United States · Predominantly bachelor's institutions
Ranking WIDER
Earnings after entry. Earnings relative to cost.
- Institutions
- 1,183
- Median earnings, 10 years
- $56,343
- Median return
- 1.44×
U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard, Most Recent Cohorts (Institution) · File published: May 26, 2026 · Verified: Aug 19, 2026
| # | Institution | Earnings, 10 years | Annual cost | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1001 | Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityDurant, OKPublic | $45,079 | $18,594 | 2.42× |
| 1002 | University of the CumberlandsWilliamsburg, KYPrivate nonprofit | $45,036 | $25,567 | 1.76× |
| 1003 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at CobleskillCobleskill, NYPublic | $45,030 | $27,786 | 1.62× |
| 1004 | Husson UniversityBangor, MEPrivate nonprofit | $45,025 | $35,852 | 1.26× |
| 1005 | East Central UniversityAda, OKPublic | $44,962 | $18,459 | 2.44× |
| 1006 | Indiana University-South BendSouth Bend, INPublic | $44,947 | $17,364 | 2.59× |
| 1007 | College for Creative StudiesDetroit, MIPrivate nonprofit | $44,860 | $66,014 | 0.68× |
| 1008 | East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, TNPublic | $44,859 | $27,042 | 1.66× |
| 1009 | Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VAPrivate nonprofit | $44,813 | $42,025 | 1.07× |
| 1010 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerque, NMPublic | $44,792 | $21,259 | 2.11× |
| 1011 | Mars Hill UniversityMars Hill, NCPrivate nonprofit | $44,781 | $50,099 | 0.89× |
| 1012 | Murray State UniversityMurray, KYPublic | $44,737 | $23,485 | 1.90× |
| 1013 | Norfolk State UniversityNorfolk, VAPublic | $44,666 | $26,633 | 1.68× |
| 1014 | Shorter UniversityRome, GAPrivate nonprofit | $44,604 | $35,726 | 1.25× |
| 1015 | Columbus State UniversityColumbus, GAPublic | $44,544 | $21,676 | 2.05× |
| 1016 | The University of MontanaMissoula, MTPublic | $44,511 | $23,570 | 1.89× |
| 1017 | Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VAPrivate nonprofit | $44,498 | $32,838 | 1.36× |
| 1018 | North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboro, NCPublic | $44,440 | $20,427 | 2.18× |
| 1019 | University of Maine at FarmingtonFarmington, MEPublic | $44,433 | $25,822 | 1.72× |
| 1020 | Mary Baldwin UniversityStaunton, VAPrivate nonprofit | $44,427 | $45,935 | 0.97× |
| 1021 | American Public University SystemCharles Town, WVPrivate for-profit | $44,409 | $18,768 | 2.37× |
| 1022 | Auburn University at MontgomeryMontgomery, ALPublic | $44,391 | $21,353 | 2.08× |
| 1023 | Adams State UniversityAlamosa, COPublic | $44,372 | $24,352 | 1.82× |
| 1024 | Northwestern Oklahoma State UniversityAlva, OKPublic | $44,358 | $18,672 | 2.38× |
| 1025 | Bob Jones UniversityGreenville, SCPrivate nonprofit | $44,354 | $36,580 | 1.21× |
| 1026 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityTallahassee, FLPublic | $44,349 | $23,970 | 1.85× |
| 1027 | Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, TNPublic | $44,301 | $22,233 | 1.99× |
| 1028 | Montana State University BillingsBillings, MTPublic | $44,296 | $20,054 | 2.21× |
| 1029 | Midway UniversityMidway, KYPrivate nonprofit | $44,246 | $48,805 | 0.91× |
| 1030 | University of West AlabamaLivingston, ALPublic | $44,232 | $22,758 | 1.94× |
| 1031 | The University of Tennessee-MartinMartin, TNPublic | $44,213 | $23,079 | 1.92× |
| 1032 | University of Southern MississippiHattiesburg, MSPublic | $44,140 | $26,566 | 1.66× |
| 1033 | Lancaster Bible CollegeLancaster, PAPrivate nonprofit | $44,096 | $44,066 | 1.00× |
