The Best Value Colleges

Best Value Colleges in America for 2025

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 2025 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 2025 as the overall best value college in America is Harvard University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $17,900 average net price. The highest value public state college is University of Virginia Main Campus. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.
Public Private 4 year

1,049 results nationwide

University of Wyoming
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W
Laramie, WY

University of Wyoming

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#289 Best Value in America

  • 10,913enrollment
  • $13,299net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 10

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University of Alabama at Birmingham
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A
Birmingham, AL

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#290 Best Value in America

  • 21,160enrollment
  • $17,413net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1400SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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California State University Long Beach
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C
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#291 Best Value in America

  • 40,278enrollment
  • $9,731net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of Denver
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D
Denver, CO

University of Denver

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#292 Best Value in America

  • 13,387enrollment
  • $43,324net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1410SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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The College of Idaho
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I
Caldwell, ID

The College of Idaho

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#293 Best Value in America

  • 1,076enrollment
  • $22,602net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1270SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Olivet Nazarene University
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O
Bourbonnais, IL

Olivet Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#294 Best Value in America

  • 3,275enrollment
  • $22,707net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 960-1190SAT range
  • 18-28ACT range
  • 3.38Estimated Avg GPA

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Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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S
Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#295 Best Value in America

  • 11,359enrollment
  • $16,131net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 910-1140SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

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Taylor University
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T
Upland, IN

Taylor University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#296 Best Value in America

  • 2,398enrollment
  • $25,698net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1340SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

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Clarke University
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C
Dubuque, IA
 

Clarke University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#297 Best Value in America

  • 1,025enrollment
  • $25,692net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 890-1045SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

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University of Iowa
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I
Iowa City, IA

University of Iowa

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#298 Best Value in America

  • 30,042enrollment
  • $20,121net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1320SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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University of Massachusetts Amherst
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M
Amherst, MA

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#299 Best Value in America

  • 31,810enrollment
  • $22,954net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Springfield College
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S
Springfield, MA

Springfield College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#300 Best Value in America

  • 2,785enrollment
  • $29,198net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1260SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of Missouri Columbia
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M
Columbia, MO

University of Missouri Columbia

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#301 Best Value in America

  • 31,013enrollment
  • $20,006net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.61Estimated Avg GPA

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Carroll College
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C
Helena, MT

Carroll College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#302 Best Value in America

  • 1,103enrollment
  • $26,103net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 28

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Caldwell University
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C
Caldwell, NJ
 

Caldwell University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#303 Best Value in America

  • 1,864enrollment
  • $23,071net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1320SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

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Drew University
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D
Madison, NJ

Drew University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#304 Best Value in America

  • 2,226enrollment
  • $28,193net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Rider University
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R
Lawrenceville, NJ

Rider University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#305 Best Value in America

  • 4,083enrollment
  • $26,618net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1310SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

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Seton Hall University
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S
South Orange, NJ

Seton Hall University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#306 Best Value in America

  • 9,494enrollment
  • $31,642net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1400SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Explore the best value schools by state: