The best public colleges

Public colleges and universities rely primarily on public funds, whereas private schools are mainly funded by tuition, donations, and endowment investment. Public schools are much cheaper for in-state residents, and educational investment is, as a rule, repaid quicker than at private universities.  Lower cost does not mean lower quality or earning potential - many of the top earning schools are public. 

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224 Results (Showing 20 of 224)

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#1 in Public Schools | #1 in National Universities

CUNY City College

New York, New York

Economic score 0.45

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $2,805

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $55,741

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 59%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#2 in Public Schools | #4 in National Universities

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

Economic score 0.51

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $5,135

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $64,463

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 88%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#3 in Public Schools | #8 in National Universities
Economic score 0.76

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $5,298

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $54,501

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#4 in Public Schools | #11 in National Universities
Economic score 0.94

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,032

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $80,364

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#5 in Public Schools | #12 in National Universities
Economic score 0.95

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,974

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $88,196

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 91%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#6 in Public Schools | #14 in National Universities
Economic score 1.01

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,878

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $75,842

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 93%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#7 in Public Schools | #15 in National Universities
Economic score 1.04

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $3,743

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $45,895

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 56%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#8 in Public Schools | #16 in National Universities
Economic score 1.10

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,209

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $71,961

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 87%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#9 in Public Schools | #17 in National Universities

University of Washington

Seattle, Washington

Economic score 1.14

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,017

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $68,925

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 84%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#10 in Public Schools | #18 in National Universities
Economic score 1.14

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,964

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $80,289

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 71%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#11 in Public Schools | #21 in National Universities
Economic score 1.16

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,023

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $73,744

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 92%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#12 in Public Schools | #22 in National Universities
Economic score 1.18

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,469

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $61,915

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 91%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#13 in Public Schools | #23 in National Universities
Economic score 1.18

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,321

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $71,539

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 87%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#14 in Public Schools | #24 in National Universities
Economic score 1.22

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $6,230

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $52,201

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 71%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#15 in Public Schools | #25 in National Universities
Economic score 1.29

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,003

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $54,586

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 79%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#16 in Public Schools | #27 in National Universities
Economic score 1.30

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,240

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $74,771

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 89%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#17 in Public Schools | #29 in National Universities

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Economic score 1.33

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $9,946

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $53,449

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 83%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#18 in Public Schools | #30 in National Universities
Economic score 1.35

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,618

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $51,912

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 76%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#19 in Public Schools | #31 in National Universities
Economic score 1.36

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,346

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $50,262

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 76%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#20 in Public Schools | #32 in National Universities

Purdue University

West Lafayette, Indiana

Economic score 1.42

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,377

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $65,257

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 80%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

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