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Best Value Private Colleges

A degree earned at a private college or university usually carries a certain degree of prestige, but that prestige often comes at a price; private schools can have shockingly high tuitions. Read More

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ROI Type

20-Yr Net Annual %

Rank

School Name

20 Year Net ROI

Total 4 Year Cost

Graduation Rate

Typical Years to Graduate

Average Loan Amount

436 (tie)

Allegheny College - Meadville, PA(Private)

$155,000

$213,000

78%

4 Years

$33,800

436 (tie)	Allegheny College - Meadville, PA(Private)
	Annual ROI	2.8%
	Annual ROI	3.0%
	Annual ROI	5.9%
	Annual ROI	6.4%
	20 Year Net ROI	$155,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$165,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$252,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$262,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$213,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$203,000
	Grad Rate	78%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$33,800
	Grant Money Received	100%

436 (tie)

California Institute of the Arts(Private)

$155,000

$243,000

70%

4 Years

$32,300

436 (tie)	California Institute of the Arts(Private)
	Annual ROI	2.5%
	Annual ROI	2.3%
	Annual ROI	3.9%
	Annual ROI	3.6%
	20 Year Net ROI	$155,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$144,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$214,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$202,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$243,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$255,000
	Grad Rate	70%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$32,300
	Grant Money Received	69%

436 (tie)

Kenyon College(Private)

$155,000

$244,000

89%

4 Years

$21,400

436 (tie)	Kenyon College(Private)
	Annual ROI	2.5%
	Annual ROI	N/A
	Annual ROI	6.6%
	Annual ROI	N/A
	20 Year Net ROI	$155,000
	20 Year Net ROI	N/A
	20 Year Net ROI	$288,000
	20 Year Net ROI	N/A
	Total 4 Year Cost	$244,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	N/A
	Grad Rate	89%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$21,400
	Grant Money Received	44%

436 (tie)

Tabor College(Private)

$155,000

$151,000

48%

4 Years

$26,300

436 (tie)	Tabor College(Private)
	Annual ROI	3.6%
	Annual ROI	3.3%
	Annual ROI	6.1%
	Annual ROI	5.6%
	20 Year Net ROI	$155,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$145,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$212,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$202,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$151,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$161,000
	Grad Rate	48%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$26,300
	Grant Money Received	100%

440 (tie)

Mount Olive College(Private)

$154,000

$113,000

43%

4 Years

$25,800

440 (tie)	Mount Olive College(Private)
	Annual ROI	4.4%
	Annual ROI	4.7%
	Annual ROI	8.3%
	Annual ROI	8.9%
	20 Year Net ROI	$154,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$160,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$212,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$218,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$113,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$107,000
	Grad Rate	43%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$25,800
	Grant Money Received	98%

440 (tie)

University of Saint Francis (USF) - Fort Wayne, IN(Private)

$154,000

$149,000

50%

5 Years

$28,500

440 (tie)	University of Saint Francis (USF) - Fort Wayne, IN(Private)
	Annual ROI	3.6%
	Annual ROI	3.7%
	Annual ROI	6.3%
	Annual ROI	6.4%
	20 Year Net ROI	$154,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$156,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$213,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$216,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$149,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$146,000
	Grad Rate	50%
	Time to Graduate	5 Years
	Loan Amt	$28,500
	Grant Money Received	100%

442 (tie)

Montreat College(Private)

$153,000

$141,000

37%

4 Years

$24,300

442 (tie)	Montreat College(Private)
	Annual ROI	3.8%
	Annual ROI	4.0%
	Annual ROI	7.3%
	Annual ROI	7.8%
	20 Year Net ROI	$153,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$159,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$222,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$228,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$141,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$134,000
	Grad Rate	37%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$24,300
	Grant Money Received	99%

442 (tie)

Oakland City University - Oakland City, IN(Private)

$153,000

$134,000

60%

5 Years

$26,700

442 (tie)	Oakland City University - Oakland City, IN(Private)
	Annual ROI	3.9%
	Annual ROI	3.9%
	Annual ROI	7.3%
	Annual ROI	7.5%
	20 Year Net ROI	$153,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$154,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$217,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$219,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$134,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$133,000
	Grad Rate	60%
	Time to Graduate	5 Years
	Loan Amt	$26,700
	Grant Money Received	100%

442 (tie)

Saint Edward's University(Private)

$153,000

$196,000

67%

4 Years

$33,500

442 (tie)	Saint Edward's University(Private)
	Annual ROI	2.9%
	Annual ROI	2.9%
	Annual ROI	6.5%
	Annual ROI	6.5%
	20 Year Net ROI	$153,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$153,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$251,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$251,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$196,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$196,000
	Grad Rate	67%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$33,500
	Grant Money Received	89%

