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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 601 | University of Mary Hardin-BaylorBelton, TXPrivate nonprofit | $56,132 | $46,874 | 1.20× |
| 602 | Grand Valley State UniversityAllendale, MIPublic | $56,118 | $28,367 | 1.98× |
| 603 | Concordia University-WisconsinMequon, WIPrivate nonprofit | $56,075 | $53,315 | 1.05× |
| 604 | The University of Texas Permian BasinOdessa, TXPublic | $56,073 | $23,886 | 2.35× |
| 605 | Barry UniversityMiami, FLPrivate nonprofit | $55,966 | $50,778 | 1.10× |
| 606 | Lakeland UniversityPlymouth, WIPrivate nonprofit | $55,961 | $48,840 | 1.15× |
| 607 | West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WVPublic | $55,939 | $26,415 | 2.12× |
| 608 | Houston Christian UniversityHouston, TXPrivate nonprofit | $55,933 | $50,082 | 1.12× |
| 609 | Belmont UniversityNashville, TNPrivate nonprofit | $55,930 | $62,570 | 0.89× |
| 610 | University of New EnglandBiddeford, MEPrivate nonprofit | $55,921 | $63,245 | 0.88× |
| 611 | Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, MIPublic | $55,874 | $30,681 | 1.82× |
| 612 | Delaware Valley UniversityDoylestown, PAPrivate nonprofit | $55,838 | $59,933 | 0.93× |
| 613 | Marywood UniversityScranton, PAPrivate nonprofit | $55,817 | $55,582 | 1.00× |
| 614 | Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint Cloud, MNPublic | $55,813 | $21,116 | 2.64× |
| 615 | Lawrence UniversityAppleton, WIPrivate nonprofit | $55,789 | $69,849 | 0.80× |
| 616 | University of CharlestonCharleston, WVPrivate nonprofit | $55,774 | $46,470 | 1.20× |
| 617 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuse, NYPublic | $55,763 | $28,133 | 1.98× |
| 618 | Midwestern State UniversityWichita Falls, TXPublic | $55,747 | $22,652 | 2.46× |
| 619 | Abilene Christian UniversityAbilene, TXPrivate nonprofit | $55,736 | $59,256 | 0.94× |
| 620 | Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate OnlineAddison, TXPrivate nonprofit | $55,736 | $30,295 | 1.84× |
| 621 | Viterbo UniversityLa Crosse, WIPrivate nonprofit | $55,660 | $45,558 | 1.22× |
| 622 | Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelaware, OHPrivate nonprofit | $55,624 | $68,424 | 0.81× |
| 623 | Colorado State University PuebloPueblo, COPublic | $55,563 | $23,937 | 2.32× |
| 624 | University of Wisconsin-OshkoshOshkosh, WIPublic | $55,548 | $19,652 | 2.83× |
| 625 | Lipscomb UniversityNashville, TNPrivate nonprofit | $55,541 | $55,117 | 1.01× |
| 626 | Adrian CollegeAdrian, MIPrivate nonprofit | $55,504 | $56,003 | 0.99× |
| 627 | Morningside UniversitySioux City, IAPrivate nonprofit | $55,494 | $52,577 | 1.06× |
| 628 | Frostburg State UniversityFrostburg, MDPublic | $55,493 | $27,056 | 2.05× |
| 629 | Cedarville UniversityCedarville, OHPrivate nonprofit | $55,443 | $49,320 | 1.12× |
| 630 | Bay Path UniversityLongmeadow, MAPrivate nonprofit | $55,383 | $47,308 | 1.17× |
| 631 | University of Saint Francis-Fort WayneFort Wayne, INPrivate nonprofit | $55,362 | $47,223 | 1.17× |
| 632 | University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater, WIPublic | $55,356 | $18,719 | 2.96× |
| 633 | Florida Southern CollegeLakeland, FLPrivate nonprofit | $55,294 | $60,768 | 0.91× |
| 634 | Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersville, PAPublic | $55,246 | $26,913 | 2.05× |
| 635 | Oglethorpe UniversityAtlanta, GAPrivate nonprofit | $55,232 | $60,581 | 0.91× |
| 636 | Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis, INPublic | $55,198 | $23,316 | 2.37× |
| 637 | University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, IAPublic | $55,177 | $22,278 | 2.48× |
| 638 | East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NCPublic | $55,146 | $23,867 | 2.31× |
| 639 | Miami University-HamiltonHamilton, OHPublic | $55,076 | $15,352 | 3.59× |
| 640 | Miami University-OxfordOxford, OHPublic | $55,076 | $38,757 | 1.42× |
| 641 | South Dakota State UniversityBrookings, SDPublic | $55,070 | $24,636 | 2.24× |
| 642 | Alvernia UniversityReading, PAPrivate nonprofit | $55,055 | $57,565 | 0.96× |
| 643 | Southern Connecticut State UniversityNew Haven, CTPublic | $55,043 | $29,673 | 1.85× |
| 644 | University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NVPublic | $55,037 | $19,638 | 2.80× |
| 645 | Roberts Wesleyan UniversityRochester, NYPrivate nonprofit | $55,031 | $52,919 | 1.04× |
| 646 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WIPublic | $54,990 | $22,756 | 2.42× |
| 647 | University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington, NCPublic | $54,967 | $26,547 | 2.07× |
| 648 | Southern Nazarene UniversityBethany, OKPrivate nonprofit | $54,951 | $46,465 | 1.18× |
