The Best Value Colleges

Best Value Colleges in America for 2024

Explore the colleges that provide the best value for your money in the United States based on academic quality, outcomes, net price and financial aid. The rankings are calculated using ratings from the 2024 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking factored against the typical net price paid by students - to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2024 as the overall best value college in America is Harvard University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $19,491 average net price. The highest value public state college is University of Florida. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.


1,039 results nationwide

Harvard University
H
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Value in America

  • 30,631enrollment
  • $19,491net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Princeton University
P
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Value in America

  • 8,842enrollment
  • $18,698net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.93Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Yale University
Y
New Haven, CT

Yale University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Value in America

  • 14,776enrollment
  • $18,647net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

Stanford University
S
Stanford, CA

Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#4 Best Value in America

  • 18,283enrollment
  • $18,279net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

Dartmouth College
D
Hanover, NH

Dartmouth College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#5 Best Value in America

  • 6,744enrollment
  • $19,208net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

California Institute of Technology
C
Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Value in America

  • 2,401enrollment
  • $20,755net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

Wellesley College
W
Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Value in America

  • 2,447enrollment
  • $21,362net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

Rice University
R
Houston, TX

Rice University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Value in America

  • 8,672enrollment
  • $19,902net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Pomona College
P
Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Value in America

  • 1,716enrollment
  • $19,962net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

Northwestern University
N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Value in America

  • 23,161enrollment
  • $22,095net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Colby College
C
Waterville, ME

Colby College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Value in America

  • 2,299enrollment
  • $16,951net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Amherst College
A
Amherst, MA

Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Value in America

  • 1,898enrollment
  • $21,367net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

Williams College
W
Williamstown, MA

Williams College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Value in America

  • 2,222enrollment
  • $20,965net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

Columbia University in the City of New York
C
New York, NY

Columbia University in the City of New York

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Value in America

  • 34,782enrollment
  • $22,058net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Duke University
D
Durham, NC

Duke University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#15 Best Value in America

  • 18,023enrollment
  • $23,694net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
N
Chapel Hill, NC

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#16 Best Value in America

  • 31,705enrollment
  • $10,614net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1530SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.83Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Johns Hopkins University
J
Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Value in America

  • 31,275enrollment
  • $24,034net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1520-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

Washington University in St Louis
W
Saint Louis, MO

Washington University in St Louis

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#18 Best Value in America

  • 17,012enrollment
  • $23,432net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4