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.
Middle Tennessee State University
- Public 4 Year
- Murfreesboro, TN
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
- Aug 15 application deadline
MTSU is a large public university known for undergraduate recording industry, aerospace, and music business programs. The campus is in Murfreesboro, a growing city about a half hour southeast of Nashville.
- SAT Range 1010-1230
- Avg GPA 3.64
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $13,859
Southern Adventist University
- Private 4 Year
- Collegedale, TN
-
| 0 reviews
Southern Adventist is a private Seventh-day Adventist university known for undergraduate nursing and theology. Most students live on the residential campus in Collegedale near Chattanooga.
- SAT Range 1020-1300
- Avg GPA 3.59
- Acceptance Rate 65%
- Net Price $25,753
Tennessee Wesleyan University
- Private 4 Year
- Athens, TN
-
| 0 reviews
Tennessee Wesleyan is a small private Methodist university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus sits in the small town of Athens in East Tennessee.
- SAT Range 960-1100
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $15,125
The University of Tennessee Chattanooga
- Public 4 Year
- Chattanooga, TN
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
UTC is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and nursing. The urban campus borders the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga.
- SAT Range 1013-1210
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $15,347
The University of Tennessee Martin
- Public 4 Year
- Martin, TN
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
UT Martin is a public university known for undergraduate agriculture, education, and business. The residential campus is in the small college town of Martin in northwest Tennessee.
- SAT Range 970-1210
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $11,955
Tusculum University
- Private 4 Year
- Greeneville, TN
-
| 0 reviews
Tusculum is a small private university with undergraduate programs in business, education, and nursing. The historic Greeneville campus is Tennessee's oldest college and retains a Presbyterian affiliation.
- SAT Range 910-1110
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.18
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $20,355
Angelo State University
- Public 4 Year
- San Angelo, TX
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
Angelo State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and agriculture. The campus is in the West Texas city of San Angelo.
- SAT Range 910-1150
- Avg GPA 3.71
- Acceptance Rate 83%
- Net Price $14,048
Concordia University Texas
- Private 4 Year
- Austin, TX
-
4.0 | 2 reviews
Concordia Texas is a private Lutheran university with undergraduate programs in nursing, business, and education. The campus is in northwest Austin.
- SAT Range 860-1100
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $24,723
Texas A & M University Corpus Christi
- Public 4 Year
- Corpus Christi, TX
-
| 0 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is a public university known for undergraduate marine science, coastal biology, and environmental science. The campus sits on Ward Island along Corpus Christi Bay.
- SAT Range 970-1193
- Avg GPA 3.41
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $15,233
East Texas A&M University
- Public 4 Year
- Commerce, TX
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 15 application deadline
East Texas A&M is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, business, and agricultural sciences. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Commerce in Northeast Texas.
- SAT Range 910-1150
- Avg GPA 3.36
- Acceptance Rate 92%
- Net Price $12,327
Hardin Simmons University
- Private 4 Year
- Abilene, TX
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Hardin-Simmons is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and education. The residential campus is located in Abilene in West Texas.
- SAT Range 1010-1190
- Avg GPA 3.43
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $19,811
Houston Christian University
- Private 4 Year
- Houston, TX
-
1.0 | 1 reviews
Houston Christian is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus is in southwest Houston.
- SAT Range 990-1190
- Avg GPA 3.46
- Acceptance Rate 84%
- Net Price $21,282
University of Houston Downtown
- Public 4 Year
- Houston, TX
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
UHD is a public university known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in downtown Houston near the city's business district.
- SAT Range 940-1110
- Avg GPA 3.29
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $10,832
University of the Incarnate Word
- Private 4 Year
- San Antonio, TX
-
| 0 reviews
UIW is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and the health sciences. The urban campus is in San Antonio.
- SAT Range 900-1140
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 98%
- Net Price $23,363
Lamar University
- Public 4 Year
- Beaumont, TX
-
1.7 | 3 reviews
Lamar is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and nursing. The campus is located in Beaumont in southeast Texas.
- SAT Range 930-1140
- Avg GPA 3.4
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $9,814
Texas A & M International University
- Public 4 Year
- Laredo, TX
-
| 0 reviews
Texas A&M International is a public university known for undergraduate international business and nursing. Its campus is in Laredo on the U.S.-Mexico border.
- SAT Range 890-1090
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 44%
- Net Price $5,644
University of Mary Hardin Baylor
- Private 4 Year
- Belton, TX
-
| 0 reviews
Mary Hardin-Baylor is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The residential campus is in Belton in Central Texas.
- SAT Range 960-1200
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $27,651