The 10 public colleges with the best ROI in the U.S.

When the cost of a college degree can exceed $500,000, it’s smart to consider schools with reputations for providing students with the education and experience necessary to thrive after graduation.

And when it comes to the best return on investment, the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta earns top marks for the third year in a row, according to The Princeton Review’s latest rankings. 

The publication considered colleges’ ratings in the following categories to determine which schools offer the best value:

Academics: based on admissions selectivity and student surveysFinancial aid: based on school-reported data and student opinionCollege costs: based on the difference between the school’s sticker price and average scholarship and grant awards

Of course, the amount you ultimately pay for your college education may depend less on a school’s sticker price and more on your family’s financial situation. It’s possible for some students to go to an expensive college for free or close to nothing if they qualify for and receive federal or institutional aid.

But with relatively low tuition fees and high median earnings among former students, Georgia Tech offers the best value for students out of the nearly 400 colleges Princeton Review considered. Like other schools known for their academic rigor, Georgia Tech’s focus on science, technology, engineering and math likely contributes to the high salaries students go on to command.

Forbes named Georgia Tech one of the “new Ivies” in 2024 and again in 2025. The list identified highly selective universities that employers say are on par, if not better, than the eight Ivy League colleges.

Still, “there isn’t a sense of cut-throat academic rivalry” at Georgia Tech, a student wrote in Princeton Review’s survey. “Everyone is much more helpful and supportive of one another.”

Here are the 10 public colleges with the best ROI, according to The Princeton Review, along with tuition figures for the 2025-26 academic year, per the schools’ websites; average annual net prices and median earnings among students 10 years after attendance, according to Department of Education data.

2025-26 in-state tuition: $10,5122025-26 out-of-state tuition: $33,596Average net price 2023-24: $13,289Median earnings: $102,772

2025-26 in-state tuition: $16,258 to $28,398, depending on program and class year2025-26 out-of-state tuition: $55,436 to $68,114, depending on program and class yearAverage net price 2023-24: $22,881Median earnings: $86,863

2025-26 in-state tuition: $7,0202025-26 out-of-state tuition: $43,152Average net price 2023-24: $12,983Median earnings: $72,200

2025-26 in-state tuition: $13,6022025-26 out-of-state tuition: $51,204Average net price 2023-24: $12,840Median earnings: $80,735

2025-26 in-state tuition: $17,4782025-26 out-of-state tuition: $55,080Average net price 2023-24: $14,979Median earnings: $92,446

2025-26 in-state tuition: $14,9342025-26 out-of-state tuition: $52,536Average net price 2023-24: $11,750Median earnings: $84,943

2025-26 in-state tuition: $18,346 to $20,648, depending on class year2025-26 out-of-state tuition: $63,962 to $68,444, depending on class yearAverage net price 2023-24: $14,832Median earnings: $83,648

2025-26 in-state tuition: $13,4062025-26 out-of-state tuition: $44,640Average net price 2023-24: $13,485Median earnings: $78,466

2025-26 in-state tuition: $9,0282025-26 out-of-state tuition: $33,993Average net price 2023-24: $16,931Median earnings: $68,758

2025-26 in-state tuition: $18,046 to $23,426, depending on major2025-26 out-of-state tuition: $38,398 to $46,498, depending on majorAverage net price 2023-24: $15,201Median earnings: $81,504

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