445

Champlain College(Private)

$152,000

$194,000

57%

4 Years

$35,000

445	Champlain College(Private)
	Annual ROI	2.9%
	Annual ROI	3.4%
	Annual ROI	4.7%
	Annual ROI	5.4%
	20 Year Net ROI	$152,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$169,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$209,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$226,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$194,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$177,000
	Grad Rate	57%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$35,000
	Grant Money Received	94%

446 (tie)

Dordt College(Private)

$151,000

$157,000

66%

4 Years

$29,700

446 (tie)	Dordt College(Private)
	Annual ROI	3.4%
	Annual ROI	3.2%
	Annual ROI	5.8%
	Annual ROI	5.4%
	20 Year Net ROI	$151,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$143,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$209,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$201,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$157,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$166,000
	Grad Rate	66%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$29,700
	Grant Money Received	100%

446 (tie)

Regis College - Weston, MA(Private)

$151,000

$207,000

45%

4 Years

$38,700

446 (tie)	Regis College - Weston, MA(Private)
	Annual ROI	2.8%
	Annual ROI	2.7%
	Annual ROI	6.4%
	Annual ROI	6.2%
	20 Year Net ROI	$151,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$147,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$254,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$250,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$207,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$211,000
	Grad Rate	45%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$38,700
	Grant Money Received	98%

446 (tie)

Shenandoah University(Private)

$151,000

$175,000

55%

4 Years

$38,900

446 (tie)	Shenandoah University(Private)
	Annual ROI	3.2%
	Annual ROI	3.2%
	Annual ROI	5.3%
	Annual ROI	5.3%
	20 Year Net ROI	$151,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$151,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$209,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$209,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$175,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$175,000
	Grad Rate	55%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$38,900
	Grant Money Received	99%

449 (tie)

Augustana College - Sioux Falls, SD(Private)

$150,000

$154,000

67%

4 Years

$36,800

449 (tie)	Augustana College - Sioux Falls, SD(Private)
	Annual ROI	3.5%
	Annual ROI	3.6%
	Annual ROI	6.8%
	Annual ROI	7.1%
	20 Year Net ROI	$150,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$153,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$223,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$226,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$154,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$151,000
	Grad Rate	67%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$36,800
	Grant Money Received	100%

449 (tie)

Saint Francis University(Private)

$150,000

$183,000

72%

4 Years

$36,500

449 (tie)	Saint Francis University(Private)
	Annual ROI	3.0%
	Annual ROI	2.7%
	Annual ROI	6.2%
	Annual ROI	5.6%
	20 Year Net ROI	$150,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$138,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$232,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$220,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$183,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$195,000
	Grad Rate	72%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$36,500
	Grant Money Received	98%

See Full List

*NOTE: Unranked schools on this list don’t have on-campus living options, so on-campus costs are not available.

That said, for certain students, the right private school can represent the best value in terms of college return on investment.

Students seek out private universities and colleges for a number of reasons. Such schools tend to have very close-knit communities, and class sizes tend to be far smaller than those at public institutes of higher learning. If you're considering enrolling at a privately funded university, consider using PayScale's data to identify which school will give you the best return on your investment.

The California Institute of Technology -- or "Caltech," as it's more commonly known -- is a privately funded university that was founded in 1891. Located in Pasadena, California, Caltech consists of six academic divisions and offers 24 majors, or "options," and six minors. Caltech has produced many accomplished alumni through the years, but Linus Pauling -- recipient of two Nobel Prize awards -- is probably the most notable. Furthermore, six alumni have received the Turing Award, which is considered the Nobel Prize of computer science.

One-third of all manned space flights have included graduates of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, so it's easy to see why it's among the best schools a person can select. Located in Cambridge, the private university almost always provides one of the best private school returns on investment you can find. Programs offered by its five schools and colleges span many fields, but the physical sciences and engineering are undoubtedly among the most popular. Since its founding in 1861, MIT has produced or been associated with more than 80 Nobel Laureates, 45 Rhodes Scholars, 52 National Medal of Science recipients and two Fields Medalists, so you would be hard-pressed to find a more prestigious engineering school offering this kind of value.

From its 38-acre campus in Claremont, California, Harvey Mudd College is another perennial high-ranker on our list. Founded in 1955, the highly regarded college hosts just 800 students per year. However, those who graduate go on to enjoy great earning potential. The school is a standout in many ways, but the fact that significant numbers of graduates go on to earn their PhDs is particularly noteworthy. Located about 35 miles east of Los Angeles, Harvey Mudd College offers four-year degrees in engineering, computer science, chemistry, mathematics and physics and counts many astronauts among its alumni.