| 649 | Wittenberg UniversitySpringfield, OHPrivate nonprofit | $54,947 | $57,799 | 0.95× |
| 650 | Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, VAPublic | $54,914 | $29,446 | 1.86× |
| 651 | Alfred UniversityAlfred, NYPrivate nonprofit | $54,897 | $57,445 | 0.96× |
| 652 | Campbell UniversityBuies Creek, NCPrivate nonprofit | $54,886 | $62,187 | 0.88× |
| 653 | Knox CollegeGalesburg, ILPrivate nonprofit | $54,820 | $68,134 | 0.80× |
| 654 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, OHPublic | $54,810 | $32,171 | 1.70× |
| 655 | Hardin-Simmons UniversityAbilene, TXPrivate nonprofit | $54,771 | $45,904 | 1.19× |
| 656 | Alma CollegeAlma, MIPrivate nonprofit | $54,742 | $63,650 | 0.86× |
| 657 | Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids, MIPublic | $54,735 | $27,048 | 2.02× |
| 658 | Transylvania UniversityLexington, KYPrivate nonprofit | $54,705 | $60,993 | 0.90× |
| 659 | University of IdahoMoscow, IDPublic | $54,670 | $23,738 | 2.30× |
| 660 | University of Colorado Colorado SpringsColorado Springs, COPublic | $54,659 | $24,595 | 2.22× |
| 661 | Oklahoma City UniversityOklahoma City, OKPrivate nonprofit | $54,655 | $47,247 | 1.16× |
| 662 | Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFort Myers, FLPublic | $54,560 | $20,807 | 2.62× |
| 663 | Bowie State UniversityBowie, MDPublic | $54,537 | $25,220 | 2.16× |
| 664 | University of Sioux FallsSioux Falls, SDPrivate nonprofit | $54,521 | $34,274 | 1.59× |
| 665 | University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, ALPublic | $54,501 | $28,145 | 1.94× |
| 666 | SUNY BrockportBrockport, NYPublic | $54,496 | $26,046 | 2.09× |
| 667 | Texas A&M University-VictoriaVictoria, TXPublic | $54,467 | $21,401 | 2.55× |
| 668 | University of Wisconsin-River FallsRiver Falls, WIPublic | $54,458 | $19,781 | 2.75× |
| 669 | Curry CollegeMilton, MAPrivate nonprofit | $54,400 | $64,020 | 0.85× |
| 670 | Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZPublic | $54,384 | $29,933 | 1.82× |
| 671 | Keene State CollegeKeene, NHPublic | $54,368 | $29,993 | 1.81× |
| 672 | Texas A&M University-San AntonioSan Antonio, TXPublic | $54,338 | $21,655 | 2.51× |
| 673 | Montana Technological UniversityButte, MTPublic | $54,329 | $22,786 | 2.38× |
| 674 | Central CollegePella, IAPrivate nonprofit | $54,317 | $37,773 | 1.44× |
| 675 | Pratt Institute-MainBrooklyn, NYPrivate nonprofit | $54,295 | $80,049 | 0.68× |
| 676 | St. Thomas UniversityMiami Gardens, FLPrivate nonprofit | $54,272 | $51,205 | 1.06× |
| 677 | SUNY at FredoniaFredonia, NYPublic | $54,247 | $25,879 | 2.10× |
| 678 | Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TXPublic | $54,211 | $25,505 | 2.13× |
| 679 | Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, ILPublic | $54,163 | $28,254 | 1.92× |
| 680 | Capital UniversityColumbus, OHPrivate nonprofit | $54,143 | $57,130 | 0.95× |
| 681 | Baldwin Wallace UniversityBerea, OHPrivate nonprofit | $54,122 | $55,606 | 0.97× |
| 682 | Concordia University-ChicagoRiver Forest, ILPrivate nonprofit | $54,089 | $45,383 | 1.19× |
| 683 | Empire State UniversitySaratoga Springs, NYPublic | $54,080 | $19,699 | 2.75× |
| 684 | Messiah UniversityMechanicsburg, PAPrivate nonprofit | $54,064 | $55,875 | 0.97× |
| 685 | Texas Wesleyan UniversityFort Worth, TXPrivate nonprofit | $54,053 | $57,451 | 0.94× |
| 686 | Utah State UniversityLogan, UTPublic | $54,022 | $21,654 | 2.49× |
| 687 | Brenau UniversityGainesville, GAPrivate nonprofit | $54,003 | $46,010 | 1.17× |
| 688 | Union UniversityJackson, TNPrivate nonprofit | $53,990 | $58,363 | 0.93× |
| 689 | Hanover CollegeHanover, INPrivate nonprofit | $53,957 | $58,821 | 0.92× |
| 690 | University of Nebraska at OmahaOmaha, NEPublic | $53,909 | $21,120 | 2.55× |
| 691 | John Brown UniversitySiloam Springs, ARPrivate nonprofit | $53,907 | $44,710 | 1.21× |
| 692 | University of LouisvilleLouisville, KYPublic | $53,899 | $32,941 | 1.64× |
| 693 | Fitchburg State UniversityFitchburg, MAPublic | $53,874 | $25,555 | 2.11× |
| 694 | Texas Lutheran UniversitySeguin, TXPrivate nonprofit | $53,863 | $50,002 | 1.08× |
| 695 | Westminster CollegeNew Wilmington, PAPrivate nonprofit | $53,861 | $53,003 | 1.02× |
| 696 | Wilmington UniversityNew Castle, DEPrivate nonprofit | $53,844 | $19,644 | 2.74× |
| 697 | Caldwell UniversityCaldwell, NJPrivate nonprofit | $53,843 | $54,073 | 1.00× |
| 698 | Trinity Washington UniversityWashington, DCPrivate nonprofit | $53,804 | $33,903 | 1.59× |
| 699 | Berry CollegeMount Berry, GAPrivate nonprofit | $53,800 | $56,697 | 0.95× |
| 700 | Lubbock Christian UniversityLubbock, TXPrivate nonprofit | $53,787 | $41,944 | 1.28× |
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