The Best Value Colleges

Best Value Colleges in America for 2024

Explore the colleges that provide the best value for your money in the United States based on academic quality, outcomes, net price and financial aid. The rankings are calculated using ratings from the 2024 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking factored against the typical net price paid by students - to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2024 as the overall best value college in America is Harvard University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $19,491 average net price. The highest value public state college is University of Florida. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.


1,040 results nationwide

Wesleyan University
W
Middletown, CT

Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Value in America

  • 3,253enrollment
  • $21,270net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1510SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Bowdoin College
B
Brunswick, ME

Bowdoin College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#20 Best Value in America

  • 1,915enrollment
  • $22,776net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Brown University
B
Providence, RI

Brown University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#21 Best Value in America

  • 11,189enrollment
  • $26,723net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Vanderbilt University
V
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#22 Best Value in America

  • 13,710enrollment
  • $25,606net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Middlebury College
M
Middlebury, VT

Middlebury College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#23 Best Value in America

  • 2,843enrollment
  • $22,181net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1425-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M
Cambridge, MA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#24 Best Value in America

  • 11,858enrollment
  • $20,232net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Cornell University
C
Ithaca, NY

Cornell University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#25 Best Value in America

  • 25,898enrollment
  • $26,060net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

Haverford College
H
Haverford, PA

Haverford College

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#26 Best Value in America

  • 1,421enrollment
  • $23,476net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Pennsylvania
P
Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#27 Best Value in America

  • 28,201enrollment
  • $26,123net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Washington and Lee University
W
Lexington, VA

Washington and Lee University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#28 Best Value in America

  • 2,243enrollment
  • $24,733net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1533SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.87Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Hamilton College
H
Clinton, NY

Hamilton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#29 Best Value in America

  • 2,072enrollment
  • $24,503net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1540SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.87Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

University of Virginia Main Campus
V
Charlottesville, VA

University of Virginia Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Value in America

  • 26,082enrollment
  • $19,469net price
  • 19%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

University of California Los Angeles
C
Los Angeles, CA

University of California Los Angeles

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#31 Best Value in America

  • 46,430enrollment
  • $16,999net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1530SAT range
  • 29-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Emory University
E
Atlanta, GA

Emory University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#32 Best Value in America

  • 14,841enrollment
  • $26,680net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Colgate University
C
Hamilton, NY

Colgate University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#33 Best Value in America

  • 3,141enrollment
  • $27,074net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1530SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Swarthmore College
S
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#34 Best Value in America

  • 1,625enrollment
  • $20,715net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1560SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

Claremont McKenna College
C
Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#35 Best Value in America

  • 1,389enrollment
  • $28,701net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

University of Notre Dame
N
Notre Dame, IN

University of Notre Dame

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#36 Best Value in America

  • 13,105enrollment
  • $28,474net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1