The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Check out the most affordable women's colleges in the U.S. To be included on this list, a college must demonstrate a positive return on educational investment, meaning alumni earn more than they would earn if they did not go to school. Cost data is taken from College scorecard, and is based on the median earnings of all students who received at least $1 in federal aid.
For more information on how we rank schools, check out our ranking explanation.
Net cost: The median annual cost of all students that receive any aid. This does not refer to the “sticker price”, the price listed by the college.
Earnings: The median earnings of all bachelor-level students 10 years after enrollment. This includes both students that do and do not graduate, across all majors.
Payback: The amount of time in years it takes to pay off the median net cost by the median earnings. For this calculation, the median earning of high school graduates (in the school’s home state) are deducted from the median earnings.
Earningsplus: The difference between the school’s median earnings and the median earnings for all schools in the same state.
Rankings: The ranking order is based on the economic score. The economic score is calculated using a school’s payback and earningsplus performance.
#1 in Most Affordable Schools|#1 in Women's Colleges
Texas Woman's University
Denton, Texas
Economic score:1.69
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.9 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$49,724
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $4,777
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:94%
Graduation rate:56%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#2 in Most Affordable Schools|#15 in Women's Colleges
Wesleyan College
Macon, Georgia
Economic score:4.17
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:3.8 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$38,065
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $3,828
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:60%
Graduation rate:58%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#3 in Most Affordable Schools|#17 in Women's Colleges
Converse College
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Economic score:4.69
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:4 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$38,109
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $6,176
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:83%
Graduation rate:57%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#4 in Most Affordable Schools|#8 in Women's Colleges
College of Saint Mary
Omaha, Nebraska
Economic score:3.01
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.8 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$48,273
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $3,562
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:50%
Graduation rate:61%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#5 in Most Affordable Schools|#13 in Women's Colleges
Alverno College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Economic score:3.77
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:3.4 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$47,595
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $4,480
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:79%
Graduation rate:50%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#6 in Most Affordable Schools|#28 in Women's Colleges
Judson College
Marion, Alabama
Economic score:16.63
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:11.3 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$29,569
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $13,794
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:57%
Graduation rate:45%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#7 in Most Affordable Schools|#18 in Women's Colleges
Salem College
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Economic score:4.75
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:4.7 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$41,578
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $493
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:85%
Graduation rate:59%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#8 in Most Affordable Schools|#10 in Women's Colleges
St Catherine University
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Economic score:3.42
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:3.3 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$52,603
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $2,673
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:77%
Graduation rate:62%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#9 in Most Affordable Schools|#12 in Women's Colleges
Agnes Scott College
Decatur, Georgia
Economic score:3.58
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:4.1 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$48,175
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $6,282
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:68%
Graduation rate:69%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#10 in Most Affordable Schools|#25 in Women's Colleges
Hollins University
Roanoke, Virginia
Economic score:9.22
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:7.7 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$35,969
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $7,015
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:81%
Graduation rate:57%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#11 in Most Affordable Schools|#14 in Women's Colleges
Cedar Crest College
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Economic score:4.11
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:4 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$52,679
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $899
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:53%
Graduation rate:54%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#12 in Most Affordable Schools|#4 in Women's Colleges
Wellesley College
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Economic score:2.36
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.3 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$66,531
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $1,227
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:21%
Graduation rate:93%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#13 in Most Affordable Schools|#5 in Women's Colleges
Mills College
Oakland, California
Economic score:2.37
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.7 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$58,594
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $7,915
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:92%
Graduation rate:78%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#14 in Most Affordable Schools|#27 in Women's Colleges
Bay Path University
Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Economic score:10.66
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:6.9 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$43,797
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $23,961
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:79%
Graduation rate:59%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#15 in Most Affordable Schools|#26 in Women's Colleges
Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri
Economic score:10.48
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:8.4 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$38,034
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $9,286
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:65%
Graduation rate:47%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#16 in Most Affordable Schools|#20 in Women's Colleges
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, Maryland
Economic score:5.05
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:4.7 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$50,974
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: - $3,378
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:63%
Graduation rate:65%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#17 in Most Affordable Schools|#16 in Women's Colleges
Meredith College
Raleigh, North Carolina
Economic score:4.39
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:4.5 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$43,646
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $1,575
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:72%
Graduation rate:60%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#18 in Most Affordable Schools|#6 in Women's Colleges
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana
Economic score:2.58
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:3.2 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$56,655
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $11,010
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:82%
Graduation rate:77%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#19 in Most Affordable Schools|#19 in Women's Colleges
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, Virginia
Economic score:4.84
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:5.5 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$48,425
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $5,441
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:76%
Graduation rate:49%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#20 in Most Affordable Schools|#11 in Women's Colleges
College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, Minnesota
Economic score:3.49
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:3.6 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$56,367
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $1,091
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:85%
Graduation rate:77%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
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