Top 30 Best Value Colleges in the U.S for 2024/2025

Top 30 Best Value Colleges in the U.S Right Now

College is now a necessity. There is an increase in jobs that require a college education and a decrease in jobs that only require a high school diploma. Nevertheless, the expenses of higher education increase alongside these employment prospects. Student loans and grants support numerous college students. The student loan debt in the United States has reached $1.6 trillion.

Four ranking indicators determine 2024/2025 Best Value College. Indicators:

-Academic quality is relative to the average discount price paid by full-time undergraduates after need-based grants. 50% weighted indicator.

-Need-based scholarships and grants for full-time undergraduates (20% weight).

-The average full-time undergraduate discount (10% weight).

-2021–2022 full-time undergraduates who received need-based aid and a grant or scholarship (20% weight).

This last indicator rewards colleges and universities for awarding a higher percentage of need-based financial aid as scholarships or grants. Even generous schools may give a lot of aid as need-based loans or work-study, which are less beneficial to students than scholarship or grant aid.

1. Brigham Young University

Brigham Young University - Photo: usnews

Private university with a focus on research is Brigham Young University. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS Church) owns and runs it, and as a result, it is renowned for being extremely picky. Business management, marketing, and other related fields, as well as biology, social sciences, health sciences, and engineering, are among its highly-liked majors. With a number of reputable institutions, like the Marriott School of Management and Reuben Clark Law School, BYU supports research and provides graduate degrees. A little over 47% of the university's undergraduate students receive funding for their education. Top employers with BYU grads on staff also include the LDS Church, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Lucid Software, and Qualtrics.

2. Western Carolina University

The westernmost campus in the University of North Carolina (UNC) system is Western Carolina University, which is situated in Cullowhee, North Carolina. The school, which is situated on a 600-acre campus close to the Great Smoky and the Blue Ridge Mountains, has continuously been rated as one of the top public regional universities in the South. Western Carolina University, the fifth-oldest institution in the UNC system, started out as a semi-public secondary school in 1889. The school's curriculum and focus greatly increased during the following 60 years, and in 1949 it was chartered as a four-year institution under the name Western Carolina Teachers College. Over the years, the school continued to develop until it became the university it is today.

3. Ferris State University

Ferris State University - Photo: bigrapidsnews

The ninth-largest university in Michigan is a public institution called Ferris State University, which is situated in Big Rapids. Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, an educator from Tioga County, New York who later served as the governor of the State of Michigan and then in the United States Senate, created the university in 1884, which was then known as the Big Rapids Industrial School. The institution was renamed Ferris Institute in 1898 to pay tribute to its founder. The Institute was given to the State of Michigan in 1949, which acquired control of it in 1950. By 1963, the Institute had a new name: Ferris State College. It attained university status in 1987.

4. Eastern Illinois University

Located in Charleston, Illinois, roughly 50 miles west of Terre Haute, Indiana, Eastern Illinois University is a public 4-year institution. The Eastern Illinois State Normal School, which was created in 1895, was later renamed Eastern Illinois State Teachers College in 1921, Eastern Illinois State College in 1947, and Eastern Illinois University in 1957. Both Gothic Revival and Modern buildings may be found on the 320-acre campus, which also has a number of quads with tree-lined paths and open areas. Many localities in Charleston have names that date back to the time when semi-nomadic tribes inhabited the region, and the city is well known for its Native American heritage. Lake Charleston, which offers hiking and fishing opportunities, is not far from the campus. Actress Joan Allen and NFL quarterback Tony Romo are two prominent alumni.

5. North Dakota State University-Main Campus

North Dakota State University, a sizable public research institution with land grants, was established in 1890 and is located in Fargo, the state's largest city. The University of North Dakota, the state's flagship, was established as a liberal arts and sciences school, but NDSU embraced the land-grant goal of offering cutting-edge (for the time) agriculture and mechanical science instruction. From a modest agricultural institution, NDSU has grown into North Dakota's top public STEM research university, earning the Carnegie Classification's Very High Research Activity designation (the state's sole R2 research university) and a top-tier U.S. News & World Report national ranking.

6. University of North Dakota

University of North Dakota - Photo: nationalapplicationcenter

North Dakota's oldest and most prestigious university, the University of North Dakota, was established in 1883 when the state was still a territory. The original goal of UND, which was established under a federal land grant, was to offer the best arts and sciences education to the frontier settlers. This tradition has kept UND growing and developing into the state's flagship. The only law and medical schools in North Dakota and the most undergraduate, graduate, and online degree programs of any university in the Dakotas combine to make UND the best institution of its kind in the Northern Plains and one of the top public research universities in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report.

7. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Public university Southern Illinois University—Carbondale was established in 1869. It is located in a rural area, with an overall undergraduate enrollment of 8,299 (fall 2020), and has a 1,136-acre campus. The academic calendar is based on semesters. National Universities, #263, is Southern Illinois University—position Carbondale's in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges. Both in-state and out-of-state students must pay $15,240 in tuition and fees.

In terms of national universities, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is placed #263. Schools are rated based on how well they perform against a set of generally recognized measures of quality.

8. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

According to schools.com, Oshkosh was named the "Best College Town" in 2019. The Model UN program at UWO is among the most successful in the world, having won 35 straight honors for Outstanding Delegation at international competitions. UWO was been recognized among the top 100 public nursing schools in the country by Nursing Schools Almanac.

The projected cost of attendance at UW Oshkosh must be calculated in order to determine your financial need. The Financial Aid Office creates cost of attendance budgets based on reported statistics, survey data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics data that are averaged and actual costs. These budgets cover housing and board, books and supplies, tuition and fees, and other costs.

9. CUNY City College

CUNY City College - Photo: ccny.cuny.edu

The university system in New York City is called the City University of New York, or CUNY for short. It has 25 sites in total, including a college with an honors program for undergraduates, community colleges, senior colleges, and postgraduate institutes. As a result, it provides a broad curriculum and a range of transdisciplinary programs and degrees. For instance, the journalism, communication, and social science programs at CUNY-Baruch College are well-known. The primary institution for postgraduate degrees at City University of New York is the Graduate School and University Center, usually referred to as the Graduate Center. CUNY is renowned for providing an affordable education overall, with two out of every three of its undergraduate students receiving free tuition. Also, compared to their classmates at other colleges, more than 50% of CUNY students get financial aid for their studies but have lower post-graduation debt. The top employers of CUNY graduates include Ernst & Young, Citigroup, Inc., and JPMCC.

10. CUNY Hunter College

In the Regional Universities-North category of the U.S. News rankings, Hunter College came in at number 18. Hunter has moved up 24 spots in this area in the last five years.

Hunter stood out in the ranking subcategories as well, coming in at number five for top public schools, number three for social mobility, and number seven for best colleges for veterans. Hunter improved from #16 in 2021 to #10 this year for Best Undergraduate Teaching. Hunter was among the top 10 for ethnic diversity as well.

U.S. News will start ranking undergraduate nursing programs in 2022. Hunter's program received a ranking of #120 out of roughly 700 schools, and #6 at the state level.

11. CUNY Lehman College

CUNY Lehman College - Photo: lehman-undergraduate

In 1968, CUNY Lehman College was established as a public college. The campus is 37 acres in size, has a total undergraduate enrolment of 12,833 (fall 2020), and is located in an urban area. The academic calendar is based on semesters. The Regional Universities North ranking for CUNY—Lehman College in the Best Colleges edition of 2022 is #62. The cost of tuition and fees for in-state students is $7,374; out-of-state students must pay $15,320.

Regional Universities North has Lehman College at position 62. Schools are rated based on how well they perform against a set of generally recognized measures of quality.

12. CUNY Brooklyn College

CUNY In 1930, Brooklyn College was established as a public college. The campus is 35 acres in size, has a total undergraduate enrolment of 14,969 (fall 2020), and is located in an urban area. The academic calendar is based on semesters. The Regional Universities North ranking for CUNY—Brooklyn College in the Best Colleges edition of 2022 is #70. Out-of-state tuition and fees are $19,110, with in-state costs coming to $7,440.

In the North Region's Regional Universities, Brooklyn College is placed #70. Schools are rated based on how well they perform against a set of generally recognized measures of quality.

13. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Public college CUNY Baruch College was established in 1919. It is located in an urban area, with a 3 acre campus, and 15,774 undergraduate students are enrolled there as a whole (fall 2020). The academic calendar is based on semesters. The Regional Universities North ranking for CUNY—Baruch College in the Best Colleges edition of 2022 is #16. $8,071 is the in-state tuition and fees, while $19,971 is the out-of-state tuition and fees.

