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Many of the schools specialize in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. Additionally, the majority of these schools are located by the coasts, 10 of the top 20 schools are public, and some repeat in the list due to in-state and out-of-state tuition price differences.
The list shows that the important factors in education return on investment are: major, location, and debt burden. The company uses data from 54 million salary profiles, according to the company's website.
Here are the top value colleges according to Payscale:
20. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT) (Private)
20 year net ROI: $738,000
Total 4 year cost: $232,000
Graduation rate: 78%
Typical years to graduate: 4 years
AVG loan amount: $45,500
Source: Payscale
19. Kettering University (Private)
20 year net ROI: $743,000
Total 4 year cost: $208,000
Graduation rate: 57%
Typical years to graduate: 5 years
AVG loan amount: $41,700
Source: Payscale
18. Georgia Institute of Technology (Out-of-State)
20 year net ROI: $746,000
Total 4 year cost: $174,000
Graduation rate: 82%
Typical years to graduate: 5 years
AVG loan amount: $31,700
Source: Payscale
17. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) (Private)
20 year net ROI: $752,000
Total 4 year cost: $235,000
Graduation rate: 85%
Typical years to graduate: 4 years
AVG loan amount: $43,000
Source: Payscale
16. Stanford University (Private)
20 year net ROI: $761,000
Total 4 year cost: $247,000
Graduation rate: 95%
Typical years to graduate: 4 years
AVG loan amount: $29,100
Source: Payscale
15. Princeton University (Private)
20 year net ROI: $764,000
Total 4 year cost: $231,000
Graduation rate: 97%
Typical years to graduate: 4 years
AVG loan amount: $14,100
Source: Payscale
14. Massachusetts Maritime Academy (In-State)
20 year net ROI: $773,000
Total 4 year cost: $89,900
Graduation rate: 70%
Typical years to graduate: 4 years
AVG loan amount: $32,000
Source: Payscale
13. California State University, Maritime (CSUM) (Out-of-State)
20 year net ROI: $781,000
Total 4 year cost: $131,000
Graduation rate: 54%
Typical years to graduate: 4 years
AVG loan amount: $30,600
Source: Payscale
12. Stevens Institute of Technology (Private)
20 year net ROI: $800,000
Total 4 year cost: $244,000
Graduation rate: 82%
Typical years to graduate: 5 years
AVG loan amount: $45,800
Source: Payscale
11. Colorado School of Mines (Out-of-State)
20 year net ROI: $818,000
Total 4 year cost: $188,000
Graduation rate: 76%
Typical years to graduate: 5 years
AVG loan amount: $33,400
Source: Payscale
10. Georgia Institute of Technology (In-State)
20 year net ROI: $824,000
Total 4 year cost: $96,200
Graduation rate: 82%
Typical years to graduate: 5 years
AVG loan amount: $31,700
Source: Payscale
9. California State University, Maritime (CSUM) (In-State)
20 year net ROI: $826,000
Total 4 year cost: $87,500
Graduation rate: 54%
Typical years to graduate: 4 years
AVG loan amount: $30,600
Source: Payscale
8. Webb Institute (Private)
20 year net ROI: $854,000
Total 4 year cost: $209,000
Graduation rate: 91%
Typical years to graduate: 4 years
AVG loan amount: $25,200
Source: Payscale
7. SUNY - Maritime College (Out-of-State)
20 year net ROI: $857,000
Total 4 year cost: $130,000
Graduation rate: 47%
Typical years to graduate: 5 years
AVG loan amount: $32,000
Source: Payscale
6. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (Private)
20 year net ROI: $864,000
Total 4 year cost: $240,000
Graduation rate: 92%
Typical years to graduate: 4 years
AVG loan amount: $19,000
Source: Payscale
5. Colorado School of Mines (In-State)
20 year net ROI: $883,000
Total 4 year cost: $123,000
Graduation rate: 76%
Typical years to graduate: 5 years
AVG loan amount: $33,400
Source: Payscale
4. SUNY - Maritime College (In-State)
20 year net ROI: $895,000
Total 4 year cost: $92,300
Graduation rate: 47%
Typical years to graduate: 5 years
AVG loan amount: $32,000
Source: Payscale
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (Private)
20 year net ROI: $959,000
Total 4 year cost: $240,000
Graduation rate: 91%
Typical years to graduate: 4 years
AVG loan amount: $32,200
Source: Payscale
2. Harvey Mudd College (Private)
20 year net ROI: $962,000
Total 4 year cost: $260,000
Graduation rate: 90%
Typical years to graduate: 4 years
AVG loan amount: $24,400
Source: Payscale
1. United State Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) (Federal)
20 year net ROI: $1,056,000
Total 4 year cost: $33,100
Graduation rate: 72%
Typical years to graduate: 4 years
AVG loan amount: $12,300
Source: Payscale
