Which colleges pair strong earnings with lower four-year costs?
Colleges where reported earnings compare favorably with an estimated four-year cost. Costs include tuition, fees, housing, and food for four years before financial aid.
Public universities
| Rank | School | Four-year cost | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Institute of Technology | $202,992 | $104,923 |
| 2 | Florida State University | $145,768 | $61,121 |
| 3 | Purdue University | $182,112 | $75,853 |
| 4 | University of Houston | $162,736 | $63,161 |
| 5 | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | $231,816 | $89,413 |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $207,144 | $78,662 |
| 7 | University of Florida | $195,240 | $72,379 |
| 8 | University of Georgia | $182,952 | $66,487 |
Private colleges and universities
| Rank | School | Four-year cost | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $357,336 | $148,383 |
| 2 | California Institute of Technology | $372,900 | $136,775 |
| 3 | Stanford University | $369,036 | $132,900 |
| 4 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | $256,416 | $89,839 |
| 5 | Babson College | $334,064 | $113,760 |
| 6 | Harvard University | $366,536 | $124,581 |
| 7 | Carnegie Mellon University | $364,856 | $121,367 |
| 8 | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | $313,224 | $98,978 |
How this is calculated
Estimated four-year cost includes tuition, mandatory fees, housing, and food for four years before financial aid. Median earnings come from the College Scorecard (annual earnings five years after completion).