not just in the superstar students, but the ones who are on the fence about their postsecondary decisions. What tips do you have for a student looking to graduate with minimal debt and great job prospects? Do your research and decide what you want your outcomes to be. If your passions align with a career with relatively low average salaries, then consider your path carefully. Calculate what your loan payments would be for each school before you choose. Even your dream job will feel like a burden if you have little money left over each month after making a loan payment. There is a high chance you will change your major in college, so consider this in your calculation. Choosing an unaffordable college because of future potential earnings is a gamble, particularly if your assumptions are based on completing a degree associated with high salaries. Set yourself up to follow your passions, interests, and skills. If your path leads you toward an arts degree, for example, don’t overburden yourself with loans, such that you never have time to create your art when you graduate. Matthew B. Fuller Associate Professor and Director of the Doctoral Program in Higher Education Leadership at Sam Houston State University Are Ivy League and other “name brand” schools worth the high sticker price? To be direct, yes. But this is a complex topic. First, I think we have to ask the question, “Is a college education worth the higher sticker price?” To this, I can say a resounding yes. College is still worth the sticker price. Among college graduates ages 25 to 32, the median annual salary is $17,500 greater than for those with just a high school diploma. As you look at this gap across the past five decades, the gap is widening, mostly because the value of a high school diploma is dropping. College has always been a great financial investment, and I believe it will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Now for Ivy League and brand name schools. Certainly, the high cost of attendance is a shock for many students. But that cost also carries with it some tremendous benefits. Innovative curricula, top-notch faculty, and world class facilities are just part of the equation. The real benefit of an Ivy League or brand name education is access to a network of future employers and colleagues. Ivy League students often rub shoulders with others who open doors for young professional after college. Certainly, one needs not look at Forbes 500, The World’s Most Powerful Women, or other lists to clearly see the benefits of an Ivy League education. But there is another layer to all of this. The U.S. has a clear “pecking order” of institutions with Ivy Leagues and large Research I institutions at the top, and then other institutions falling in line in various order behind that. As youngsters, many of us are taught by parents, guidance counselors, and friends that it is important to get into the best school. This happens earlier and earlier, such that now, when students start kindergarten, there is often talk of getting into the best college. I like to tell young people that it’s not about getting into the best college -- it’s about getting into the best fitting college. So, I encourage them to not just look at the college’s reputation, but at the reputation of the degree program at that college. Often, various institutions have degrees with great reputations. If you have you heart set on being a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, or a police officer, it does you no good to go to a great university that has only a mediocre degree program in what you are hoping to do. What type of universities do you think provide the best return on investment? Certainly, institutions that are doing much to limit costs will offer higher returns on investments. There are a number of ratings, like Kiplinger’s Best College Values that rates the costs of colleges relative to what they offer. My alma mater (Texas A&M) consistently performs well. As I said in my prior answer, institutions that do very well at offering the best fit for individuals’ majors will continue to perform well. Given that the top 25 universities hold 52% of all endowment wealth, should the government consider taxing endowments of the wealthiest universities? Throughout most of my professional career, there have been plans and studies of taxing endowments. This is certainly a matter for your readers to consider, in light of their philosophy on taxation. Essentially, you are asking if we should tax the highest 1 percent of endowments. I am generally not in favor of taxation of these endowments, primarily on the grounds that colleges and universities provide society with tremendous benefits that could be lost if heavy taxation were in play. I also believe that taxes should be levied in return for a governmental service, and I really question what service the government is efficiently providing higher education. Certainly, financial aid is one service, but grants, which I see at currently acceptable levels, are another. These taxes on large endowments would essentially be a redistribution of wealth, which would effective disincentivize the desire to accrue larger endowments. Also, and perhaps most importantly, I would hate to think that there is a cure for cancer, or the next great energy or agriculture discovery, or the next great poet laureate sitting in one of our classrooms or labs, and the schools would not be able to take their research or teaching to full fruition because an endowment was taxed too heavily. Still, I recognize that many are worried about the amount of money the super-rich schools have accrued. To this, I offer the idea of setting up some form of governmental award or accreditation recognition for institutions that meet various giving standards with their endowments. Annually, colleges typically spend very little of their endowment; far less than they are earning off of their endowments. Though my numbers are a little old, college endowments earned an average of 9.7 percent, yet only 4.6 percent of the endowment was spent. This trend continues today. That is mostly because endowments are like a credit line or collateral for a loan. The larger the endowment, the lower risk to the bank, so the college can get the funds for a new classroom, dorm, cafeteria, student center, or any other number of services we provide our students. Should college be tuition free? How else can we work to make college more affordable? I’d say again that this is really a matter of your readers’ political philosophy. I start this discussion saying that -- as everyone who has taken economics knows -- there is nothing for