Best Education, General Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
26
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$229,576
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$16,400
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Community College of Baltimore County
Grad rate: 16.0% |
MD | -$70,901 | $40,907 | $13,178 | $16,804 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Allen County Community College
Grad rate: 36.0% |
KS | -$75,204 | $39,547 | $13,072 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
College of the Canyons
Grad rate: 43.4% |
CA | -$121,266 | $36,961 | $10,243 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Gogebic Community College
Grad rate: 30.5% |
MI | -$137,156 | $36,482 | $13,398 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Motlow State Community College
Grad rate: 30.5% |
TN | -$141,244 | $36,765 | $18,272 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Trinity Valley Community College
Grad rate: 24.6% |
TX | -$144,694 | $36,136 | $13,707 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
University of the District of Columbia
Grad rate: 30.2% |
DC | -$160,602 | $36,817 | $20,911 | $11,200 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Crafton Hills College
Grad rate: 35.2% |
CA | -$165,948 | $35,541 | $18,384 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Roane State Community College
Grad rate: 32.4% |
TN | -$188,902 | $33,657 | $11,021 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Tulsa Community College
Grad rate: 25.2% |
OK | -$201,904 | $33,157 | $12,522 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Pima Community College
Grad rate: 19.6% |
AZ | -$202,952 | $32,744 | $8,916 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Inver Hills Community College
Grad rate: 18.3% |
MN | -$206,044 | $33,259 | $15,612 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Campbell University
Grad rate: 55.7% |
NC | -$212,236 | $38,529 | $58,752 | $18,750 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Laramie County Community College
Grad rate: 29.8% |
WY | -$219,304 | $32,307 | $12,722 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Butler Community College
Grad rate: 30.4% |
KS | -$222,503 | $33,932 | $20,278 | $15,250 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Century College
Grad rate: 21.0% |
MN | -$222,528 | $32,382 | $15,084 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
San Bernardino Valley College
Grad rate: 20.6% |
CA | -$223,330 | $32,299 | $14,655 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Pellissippi State Community College
Grad rate: 27.1% |
TN | -$231,800 | $31,738 | $13,280 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Delgado Community College
Grad rate: 19.3% |
LA | -$236,934 | $32,067 | $19,137 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Highland Community College
Grad rate: 38.1% |
KS | -$262,288 | $30,471 | $15,854 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Connors State College
Grad rate: 27.2% |
OK | -$315,035 | $28,810 | $18,630 | $10,352 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Ivy Tech Community College
Grad rate: 33.3% |
IN | -$358,761 | $26,185 | $13,891 | $10,874 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Brookdale Community College
Grad rate: 28.7% |
NJ | -$399,950 | $24,130 | $15,369 | $8,750 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus
Grad rate: 30.5% |
NJ | -$408,812 | $23,593 | $12,920 | $10,987 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus
Grad rate: 32.3% |
NJ | -$411,576 | $23,593 | $14,302 | $10,987 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
College of Western Idaho
Grad rate: 26.7% |
ID | -$427,108 | $21,874 | $12,294 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Education, General Degrees by State
Browse Education, General programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.