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.


1,049 results nationwide

South Dakota State University
S
Brookings, SD

South Dakota State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#577 Best Value in America

  • 11,498enrollment
  • $18,233net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1300SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Baylor University
B
Waco, TX

Baylor University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

#578 Best Value in America

  • 20,824enrollment
  • $49,727net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.74Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Dallas Baptist University
D
Dallas, TX

Dallas Baptist University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#579 Best Value in America

  • 4,201enrollment
  • $30,275net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 960-1217SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach
E
Daytona Beach, FL

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#580 Best Value in America

  • 11,070enrollment
  • $41,550net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Spelman College
S
HBCU
Atlanta, GA

Spelman College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#581 Best Value in America

  • 3,633enrollment
  • $37,403net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1270SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Endicott College
E
Beverly, MA

Endicott College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#582 Best Value in America

  • 4,254enrollment
  • $39,988net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1340SAT range
  • 26-29ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
W
Eau Claire, WI

University of Wisconsin Eau Claire

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#583 Best Value in America

  • 9,991enrollment
  • $15,323net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Emerson College
E
Boston, MA

Emerson College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#584 Best Value in America

  • 5,670enrollment
  • $50,703net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1410SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 20

Pratt Institute Main
P
Brooklyn, NY

Pratt Institute Main

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#585 Best Value in America

  • 5,232enrollment
  • $51,702net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1420SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

West Chester University of Pennsylvania
W
West Chester, PA

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#586 Best Value in America

  • 17,076enrollment
  • $21,684net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1270SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.43Avg GPA

The University of Tampa
T
Tampa, FL

The University of Tampa

Private 4 Year

13 reviews

#587 Best Value in America

  • 11,054enrollment
  • $35,975net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1240SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Penn State Harrisburg
P
Middletown, PA

Penn State Harrisburg

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#588 Best Value in America

  • 4,651enrollment
  • $22,406net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.48Estimated Avg GPA

Otis College of Art and Design
O
Los Angeles, CA

Otis College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#589 Best Value in America

  • 1,284enrollment
  • $49,440net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
E
Daytona Beach, FL

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#590 Best Value in America

  • 12,268enrollment
  • $20,183net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1260SAT range
  • 24-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Dominican University of California
D
San Rafael, CA

Dominican University of California

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#591 Best Value in America

  • 2,026enrollment
  • $51,292net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1291SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

The New School
N
New York, NY

The New School

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#592 Best Value in America

  • 9,434enrollment
  • $62,226net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1360SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.59Estimated Avg GPA

Tuskegee University
T
HBCU
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#593 Best Value in America

  • 2,846enrollment
  • $35,126net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 995-1255SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
S
Chicago, IL

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#594 Best Value in America

  • 3,401enrollment
  • $55,485net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1048-1260SAT range
  • 22-25ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 15