Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

TBS Staff Writers
By
Updated on October 10, 2023
Ranking of accredited public colleges & universities with best return on investment (ROI), including high-value schools that offer a real deal in education.

Are you ready to discover your college program?

For most people, a public college immediately comes to mind when considering value in higher education. The compensation for living in-state often proves a deciding factor on ROI. Public colleges and universities simply offer a great deal of education for the money. But with more than one public college in a state, finding the very best return for your college dollar may be more challenging than it first appears. That’s why we’re here to help.

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Accredited Public Colleges with the Best ROI

#1 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

University of California, Berkeley

  • Location-markerBerkeley, CA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$11,442
  • Out-of-state$41,196
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$11,442
  • Out-of-state$26,544
  • Retention Rate97%
  • Acceptance Rate16%
  • Students Enrolled43,185
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment5%
  • AccreditationYes
#2 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

University of California, Los Angeles

  • Location-markerLos Angeles, CA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$11,442
  • Out-of-state$41,196
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$11,442
  • Out-of-state$26,544
  • Retention Rate97%
  • Acceptance Rate12%
  • Students Enrolled44,371
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment5%
  • AccreditationYes
#3 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

  • Location-markerAtlanta, GA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$10,258
  • Out-of-state$31,370
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$14,064
  • Out-of-state$29,140
  • Retention Rate97%
  • Acceptance Rate21%
  • Students Enrolled36,302
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment49%
  • AccreditationYes
#4 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

University of California, San Diego

  • Location-markerLa Jolla, CA
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$11,442
  • Out-of-state$41,196
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$11,442
  • Out-of-state$26,544
  • Retention Rate93%
  • Acceptance Rate31%
  • Students Enrolled38,736
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment1%
  • AccreditationYes
#5 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

  • Location-markerAnn Arbor, MI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$16,212
  • Out-of-state$52,669
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$23,890
  • Out-of-state$48,204
  • Retention Rate97%
  • Acceptance Rate23%
  • Students Enrolled48,090
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment1%
  • AccreditationYes
#6 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

  • Location-markerSan Luis Obispo, CA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$5,742
  • Out-of-state$17,622
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$7,176
  • Out-of-state$16,680
  • Retention Rate94%
  • Acceptance Rate28%
  • Students Enrolled21,426
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment8%
  • AccreditationYes
#7 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

Purdue University-Main Campus

  • Location-markerWest Lafayette, IN
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$9,208
  • Out-of-state$28,010
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$9,208
  • Out-of-state$28,010
  • Retention Rate91%
  • Acceptance Rate60%
  • Students Enrolled45,500
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment22%
  • AccreditationYes
#8 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

Texas A&M University-College Station

  • Location-markerCollege Station, TX
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$7,941
  • Out-of-state$34,190
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$6,677
  • Out-of-state$18,700
  • Retention Rate93%
  • Acceptance Rate58%
  • Students Enrolled68,726
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment14%
  • AccreditationYes
#9 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

University of California, Irvine

  • Location-markerIrvine, CA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$11,442
  • Out-of-state$41,196
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$11,442
  • Out-of-state$26,544
  • Retention Rate94%
  • Acceptance Rate27%
  • Students Enrolled36,908
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment15%
  • AccreditationYes
#10 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

  • Location-markerSeattle, WA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$10,370
  • Out-of-state$37,071
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$18,198
  • Out-of-state$32,439
  • Retention Rate95%
  • Acceptance Rate52%
  • Students Enrolled47,576
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment8%
  • AccreditationYes
#11 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

California State University, Long Beach

  • Location-markerLong Beach, CA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$5,742
  • Out-of-state$17,622
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$7,176
  • Out-of-state$16,680
  • Retention Rate87%
  • Acceptance Rate39%
  • Students Enrolled38,674
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment30%
  • AccreditationYes
#12 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Location-markerSanta Barbara, CA
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$11,442
  • Out-of-state$41,196
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$11,442
  • Out-of-state$26,544
  • Retention Rate92%
  • Acceptance Rate30%
  • Students Enrolled26,314
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment2%
  • AccreditationYes
#13 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

San Diego State University

  • Location-markerSan Diego, CA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$5,742
  • Out-of-state$17,622
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$7,176
  • Out-of-state$16,680
  • Retention Rate89%
  • Acceptance Rate34%
  • Students Enrolled35,544
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment50%
  • AccreditationYes
#14 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

University of Maryland-College Park

  • Location-markerCollege Park, MD
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$8,824
  • Out-of-state$34,936
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$13,158
  • Out-of-state$29,250
  • Retention Rate95%
  • Acceptance Rate44%
  • Students Enrolled40,743
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment19%
  • AccreditationYes
#15 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

University of California, Davis

  • Location-markerDavis, CA
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$11,442
  • Out-of-state$41,196
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$11,442
  • Out-of-state$26,544
  • Retention Rate92%
  • Acceptance Rate39%
  • Students Enrolled38,634
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment5%
  • AccreditationYes
#16 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

University of Florida-Online

  • Location-markerGainesville, FL
  • 4 year
  • Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$3,358
  • Out-of-state$15,000
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate63%
  • Acceptance Rate32%
  • Students Enrolled3,926
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
  • AccreditationYes
#17 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

San Jose State University

  • Location-markerSan Jose, CA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$5,742
  • Out-of-state$17,622
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$7,176
  • Out-of-state$16,680
  • Retention Rate87%
  • Acceptance Rate64%
  • Students Enrolled36,085
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment35%
  • AccreditationYes
#18 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College

  • Location-markerNew York, NY
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$6,930
  • Out-of-state$14,880
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$11,090
  • Out-of-state$20,520
  • Retention Rate89%
  • Acceptance Rate43%
  • Students Enrolled18,679
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment7%
  • AccreditationYes
#19 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

University of Virginia-Main Campus

  • Location-markerCharlottesville, VA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$14,970
  • Out-of-state$47,833
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$16,578
  • Out-of-state$27,770
  • Retention Rate97%
  • Acceptance Rate24%
  • Students Enrolled25,012
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment10%
  • AccreditationYes
#20 Public Colleges with the Best Return on Investment

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

  • Location-markerMinneapolis, MN
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$13,318
  • Out-of-state$31,616
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$17,580
  • Out-of-state$27,204
  • Retention Rate93%
  • Acceptance Rate57%
  • Students Enrolled51,327
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment30%
  • AccreditationYes

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