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 California Berkeley
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C
Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#37 Best Value in America

  • 45,699enrollment
  • $16,997net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1530SAT range
  • 30-35ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Colgate University
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C
Hamilton, NY

Colgate University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#38 Best Value in America

  • 3,146enrollment
  • $26,954net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1530SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Davidson College
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D
Davidson, NC

Davidson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#39 Best Value in America

  • 1,904enrollment
  • $26,510net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1510SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

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Claremont McKenna College
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C
Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#40 Best Value in America

  • 1,384enrollment
  • $29,978net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Emory University
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E
Atlanta, GA

Emory University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#41 Best Value in America

  • 15,046enrollment
  • $27,986net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of Notre Dame
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N
Notre Dame, IN

University of Notre Dame

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#42 Best Value in America

  • 13,174enrollment
  • $29,083net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Bates College
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B
Lewiston, ME

Bates College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#43 Best Value in America

  • 1,753enrollment
  • $26,658net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1510SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
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N
Socorro, NM

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#44 Best Value in America

  • 1,713enrollment
  • $9,133net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1290SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.63Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Barnard College
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B
New York, NY

Barnard College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#45 Best Value in America

  • 3,353enrollment
  • $27,738net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1453-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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University of Tulsa
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T
Tulsa, OK

University of Tulsa

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#46 Best Value in America

  • 3,559enrollment
  • $23,681net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1490SAT range
  • 24-33ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

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University of California Irvine
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C
Irvine, CA

University of California Irvine

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#47 Best Value in America

  • 36,582enrollment
  • $14,647net price
  • 26%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Carleton College
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C
Northfield, MN

Carleton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#48 Best Value in America

  • 2,069enrollment
  • $29,434net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Minnesota Morris
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M
Morris, MN

University of Minnesota Morris

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#49 Best Value in America

  • 1,020enrollment
  • $9,539net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Wake Forest University
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W
Winston Salem, NC

Wake Forest University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#50 Best Value in America

  • 9,121enrollment
  • $27,790net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1390-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of Florida
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F
Gainesville, FL

University of Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#51 Best Value in America

  • 54,814enrollment
  • $11,521net price
  • 24%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1480SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Smith College
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S
Northampton, MA

Smith College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#52 Best Value in America

  • 2,830enrollment
  • $27,823net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1408-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Vassar College
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V
Poughkeepsie, NY

Vassar College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#53 Best Value in America

  • 2,456enrollment
  • $29,733net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1435-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of California Santa Barbara
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C
Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#54 Best Value in America

  • 26,068enrollment
  • $15,283net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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