Manhattan's Baruch College is a part of the City University of New York. The school's answer to college living in an urban setting is the 17-story Newman Vertical Campus, which houses classrooms, research facilities, a recreation area, a bookshop, a television studio, and other amenities in one block-wide complex.

14. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice - Photo: petersons

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a public institution that was founded in 1965. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 13,662 (fall 2020), and the setting is Urban. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. CUNY—John Jay College of Criminal Justice's ranking in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities North, #44. Its in-state tuition and fees are $3,465; out-of-state tuition and fees are $18,000.

15. CUNY Queens College

Queens College is an above-average public college located in Queens, New York in the New York City Area. It is a big institution with an enrollment of 12,532 undergraduate students. Admissions is fairly competitive as the Queens College acceptance rate is 53%. Popular majors include Psychology, Accounting, and Economics. Graduating 53% of students, Queens College alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $34,000.

16. University of Minnesota-Morris

Students at the public University of Minnesota Morris work closely with faculty members and mentors to create an education that equips them for difficult graduate programs, fruitful professions, and intense civic participation.

We are a public institution that values its students and is pleased to offer a liberal arts curriculum. We have a well-known brand internationally, access to cutting-edge research facilities, and nationally recognized study abroad programs since we are a part of the University of Minnesota system.

17. Truman State University

Truman State University - Photo: truman

Truman State University, a small regional university in Kirksville, MO, is one of the Midwest's top educational investments. Truman State, formerly a teacher's college, has progressively increased in reputation since being awarded Missouri's best liberal arts and sciences university, with a high rate of selectivity for a public university and faculty-student ratios and attention generally found in far more exclusive settings.

Truman State's undergraduate research program allows bachelor's students to collaborate closely with faculty on real scholarly projects. Truman State is ranked #1 in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report, and 90% of graduates find jobs or graduate school.

18. Winona State University

Located 110 miles downstream of Minneapolis along the Mississippi River in Winona, Minnesota, Winona State University is a public 4-year institution. The institution was the first university west of the Mississippi River when it was established in 1858 as the First State Normal School of Minnesota. Winona Normal School was the previous name before being renamed to Winona State College in 1957. In 1975, the school was given university status. It was one of the first educational institutions to embrace the rule requiring computers for every pupil. Moreover, the university has two satellite campuses in Rochester and Winona West. The 125-acre campus' main quadrangle, which has a gazebo, a clock, and an intersection that resembles a park, is surrounded by typical brick buildings. Michelle Bachmann, a member of the US Congress, and Jerry Seeman, an NFL official, are among the famous alumni.

19. University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Wisconsin - Platteville is an above-average public university located in Platteville, Wisconsin. It is a mid-size institution with an enrollment of 6,477 undergraduate students. The Wisconsin - Platteville acceptance rate is 81%. Popular majors include Mechanical Engineering, Business, and Manufacturing Engineering Technician. Graduating 56% of students, Wisconsin - Platteville alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $39,000.

20. Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg State University - Photo: linkedin

The greatness of Fitchburg State University's teaching and learning in both established and emerging fields, as well as its commitment to changing people's lives through education and public service, will be acknowledged on a national level.

Public university Fitchburg State University was established in 1894. There are 3,815 undergraduate students enrolled in total (fall 2020), the campus is located in an urban area, and it is 45 acres in size. The academic calendar is based on semesters. Regional Universities North is where Fitchburg State University is ranked in the Best Colleges 2022 edition. The cost of tuition and fees is $16,735 for out-of-state students and $10,655 for in-state students.

21. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

The state-wide public university systems of New York and California (SUNY, CUNY, UC, and CSU) receive the most attention, but Wisconsin may be the only one that can compete on the basis of pure value. All of Wisconsin's public colleges are regarded as being among the best values and all bear the name University of Wisconsin's quality seal. So, it is fitting that UW-Eau Claire round out the Top 50 Best Value Residential Schools of 2017.

UW-Eau Claire is well-known throughout Wisconsin for its outstanding teacher's education, nursing, and business degree programs. It is consistently listed in the top 10 and top 5 public regional institutions for the Midwest. Also, all students at Eau Claire are obliged to participate in service learning, making it one of the most community-focused colleges in the area. Its undergraduate research programs are also well-regarded on a national level. Students from all throughout Wisconsin are aware of the opportunities that a UW-Eau Claire degree can offer at a reasonable tuition cost.

22. Westfield State University

Photo: westfield

In 2020, Westfield State University was ranked as one of the "Best Value College & Universities" by College Consensus. Of all the listed New England colleges and universities, the University is ranked #22 overall and is the second most cheap.

WalletHub, Washington Monthly, Forbes, Money, U.S. News & World Report, Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, and thousands of actual student interviews from Students Review, My Plan, Cappex, and other sources are combined by College Consensus to create a comprehensive ranking of a college or university's reputation and quality.

23. University of South Florida

The University of South Florida is a public institution with an emphasis on research. Engineering, marketing, management, biology, health sciences, social sciences, and biomedical sciences are among its most popular majors. As a university with a high level of research activity, it facilitates research and offers graduate programs through prestigious institutes including the Morsani College of Medicine, College of Public Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Patel College of Global Sustainability, and The Center for Urban Transportation Research. It is estimated that 55% of undergraduate students at USF receive financial aid. In addition, Citibank, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and Wellcare Health Plans, Inc. are among the leading U.S. companies that employ USF graduates.

24. Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University is a public institution that was founded in 1961. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 25,562 (fall 2020), its setting is city, and the campus size is 850 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Florida Atlantic University's ranking in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #277. Its in-state tuition and fees are $6,099; out-of-state tuition and fees are $21,655.

25. University of Wisconsin-Stout

Photo: linkedin

UW-Stout is an above-average public university located in Menomonie, Wisconsin. It is a mid-size institution with an enrollment of 6,024 undergraduate students. The UW-Stout acceptance rate is 90%. Popular majors include Business, Operations Management, and Human Development. Graduating 60% of students, UW-Stout alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $39,200.

26. Framingham State University

Framingham State University is a public, four-year university for both men and women that is in the city of Framingham in the state of Massachusetts. Framingham State University was first started as a Normal School in Lexington in 1839. Over the years the school changed and grew, earning the power to award Bachelor’s degrees in 1959 and its first Master degree in 1961. In 2010 the school, previously known as the State College at Framingham, officially changed its name to Framingham State University. Framingham State University is known for its small, personalized classes. The school is also proud of its "quality academic programs, affordability, and commitment to access for its qualified students."

27. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is an 1890 land-grant institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, resolution of complex issues and the empowerment of citizens and communities. The University provides a student-centered environment consistent with its core values.

Florida A&M University is ranked #202 in National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.

28. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Photo: wpr

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is one of the best parts of the well-known UW system and one of the best universities in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report. As one of the most LGBT-friendly campuses in the country, UW La Crosse is known for being open and easy to get to.

UW La Crosse was founded as a college for teachers, and it still does a great job of training teachers. However, it is now best known for its health care programs, like occupational therapy, physical therapy, and physician's assistant. Kiplinger's and the Princeton Review have both named UW La Crosse one of the best values. It gives students a good, market-ready education and the chance to do great things.

29. Texas Woman's University

When compared to other universities of a similar caliber, Texas Woman's University has reasonable tuition rates. This leads us to conclude that the cost is reasonable, given the quality of the education that is being offered.

For quality, Texas Woman's University ranks #36 out of 85 institutions in the state, while for value, it ranks #11 out of 67.

It's possible that your individual financial situation will make TWU a more cost-effective option than the average net price shows. There's a chance you'll be able to graduate early or get a higher amount of financial aid. Find out how much TWUs actually cost.

30. State University of New York at New Paltz

SUNY-New Paltz boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1, and 36.7% of its classes have fewer than 20 students. Business, management, marketing, and related support services; communication, journalism, and related programs; education; psychology; social sciences; visual and performing arts; engineering; biological and biomedical sciences; English language and literature/letters; and health professions and related programs are the most popular majors at SUNY-New Paltz. Indicative of student happiness, the average retention rate for first-year students is 86%.

A degree from a highly selective university and an education rich in experiences that will last a lifetime are both within reach at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Students at New Paltz are encouraged to venture out into the world, take intellectual risks, discover their niche, and develop their individuality.

Top 10 Colleges in the USA With the Most Beautiful Girls Here are the top 10 colleges in the US that are also the best place to find students with beauty and brains!

Top 10 Most Largest US Colleges and Universities 2022/23- by Enrollment, Subscribers What are the most popular & largest US Colleges and Universities today? We try to rank the list base on based on Youtube subscribers, enrollment, ...

10 Most Expensive Colleges and Universities In The US Today College is a little bit different in 2021, to say the least but tuition fees of some expensive colleges and universities in the US remain ...