Best Value U.S. Colleges

CollegeSimply ranks 1045 four-year colleges by value: academic quality from our Best Colleges ranking weighed against the average net price students actually pay. Low sticker price alone does not mean good value. These schools deliver strong outcomes relative to what families pay after financial aid.

Princeton University leads our 2027 value rankings with a 10 out of 10 academic rating and an average net price of $15,313. The top value public university is University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Also high value: California Institute of Technology, Williams College and Harvard University.

Compare net price, aid, and academic ratings across the full list below. See how value scores are calculated on our methodology page. Filter by state or sort by cost to find affordable schools worth applying to.

1,045 Results
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Public Private 4 Year

William Paterson University of New Jersey

  • Public 4 Year
  • Wayne, NJ
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

William Paterson is a public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and music. The suburban Wayne campus sits in northern New Jersey within reach of New York City.

#811 Best Value in America 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1345
  • Avg GPA 2.97
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $13,509
Details

Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus

  • Public 4 Year
  • Portales, NM
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 24 application deadline

ENMU is a public university known for undergraduate aviation and teacher education. The campus is in the small college town of Portales on New Mexico's eastern plains.

#812 Best Value in America 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 830-1060
  • Avg GPA 3.23
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $6,416
Details

University of New Mexico Main Campus

  • Public 4 Year
  • Albuquerque, NM
  • | 0 reviews

UNM is a large public university known for undergraduate Latin American studies, anthropology, and photography. The urban Albuquerque campus features Pueblo Revival architecture.

#813 Best Value in America 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $6,347
Details

New Mexico State University Main Campus

  • Public 4 Year
  • Las Cruces, NM
  • | 0 reviews

New Mexico State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture and engineering. The main campus lies in Las Cruces near the Organ Mountains.

#814 Best Value in America 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 870-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.55
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $10,719
Details

College of Staten Island CUNY

  • Public 4 Year
  • Staten Island, NY
  • | 0 reviews

College of Staten Island is a public CUNY college known for undergraduate nursing, teacher education, and business. Its large Staten Island campus is one of New York City's most spacious college grounds.

#815 Best Value in America 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $6,525
Details

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

  • Public 4 Year
  • New York, NY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

John Jay is a public CUNY college known for undergraduate criminal justice, forensic science, and public administration. The urban Midtown Manhattan campus sits near Lincoln Center.

#816 Best Value in America 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $4,082
Details

CUNY Lehman College

  • Public 4 Year
  • Bronx, NY
  • | 0 reviews

Lehman is a public CUNY college known for undergraduate nursing, teacher education, and health sciences. Students attend a tree-lined campus in the northwest Bronx.

#817 Best Value in America 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1150
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.2
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $3,961
Details

CUNY Medgar Evers College

  • Public 4 Year
  • Brooklyn, NY
  • | 0 reviews

Medgar Evers is a public CUNY college known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The urban campus is located in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood.

#818 Best Value in America 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1020
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $6,273
Details

CUNY New York City College of Technology

  • Public 4 Year
  • Brooklyn, NY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Sep 1 application deadline

City Tech is a public CUNY college of technology known for undergraduate architecture, engineering technology, and hospitality management. The urban campus is in Downtown Brooklyn.

#819 Best Value in America 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1140
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $5,794
Details

CUNY York College

  • Public 4 Year
  • Jamaica, NY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

York College is a public CUNY college known for undergraduate nursing, health professions, and aviation. The urban campus sits in Jamaica, Queens.

#820 Best Value in America 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 790-960
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.15
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $5,131
Details
Dominican University New York Campus
 

Dominican University New York

  • Private 4 Year
  • Orangeburg, NY
  • | 0 reviews

Dominican University New York is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The suburban campus in Orangeburg sits in Rockland County north of New York City.

#821 Best Value in America 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1095-1235
  • Avg GPA 3.09
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $33,972
Details
Keuka College Campus
 

Keuka College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Keuka Park, NY
  • 1.0 | 1 reviews

Keuka is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing, occupational therapy, and education. The campus sits on Keuka Lake in New York's Finger Lakes region.

#822 Best Value in America 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1008-1183
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $24,628
Details

Mercy University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Dobbs Ferry, NY
  • | 0 reviews

Mercy is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, health professions, and business. The Dobbs Ferry campus overlooks the Hudson River in suburban Westchester County.

#823 Best Value in America 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.19
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $15,200
Details

University of Mount Saint Vincent

  • Private 4 Year
  • Bronx, NY
  • | 0 reviews

Mount Saint Vincent is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The Riverdale campus overlooks the Hudson River in the Bronx.

#824 Best Value in America 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1011-1178
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.14
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $22,808
Details

St. Francis College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Brooklyn, NY
  • | 0 reviews

St. Francis College is a small private Franciscan college known for undergraduate business, accounting, and nursing. The compact urban campus sits in Brooklyn Heights near the East River.

#825 Best Value in America
  • SAT Range 990-1240
  • Avg GPA 2.9
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $17,698
Details
The College of Saint Rose Campus
 

The College of Saint Rose

  • Private 4 Year
  • Albany, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline
#826 Best Value in America
  • SAT Range 1001-1228
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price -
Details
St. Thomas Aquinas College Campus
 

St. Thomas Aquinas College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Sparkill, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

St. Thomas Aquinas is a private Catholic college known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The suburban campus sits in Sparkill just north of New York City.

#827 Best Value in America 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1085
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $21,187
Details

SUNY College of Technology at Canton

  • Public 4 Year
  • Canton, NY
  • | 0 reviews

SUNY Canton is a public college of technology known for undergraduate nursing, engineering technology, and veterinary science technology. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Canton in northern New York.

#828 Best Value in America 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $14,754
Details