| 1034 | Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape Girardeau, MOPublic | $44,030 | $25,177 | 1.75× |
| 1035 | University of North Carolina AshevilleAsheville, NCPublic | $44,030 | $21,685 | 2.03× |
| 1036 | Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KYPublic | $43,889 | $24,188 | 1.81× |
| 1037 | Francis Marion UniversityFlorence, SCPublic | $43,888 | $23,850 | 1.84× |
| 1038 | University of MobileMobile, ALPrivate nonprofit | $43,611 | $41,115 | 1.06× |
| 1039 | Massachusetts College of Art and DesignBoston, MAPublic | $43,582 | $34,239 | 1.27× |
| 1040 | Henderson State UniversityArkadelphia, ARPublic | $43,459 | $27,385 | 1.59× |
| 1041 | Faulkner UniversityMontgomery, ALPrivate nonprofit | $43,457 | $37,626 | 1.15× |
| 1042 | Johnson & Wales University-OnlineProvidence, RIPrivate nonprofit | $43,418 | $26,864 | 1.62× |
| 1043 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceProvidence, RIPrivate nonprofit | $43,418 | $60,314 | 0.72× |
| 1044 | University of North Carolina at PembrokePembroke, NCPublic | $43,407 | $17,261 | 2.51× |
| 1045 | Southern University and A & M CollegeBaton Rouge, LAPublic | $43,371 | $26,341 | 1.65× |
| 1046 | Indiana University-NorthwestGary, INPublic | $43,361 | $13,989 | 3.10× |
| 1047 | Ringling College of Art and DesignSarasota, FLPrivate nonprofit | $43,325 | $80,276 | 0.54× |
| 1048 | West Liberty UniversityWest Liberty, WVPublic | $43,296 | $23,809 | 1.82× |
| 1049 | The University of Montana-WesternDillon, MTPublic | $43,229 | $21,403 | 2.02× |
| 1050 | Lee UniversityCleveland, TNPrivate nonprofit | $43,222 | $35,688 | 1.21× |
| 1051 | Missouri Valley CollegeMarshall, MOPrivate nonprofit | $43,221 | $37,899 | 1.14× |
| 1052 | Morehead State UniversityMorehead, KYPublic | $43,197 | $21,961 | 1.97× |
| 1053 | Lincoln UniversityLincoln University, PAPublic | $43,167 | $28,505 | 1.51× |
| 1054 | Rogers State UniversityClaremore, OKPublic | $43,166 | $21,064 | 2.05× |
| 1055 | Berea CollegeBerea, KYPrivate nonprofit | $43,150 | $60,718 | 0.71× |
| 1056 | Florida Institute of TechnologyMelbourne, FLPrivate nonprofit | $43,137 | $62,440 | 0.69× |
| 1057 | Southwest Baptist UniversityBolivar, MOPrivate nonprofit | $43,112 | $40,301 | 1.07× |
| 1058 | William Carey UniversityHattiesburg, MSPrivate nonprofit | $43,087 | $29,651 | 1.45× |
| 1059 | North Greenville UniversityTigerville, SCPrivate nonprofit | $43,035 | $42,034 | 1.02× |
| 1060 | North Carolina Central UniversityDurham, NCPublic | $42,968 | $26,556 | 1.62× |
| 1061 | Rocky Mountain College of Art and DesignLakewood, COPrivate for-profit | $42,958 | $37,505 | 1.15× |
| 1062 | University of MontevalloMontevallo, ALPublic | $42,957 | $27,398 | 1.57× |
| 1063 | Huston-Tillotson UniversityAustin, TXPrivate nonprofit | $42,937 | $25,384 | 1.69× |
| 1064 | Walden UniversityMinneapolis, MNPrivate for-profit | $42,810 | $35,358 | 1.21× |
| 1065 | Chicago State UniversityChicago, ILPublic | $42,778 | $29,764 | 1.44× |
| 1066 | Tennessee State UniversityNashville, TNPublic | $42,730 | $25,637 | 1.67× |
| 1067 | Clark Atlanta UniversityAtlanta, GAPrivate nonprofit | $42,712 | $43,676 | 0.98× |
| 1068 | Concord UniversityAthens, WVPublic | $42,703 | $20,434 | 2.09× |
| 1069 | Johnson C Smith UniversityCharlotte, NCPrivate nonprofit | $42,680 | $34,923 | 1.22× |
| 1070 | Missouri Western State UniversitySaint Joseph, MOPublic | $42,647 | $21,595 | 1.97× |
| 1071 | Missouri Southern State UniversityJoplin, MOPublic | $42,620 | $19,568 | 2.18× |
| 1072 | Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, ARPublic | $42,617 | $25,082 | 1.70× |
