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

Trinity College
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T
Hartford, CT

Trinity College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#55 Best Value in America

  • 2,276enrollment
  • $31,806net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 17

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Boston University
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B
Boston, MA

Boston University

Private 4 Year

10 reviews

#56 Best Value in America

  • 36,624enrollment
  • $27,551net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1520SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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University of California Davis
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C
Davis, CA

University of California Davis

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#57 Best Value in America

  • 39,707enrollment
  • $17,315net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1400SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Grinnell College
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G
Grinnell, IA

Grinnell College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#58 Best Value in America

  • 1,775enrollment
  • $33,446net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1418-1550SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Centre College
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C
Danville, KY

Centre College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#59 Best Value in America

  • 1,356enrollment
  • $23,780net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1423SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Tufts University
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T
Medford, MA

Tufts University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#60 Best Value in America

  • 13,274enrollment
  • $33,333net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Albion College
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A
Albion, MI

Albion College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#61 Best Value in America

  • 1,354enrollment
  • $18,470net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 930-1160SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

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New York University
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N
New York, NY

New York University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#62 Best Value in America

  • 57,335enrollment
  • $30,730net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

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Carnegie Mellon University
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C
Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Mellon University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#63 Best Value in America

  • 15,596enrollment
  • $32,964net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
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I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#64 Best Value in America

  • 56,563enrollment
  • $14,297net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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DePauw University
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D
Greencastle, IN

DePauw University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#65 Best Value in America

  • 1,819enrollment
  • $30,507net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1430SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Boston College
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B
Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#66 Best Value in America

  • 15,280enrollment
  • $32,590net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Bard College
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B
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY

Bard College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#67 Best Value in America

  • 2,922enrollment
  • $25,218net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1440SAT range
  • 30-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Skidmore College
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S
Saratoga Springs, NY

Skidmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#68 Best Value in America

  • 2,776enrollment
  • $32,368net price
  • 23%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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CUNY Hunter College
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H
New York, NY

CUNY Hunter College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#69 Best Value in America

  • 22,879enrollment
  • $4,127net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1470SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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Lycoming College
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L
Williamsport, PA

Lycoming College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#70 Best Value in America

  • 1,063enrollment
  • $20,733net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1273SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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Austin College
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A
Sherman, TX

Austin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#71 Best Value in America

  • 1,136enrollment
  • $24,777net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

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College of William and Mary
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W
Williamsburg, VA

College of William and Mary

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#72 Best Value in America

  • 9,762enrollment
  • $20,422net price
  • 33%acceptance rate
  • 1365-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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