free. Tuition dollars come from somewhere. In states that have initiated “free college” initiatives, I am always struck by the parameters and criteria needed to qualify for the programs. So, in many instances, these programs simply do not cover as large a number of families as the media and the current rhetoric would have the general public believe. There are a number of programs to make community college tuition free for families under particular salary ranges. I am in more in favor of these kinds of programs, as community college can be a great way for students to begin their college career. However, all of these programs -- for community colleges or universities -- typically only cover tuition; they do not cover fees for services, textbooks, housing, cost of living, etc. Again, there is nothing free about “free college.” From this perspective, “free college” is really little more than fancy rhetoric. There are ways to limit college costs and make it more affordable for families. First of all, I am in favor of “rate lock” programs. Many states have programs where you could have locked in the then-current college tuition rates in the 1980s or 1990s, and use today. However, many of these lock-in programs would seem to not work today, as college costs so much already. Outside of this, colleges and universities need to look at fees, as the cost of fees and the number of fees of skyrocketed. For example, when a student comes to the typical college or university, the institution makes a commitment to provide food, housing, entertainment, recreation facilities and programs, study abroad programs, hospitals, athletics programs, counseling services, student union centers, libraries, computer labs and other hardware, Wi-Fi, streets, a police and safety force, and research labs, all of which require electricity, heating, water, and utilities. Higher education rests at the nexus of a number of very expensive services that students have come to expect. So, one long-term solution could be to be a bit more austere in our services. When I went to college, I lived in a bare-bones dorm, with a fairly basic recreation center, and only a few other services. Nowadays, college dorms have large, world-class suites, cafeterias serve gourmet food 24/7, and recreation centers rival professional athletic facilities. Colleges and universities are in a rather peculiar “arms race.” If they don’t offer the biggest, newest, flashiest facilities or services, students will go to another college right down the road. An austerity movement in higher education will be difficult to precipitate, but there are a few institutions who are starting to realize that there is a niche for the bare-bones college experience again. Online learning is certainly helping in this regard. Colleges and universities need to re-evaluate their fee structure. I know of a number of institutions that have fully online programs and they charge fees that only traditional, brick and mortar students will be able to access. Typically, an administrator imposes these fees on all students simply because he/she sees economies of scale working in his/her favor, but not in the student’s favor. A model that would precipitate an austerity movement in the service areas it the “pay-as-you-go” fee structure. First, all students pay a reduced fee to help sustain basic service levels and staff salaries. As students use a service, such as the recreation center or a counseling center, they pay for the services they use. The traditional experience is athletics fees. If students don’t go to a game and instead watch the game from home on a TV, why should they pay for tickets they will not use? Opponents of such a system will say that without the inclusion of fees, students will be missing out on vital collegiate experiences or learning experiences. Another extension of this philosophy is a trend we have seen for some time: privatization of services. Since the 1990s, residence halls and campus dining, for example, have faced a steady call to move housing and dining services off-campus. Often the private sector, which is not subject to governmental regulation and can be traded on the public market, can offer services today’s students want at a lower cost. For example, if a college wants to build a dorm, state fire codes require a particular number of sprinkler heads that can put out a specific volume of water, must have a specific number of windows, walls, and square footage, specially designed entrances and exits and fire exits, high-tech fire alarm and CO monitoring systems, keyed door locks, and specially designed fire rated doors. All of these cost students money. And, state regulations often require that institutions of higher education must maintain a building for 50 to 75 years, meaning maintenance costs skyrocket; and students pick up the bills for that also. Now, let’s look at a privatized dorm corporation. Because of a lack of regulation, these corporations can buy land right next to campus, build rooms that are more attuned with what students want these days (with more or better amenities), and can make more money doing so; meaning they can tear down and rebuild a building for far less than it is to maintain it. Since these private companies are not agents of the state, they also have less costs in operating disciplinary programs and less liability, meaning less insurance cost. Still, the college living experience has a number of students still coming on campus. So, the privatization push does have one check on it. This austerity movement will have to have college students live austerely. I see how many college students live today and I see a lot of exuberance. Basically, college students will have to make a decision to save money and not live large in college, a tough decision in today’s context, but one that will set college graduates up for long term success. What tips do you have for a student looking to graduate with minimal debt and great job prospects? See above for a few ideas. However, another idea I can offer is that students should consider working through college when they believe they are ready. According to the National Survey of Student Engagement, 58 percent of senior students are working for pay at an off-campus job. I encourage students to consider working in a job for a number of reasons. First, the extra income can be used to defray college costs. But more importantly, I believe students that are earning their way through college are building up their “sweat equity” in their own college success. In my classes, the students working through college are those that refuse to let themselves fail. Many institutions, particularly those with graduate programs, offer tuition remission or scholarship programs for employees. For example, I worked through my doctorate as a staff member at an institution that paid for the college for its employees. When it comes to job prospects, please see my answer for the first question. As students select a college, if getting a job is their concern, they should search out post-graduation employment statistics. Also, institutions will likely offer stories of their graduates. Doing research on this topic is critical to students’ college-going decision. A number of resources are available for this kind of research. Mark Wiederspan Assistant Professor in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University Are Ivy League and other “name brand” schools worth the high sticker price? Families often believe that graduates who attend an Ivy League or higher-priced institution will earn more money than graduates from elsewhere. The perception is often that higher price means higher quality. However, I would say no, name brand schools are not always worth the high sticker price. Only for a particular set of students may there be a benefit to attending a name brand school. Previous research has demonstrated that going to an Ivy League does not necessarily mean higher earnings. Research by Dale and Krueger found students who were accepted to an Ivy League school, but went elsewhere, earned salaries that were equivalent to Ivy League grads. Only a specific demographic of students was noticed to have an increase in earnings -- Black and Hispanic students and first-generation college entrants. Given that the top 25 universities hold 52% of all endowment wealth, should the government consider taxing endowments of the wealthiest universities? University endowments have a variety of functions. They can contribute to college’s overall revenue, allow tuition rates to be low, can be used to hire faculty, help with the construction of new buildings, and support institutional financial aid programs. When donors give to these endowments, they will often impose spending restrictions. Many of the university endowment funds have a designated purpose, and the funds cannot be spent freely as universities wish. Traditionally, endowments are tax-exempt. So, there is a debate on whether or not the tax code should be changed in such a way that requires endowments to pay out at a similar rate to private foundations, which are required to pay out at least 5 percent of their funds. Another option would be to impose a tax on endowment earnings, which would then generate additional federal revenues. Of these two options, I would be more inclined to support a payout, as the payout would be localized and may be used in such a way that allows universities to generate financial aid programs and keep tuition rates low. Should college be tuition free? How else can we work to make college more affordable? I am of the mindset that any invention that keeps college affordable is good. No individual should be turned away from college because of financial reasons. So yes, I do believe that tuition should be free. Many states, and even former presidential candidates, have proposed such policies. But I believe that free tuition alone will not necessarily help lower-income students. We should be providing low-income students with financial aid that helps cover other costs of attending college as well, such as room and board, books, and course fees. What tips do you have for a student looking to graduate with minimal debt and great job prospects? I have three tips. First, borrow only what you need. When a college sends out financial aid offers, many students think they need to accept the maximum loan amount being offered. But you don’t need to take the maximum amount -- you can accept less. If the student knows they don’t need that big of a loan, it is fine to take less. Second, make sure you understand the terms and agreements to the loan. Sometimes, colleges will provide students with a financial aid package consisting of both federal and non-federal loans. These non-federal loans can have a higher interest rate and do not provide the same flexible repayment options, such as deferments, forbearances, extended loan repayment plans, and loan forgiveness. Third, take internships. Internships provide students with opportunities to network and signals your workforce experience and ability to understand the requirements of the job to potential employers. Mark T. Haynal Chair of the Division of Teacher Education at Lewis-Clark State College Are Ivy League and other “name brand” schools worth the high sticker price? Ivy League and other “name brand” schools are worth the sticker price if you are going into a profession in which “name brand” matters, for example, law. If you want to be a teacher, Lewis-Clark State College does every bit as good a job preparing you as Harvard University. And our graduates have absolutely no problem getting jobs when they graduate. What type of universities do you think provide the best return on investment? Small state colleges, like Lewis-Clark State College (enrolment around 4000), are the best deal. Prior to working here, I worked at two excellent private colleges. Because of its small size, it appears to me that student at Lewis-Clark State College are enjoying the same level of personal attention from professors and small class sizes we had at the two private colleges. Students are getting private college care and enjoying low tuition rates at the same time. Given that the top 25 universities hold 52% of all endowment wealth, should the government consider taxing endowments of the wealthiest universities? No. Why should the government tax that which helps people get an education, enter the job market, and subsequently pay taxes? Why make it harder for universities to provide quality education? Should college be tuition free? How else can we work to make college more affordable? Not free, but affordable. Funding good education is the best investment a country can make. Idaho should tax people more, so all of its citizens can obtain an affordable, quality education. After a generation of ensuring everybody has access to quality education, the government will see other costs go down (prison, drug rehab, etc.) and could then lower taxes without jeopardizing quality, affordable education. What tips do you have for a student looking to graduate with minimal debt and great job prospects? Go to a school like Lewis-Clark State College. It’s by far the best deal in Idaho. Professor Haynal’s opinions do not reflect those of Lewis-Clark State College.

