by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) ranking is part of that endeavor. A school that typically has a high sticker price may actually be very affordable, depending on how much need-based financial aid you receive.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 1,452 schools in the United States, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value Bachelor's Degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) ranking, we first look at its average net price, which is defined as the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Washington - Seattle Campus to be the best value (with aid) school for bachelor’s degrees in the United States in this year’s ranking. Located in Seattle, Washington, the school is a large public institution.
Not only is University of Washington - Seattle Campus a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Washington for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $8,701.
Out of the 1,452 bachelor’s degree schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #2 spot on the list. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Harvard University a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Massachusetts for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $13,910 a year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia University in the City of New York. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) list. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York.
Not only is Columbia University in the City of New York a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in New York for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $12,411.
Full Columbia University in the City of New York Value Report
The quality degree programs at Stanford University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid). Stanford is located in Stanford, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Stanford University has the honor of being ranked #1 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $14,402 a year.
A rank of #5 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) list means University of Pennsylvania is a great place for students working on their degree. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Pennsylvania is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $14,578.
University of Puerto Rico - Cayey ranked #6 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) list. UPR Cayey is located in Cayey, Puerto Rico and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Puerto Rico - Cayey a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Puerto Rico for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,786.
Foothill College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) list. Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Foothill College a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in California for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $9,820.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) ranking. This large public school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Not only is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in North Carolina for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $11,508 a year.
Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Value Report
University of California - Los Angeles came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) ranking. University of California - Los Angeles is a large public school located in Los Angeles, California.
Not only is University of California - Los Angeles a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in California for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $13,393 a year.
Fashion Institute of Technology came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) ranking. FIT SUNY is a public institution located in New York, New York.
Not only is Fashion Institute of Technology a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in New York for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $8,637.
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) ranking, coming in at #11. Michigan State University is a large public school located in East Lansing, Michigan.
Not only is Michigan State University a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Michigan for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $8,738 a year.
Baruch College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) ranking, coming in at #12. Baruch is located in New York, New York and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Baruch College has the honor of being ranked #22 in New York for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $3,793 a year.
University of Florida did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) ranking, coming in at #13. University of Florida is a large public school located in Gainesville, Florida.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Florida is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Florida. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $9,809.
With a ranking of #14, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) list. Located in Los Angeles, California, the school is a large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, California State University - Los Angeles is ranked #52 for quality in the state of California. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $2,695.
Read full value report on California State University - Los Angeles
San Diego State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) list. Located in San Diego, California, the school is a large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, San Diego State University is ranked #18 for quality in the state of California. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $6,867 a year.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) ranking. Located in New York, New York, the school is a fairly large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, John Jay College of Criminal Justice is ranked #16 for quality in the state of New York. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,077 a year.
Learn More About Value at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
ranked #17 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) list.
With a ranking of #18, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) list. Cal State Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California.
California State University - Fullerton has the honor of being ranked #35 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $4,939 a year.
University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) ranking, coming in at #19. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Wisconsin - Madison is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $13,484.
With a ranking of #20, University of Maryland - Baltimore County did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) list. University of Maryland - Baltimore County is a fairly large public school located in Baltimore, Maryland.
Not only is University of Maryland - Baltimore County a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Maryland for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $6,912.
Learn More About Value at University of Maryland - Baltimore County
Seattle Central College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) ranking, coming in at #21. Seattle Central is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Seattle Central College is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Washington. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $7,433 a year.
With a ranking of #22, Hunter College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) list. Hunter is a large public school situated in New York, New York.
Not only is Hunter College a great value, but it is also ranked #30 in New York for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $4,586 a year.
University of California - Irvine landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) ranking. This large public school is located in Irvine, California.
Not only is University of California - Irvine a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in California for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $11,633.
California State University - San Bernardino landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) ranking. This fairly large public school is located in San Bernardino, California.
California State University - San Bernardino has the honor of being ranked #63 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $3,254.
Full California State University - San Bernardino Value Report
Queens College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) list. This fairly large public school is located in Queens, New York.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Queens College is ranked #33 for quality in the state of New York. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,777.
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick | New Brunswick, NJ | Value Report |
| 52 | The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | Value Report |
| 53 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI | Value Report |
| 54 | Seminole State College of Florida | Sanford, FL | Value Report |
| 55 | Brigham Young University - Provo | Provo, UT | Value Report |
| 56 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Chicago, IL | Value Report |
| 57 | California State University - Northridge | Northridge, CA | Value Report |
| 58 | Brigham Young University - Idaho | Rexburg, ID | Value Report |
| 59 | University of South Florida - Main Campus | Tampa, FL | Value Report |
| 60 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | Value Report |
| 61 | American Public University System | Charles Town, WV | Value Report |
| 62 | National University | La Jolla, CA | Value Report |
| 63 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Kirkland, WA | Value Report |
| 64 | Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, CA | Value Report |
| 65 | Missouri University of Science and Technology | Rolla, MO | Value Report |
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 216 | Utah State University | Logan, UT | Value Report |
| 217 | Bismarck State College | Bismarck, ND | Value Report |
| 218 | Florida SouthWestern State College | Fort Myers, FL | Value Report |
All Majors and Fields of Study >
These schools also performed well in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 219 | University of Wisconsin - Green Bay | Green Bay, WI | Value Report |
| 220 | Charter Oak State College | New Britain, CT | Value Report |
| 221 | Ferris State University | Big Rapids, MI | Value Report |
| 222 | Amherst College | Amherst, MA | Value Report |
| 223 | Valencia College | Orlando, FL | Value Report |
| 224 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins | Fort Collins, CO | Value Report |
| 224 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus | Fargo, ND | Value Report |
| 226 | Saint Johns River State College | Palatka, FL | Value Report |
| 227 | Murray State University | Murray, KY | Value Report |
| 228 | Duke University | Durham, NC | Value Report |
| 229 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire | Eau Claire, WI | Value Report |
| 230 | Northeastern State University | Tahlequah, OK | Value Report |
| 231 | California State University - Chico | Chico, CA | Value Report |
| 232 | University of Delaware | Newark, DE | Value Report |
| 233 | North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro, NC | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
