Is it worth it? Do the math.
We scored 1,665 colleges on real ROI using U.S. Department of Education data. Not rankings based on reputation. Rankings based on what graduates actually earn versus what they paid.
Try MIT, Georgia Tech, or your school
The ROI Breakdown
How the 1,665 schools scored - click any tier to see those schools
Only 18% of schools score 75 or above. Most colleges deliver below-average financial returns relative to their cost.
Top ROI Schools
Highest return on your education investment
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Rice University
Houston, TX
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Yale University
New Haven, CT
Rankings
Sorted by data, not reputation
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Data-driven takes on the decisions that matter
Is Columbia Worth It? The ROI Data on Columbia University (2026)
Columbia's $71,845 tuition is the highest in the Ivy League. After need-based aid, the average net price is $21,590. Graduates earn $102,491 at 10 years. The 96/100 ROI score is strong - but the numbers vary more by major than at most peer schools.
10 min read
School AnalysisIs Princeton Worth It? The ROI Data on Princeton University (2026)
Princeton's sticker price is $62,688/year. The average net price after aid is $6,128 - the lowest of any Ivy. Graduates earn $110,066 at 10 years with a 2.2-year payback period. On paper, this is the highest-ROI elite school in America.
10 min read
School AnalysisIs Yale Worth It? The ROI Data on Yale University (2026)
Yale's sticker price is $67,250/year in tuition. After need-based aid, the average net price drops to $23,777. Graduates earn $100,533 at 10 years with a 3.6-year payback period - one of the strongest ROI profiles in the Ivy League.
10 min read
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Every number traces back
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No subjective rankings. No reputation scores. No sponsored placements. Just earnings, costs, debt, completion rates, and repayment data from the U.S. Department of Education.