Methodology

In order to determine the best universities in the U.S., WalletHub’s analysts compared 856 such institutions across seven key dimensions: 1) Student Selectivity, 2) Cost & Financing, 3) Faculty Resources, 4) Campus Safety, 5) Campus Experience, 6) Educational Outcomes and 7) Career Outcomes.

We evaluated those dimensions using 27 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the best school performance and the most favorable conditions for undergraduate students during and after attendance.

Finally, we determined each school’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

In constructing our sample, we took into account the following types of institutions:

• Public, four-year or above
• Private, not-for-profit, four-year or above

Institutions were considered colleges if they provide only undergraduate, or baccalaureate degree, programs, universities if they offer graduate, including masters and/or doctoral degree, programs. (Separate rankings for colleges as well as for colleges and universities combined also are available on WalletHub.)

Some institutions were excluded from our sample due to data limitations. Data collected is relevant to undergraduate students only.

Student Selectivity – Total Points: 25

• Admission Rate: Triple Weight (~12.50 Points)Note: This metric was calculated using the following formula: Total Number of Admissions / Total Number of Applicants.
• 25th Percentile of ACT/SAT Score: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)Note: This metric refers to the figure below which 25 percent of students scored.
• 75th Percentile of ACT/SAT Score: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)Note: This metric refers to the figure above which 25 percent of students scored.
• Share of Freshmen in Top 10 Percent of High School Graduating Class: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)

Cost & Financing – Total Points: 20

• Net Cost: Triple Weight (~12.00 Points)
• Availability of Employment Services for Students: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of “activities intended to assist students in obtaining part-time employment as a means of defraying part of the cost of their education,” as described by the National Center for Education Statistics, as follows:
  • 1 - Yes
  • 0 - No
  • N/A - Not reported/not applicable
• Student-Loan Debt: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the average amount of student loans awarded to full-time, first-time undergraduates.

Faculty Resources – Total Points: 10

• Student-Faculty Ratio: Double Weight (~5.00 Points)
• Average Class Size: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Share of Professors with Highest Degrees in their Fields: Half Weight (~1.25 Points)
• Share of Full-Time Faculty: Quarter Weight (~0.63 Points)
• Faculty Staff Salary: Quarter Weight (~0.63 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted by the cost-of-living index.

Campus Safety – Total Points: 5

• On-Campus Arrests: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: This metric was calculated using the following formula: Total On-Campus Arrests / Total Enrollment.
• On-Campus Crime: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: This metric was calculated using the following formula: Total On-Campus Crimes / Total Enrollment.

Campus Experience – Total Points: 5

• Share of International Students: Double Weight (~2.00 Points)
• NCAA Membership: Full Weight (~1.00 Point)Note: This binary metric considers whether the university is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, as follows:
  • 1: Member of NCAA
  • 0: Not a member of NCAA
• Availability of Study-Abroad Program: Full Weight (~1.00 Point)Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of a study-abroad program, an arrangement by which a student completes part of his or her college program studying in another country, as follows:
  • 1: Study-abroad program available
  • 0: Study-abroad program not available
• Gender Diversity: Half Weight (~0.50 Points)Note: This metric is based on the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index method, a commonly accepted measure of market concentration that also works effectively as a general-purpose measure of diversity.
• Racial Diversity: Half Weight (~0.50 Points)Note: This metric is based on the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index method, a commonly accepted measure of market concentration that also works effectively as a general-purpose measure of diversity.

Educational Outcomes – Total Points: 20

• Retention Rate: Double Weight (~8.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of the fall full-time cohort from the prior year minus exclusions from the fall full-time cohort that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.
• Graduation Rate: Double Weight (~8.00 Points)
• Credentials Awarded per Undergraduate Enrollment: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)Note: “Credentials” refers to bachelor’s degrees as well as certificates.

Career Outcomes – Total Points: 15

• Return on Educational Investment: Double Weight (~4.29 Points)Note: This metric measures the ratio of starting salary for graduates to cost of education.
• Post-Attendance Median Salary: Double Weight (~4.29 Points)Note: This metric measures the median earnings — 10 years after entering the school — of former students who received federal financial aid.
• Share of Former Students Outearning High School Graduates: Full Weight (~2.14 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of former students earning more than $25,000, or about the average earnings of a high school graduate aged 25 to 34, six years after they first enrolled.
• Share of Students Reducing Their Debt: Full Weight (~2.14 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of students who have repaid at least $1 of the principal balance on their federal loans within three years of leaving school.
• Student-Loan Default Rate: Full Weight (~2.14 Points)

 

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from, National Center for Education Statistics, Council for Community and Economic Research, U.S. Department of Education - Office of Postsecondary Education, COLLEGEdata, PayScale, U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Education - Federal Student Aid.

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