2024 Best Schools for the Money (No Aid) in the United States
2,221Colleges
$7,472Avg Undergrad Tuition & Fees*
$6,986Avg Room & Board*
When pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Value Schools ranking - to help you make that decision.
After analyzing 2,221 schools in the United States, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Our Methodology
Our Best Colleges for the Money ranking is determined by first looking at the combined costs of average tuition, fees, and room and board before any aid is applied.
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 collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Want to see the list of best value schools for families with specific income levels or whether or not aid is being applied? Click on one of the tiles above. Are you more interested in the best value schools in your area? Try narrowing this list by location. Also, you may want to check out our other college rankings.
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.
Our 2024 rankings named Lee College the best value (no aid) school in the United States. Baytown, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Lee College has the honor of being ranked #6 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $10,320 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,018 a year.
The quality degree programs at Brigham Young University - Provo helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money. BYU is located in Provo, Utah and has a large student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Brigham Young University - Provo has the honor of being ranked #1 in Utah for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,168 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $15,748 per year for graduate students.
The quality degree programs at Western Governors University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Western Governors University is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Utah. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $13,452 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $13,790 a year.
The quality degree programs at American Public University System helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money. American Public University System is a large private for-profit school located in Charles Town, West Virginia.
American Public University System has the honor of being ranked #1 in West Virginia for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $15,072 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $14,762 a year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hennepin Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money list. Hennepin Technical College is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Hennepin Technical College is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Minnesota. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $13,675 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,934 a year.
Central Georgia Technical College landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money ranking. CGTC is a medium-sized public school situated in Warner Robins, Georgia.
Central Georgia Technical College has the honor of being ranked #4 in Georgia for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $7,844 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $2,402 a year.
University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money ranking. UOPX - Arizona is a private for-profit institution located in Phoenix, Arizona.
University of Phoenix - Arizona has the honor of being ranked #2 in Arizona for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $15,402 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,003 per year for graduate students.
Central Texas College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money list. Central Texas College is a public institution located in Killeen, Texas.
Central Texas College has the honor of being ranked #12 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $13,611 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,171 a year.
United States University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money list. USU is a small private for-profit school situated in San Diego, California.
United States University has the honor of being ranked #46 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $12,019 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $11,969 a year.
Lake Area Technical Institute did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money ranking, coming in at #10. LATI is located in Watertown, South Dakota and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Lake Area Technical Institute a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in South Dakota for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $13,988 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,270 per year for graduate students.
Northcentral Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money list. This medium-sized public school is located in Wausau, Wisconsin.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northcentral Technical College is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average cost without aid for the school is $11,855 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,440 a year.
Houston Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money list. Houston Community College is located in Houston, Texas and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Houston Community College has the honor of being ranked #15 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,540 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $9,080 a year.
Eastern Gateway Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money ranking. Eastern Gateway Community College is a large public school located in Steubenville, Ohio.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Eastern Gateway Community College is ranked #15 for quality in the state of Ohio. The average cost without aid for the school is $11,622 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $3,600 per year for graduate students.
Ranken Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money ranking, coming in at #14. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Not only is Ranken Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Missouri for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $23,914 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,750 a year.
Western Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money ranking, coming in at #15. Western Technical College is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Western Technical College is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average cost without aid for the school is $13,659 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,972 a year.
Texas State Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money ranking, coming in at #16. Texas State Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Waco, Texas.
Texas State Technical College has the honor of being ranked #8 in Texas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,441 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $9,072 a year.
Brigham Young University - Idaho ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money list. BYU - I is located in Rexburg, Idaho and has a large student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Brigham Young University - Idaho has the honor of being ranked #3 in Idaho for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $8,868 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $4,452 per year for graduate students.
With a ranking of #18, Central New Mexico Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money list. CNM is a fairly large public school situated in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Not only is Central New Mexico Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in New Mexico for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $14,962 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,422 per year for graduate students.
With a ranking of #19, Clover Park Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money list. CPTC is located in Lakewood, Washington and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Clover Park Technical College is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Washington. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $15,430 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $9,690 per year for graduate students.
Dakota County Technical College landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money ranking. Dakota County Technical College is a small public school located in Rosemount, Minnesota.
Dakota County Technical College has the honor of being ranked #15 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $13,678 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,470 per year for graduate students.
Capella University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money list. Capella University is a large private for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Capella University has the honor of being ranked #4 in Minnesota for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,148 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,784 per year for graduate students.
Metropolitan Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money list. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Metropolitan Community College has the honor of being ranked #7 in Nebraska for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $10,935 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,255 a year.
Thomas Edison State University landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money ranking. TESU is a public institution located in Trenton, New Jersey.
Thomas Edison State University has the honor of being ranked #8 in New Jersey for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $14,445 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $17,127 per year for graduate students.
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money ranking, coming in at #24. Cincinnati State is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College has the honor of being ranked #13 in Ohio for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,220 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $5,130 a year.
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money list. CVTC is a medium-sized public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Chippewa Valley Technical College is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,527 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,844 per year for graduate students.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
