Buzz
It's natural to question the value of a college education—however, the outcome may vary significantly depending on the institution in question.
In 2019, the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce released a comprehensive report ranking 4500 colleges and universities based on their return on investment [PDF]. By analyzing tuition costs and post-graduation earnings from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the study evaluated the financial benefits of a degree at intervals of 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 years after enrollment.
The study utilized “net present value” (NPV) as the key metric for return on investment. According to the report, NPV represents “the current worth of a future sum of money, factoring in costs, future earnings, and the time required to invest and accumulate a specific amount over a defined period.”
According to their analysis, the 40-year timeframe provides the most precise assessment of value, which is why it was used for the table below. The top 25 list is more diverse than a typical ranking of elite colleges and universities. While it includes renowned institutions like Yale and Harvard, it also features specialized schools. For instance, the top three spots are occupied by pharmacy-focused institutions: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Additionally, the list includes maritime academies and, predictably, several technology-focused institutes.
Check out the top 25 institutions below and delve into the complete report here. The report allows you to filter results based on various criteria, such as selecting only four-year or two-year schools, private or public institutions, or schools located in specific states like Ohio. A search function is also available to help you quickly locate your preferred institution without extensive scrolling.
Ranking | School | Location | 40-Year NPV |
|---|---|---|---|
1. | Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Albany, New York | $2,722,000 |
2. | St. Louis College of Pharmacy | St. Louis, Missouri | $2,714,000 |
3. | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Boston, Massachusetts | $2,421,000 |
4. | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, Massachusetts | $2,273,000 |
5. | Stanford University | Stanford, California | $2,068,000 |
6. | Maine Maritime Academy | Castine, Maine | $2,043,000 |
7. | Babson College | Wellesley, Massachusetts | $1,985,000 |
8. | Harvard University | Cambridge, Massachusetts | $1,967,000 |
9. | Georgetown University | Washington, D.C. | $1,950,000 |
10. | United States Merchant Marine Academy | Kings Point, New York | $1,949,000 |
11. | University of the Sciences | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | $1,928,000 |
12. | Massachusetts Maritime Academy | Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts | $1,869,000 |
13. | Harvey Mudd College | Claremont, California | $1,851,000 |
14. | Stevens Institute of Technology | Hoboken, New Jersey | $1,833,000 |
15. | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | $1,832,000 |
16. | California State University Maritime Academy | Vallejo, California | $1,818,000 |
17. | California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, California | $1,810,000 |
18. | Colorado School of Mines | Golden, Colorado | $1,794,000 |
19. | Bentley University | Waltham, Massachusetts | $1,786,000 |
20. | Yale University | New Haven, Connecticut | $1,777,000 |
21. | Columbia University | New York City, New York | $1,769,000 |
22. | SUNY Maritime College | New York City, New York | $1,761,000 |
23. | Duke University | Durham, North Carolina | $1,754,000 |
24. | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | $1,750,000 |
25. | Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, Georgia | $1,729,000 |