| 1073 | Oakwood UniversityHuntsville, ALPrivate nonprofit | $42,488 | $40,176 | 1.06× |
| 1074 | William Woods UniversityFulton, MOPrivate nonprofit | $42,401 | $49,094 | 0.86× |
| 1075 | Lander UniversityGreenwood, SCPublic | $42,396 | $27,277 | 1.55× |
| 1076 | Southern Arkansas University Main CampusMagnolia, ARPublic | $42,386 | $24,951 | 1.70× |
| 1077 | Asbury UniversityWilmore, KYPrivate nonprofit | $42,368 | $47,459 | 0.89× |
| 1078 | Louisiana State University at AlexandriaAlexandria, LAPublic | $42,205 | $15,550 | 2.71× |
| 1079 | Columbia College ChicagoChicago, ILPrivate nonprofit | $42,195 | $51,889 | 0.81× |
| 1080 | Capella UniversityMinneapolis, MNPrivate for-profit | $42,189 | $22,820 | 1.85× |
| 1081 | Grand Canyon UniversityPhoenix, AZPrivate nonprofit | $42,186 | $32,702 | 1.29× |
| 1082 | Anderson UniversityAnderson, SCPrivate nonprofit | $42,101 | $50,192 | 0.84× |
| 1083 | New England CollegeHenniker, NHPrivate nonprofit | $42,092 | $59,350 | 0.71× |
| 1084 | Troy UniversityTroy, ALPublic | $42,062 | $23,165 | 1.82× |
| 1085 | Delta State UniversityCleveland, MSPublic | $41,991 | $22,445 | 1.87× |
| 1086 | Sul Ross State UniversityAlpine, TXPublic | $41,871 | $24,529 | 1.71× |
| 1087 | College of the OzarksPoint Lookout, MOPrivate nonprofit | $41,592 | $33,734 | 1.23× |
| 1088 | Campbellsville UniversityCampbellsville, KYPrivate nonprofit | $41,583 | $42,603 | 0.98× |
| 1089 | Youngstown State UniversityYoungstown, OHPublic | $41,544 | $21,708 | 1.91× |
| 1090 | Columbia CollegeColumbia, SCPrivate nonprofit | $41,338 | $35,258 | 1.17× |
| 1091 | Lindsey Wilson UniversityColumbia, KYPrivate nonprofit | $41,129 | $40,879 | 1.01× |
| 1092 | Grambling State UniversityGrambling, LAPublic | $41,109 | $25,367 | 1.62× |
| 1093 | University of Maine at Presque IslePresque Isle, MEPublic | $40,956 | $19,113 | 2.14× |
| 1094 | Converse UniversitySpartanburg, SCPrivate nonprofit | $40,867 | $38,838 | 1.05× |
| 1095 | Middle Georgia State UniversityMacon, GAPublic | $40,863 | $19,617 | 2.08× |
| 1096 | Drury UniversitySpringfield, MOPrivate nonprofit | $40,694 | $48,846 | 0.83× |
| 1097 | Albany State UniversityAlbany, GAPublic | $40,674 | $19,333 | 2.10× |
| 1098 | Alabama A & M UniversityNormal, ALPublic | $40,628 | $27,153 | 1.50× |
| 1099 | West Virginia State UniversityInstitute, WVPublic | $40,492 | $19,772 | 2.05× |
| 1100 | University of Maine at AugustaAugusta, MEPublic | $40,342 | $19,052 | 2.12× |
How we calculate it
Earnings = earnings_10y_usd (MD_EARN_WNE_P10). Return = earnings_10y_usd ÷ cost_year_usd (COSTT4_A). The denominator is annual sticker cost, not the total degree cost. The ratio is not a financial rate of return.
Includes predominantly bachelor's institutions (predominant_award_code = 3) with positive earnings and annual cost. Ties are ordered by name. Filtering recalculates the population, medians and positions.
Institution-wide median ten years after entry among students who entered the institution; the population includes people who did not complete.
It describes an institutional cohort and its mix of programs and students. It is not an individual's expected earnings, a specific program outcome, a quality measure, or a causal effect of the institution.
Current coverage is only the United States, using College Scorecard data from the US Department of Education. We do not use net price: it represents students receiving US federal aid, not the general cost for an international student. Payments, sponsorships and partnerships do not affect positions.
WIDER methodology · How we make money