Below are our rankings of America’s Best Bang for the Buck Colleges—our exclusive list of schools ranked according to how well they help nonwealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices. The list is created by isolating the access, affordability, and outcomes metrics from the main rankings. Click here for detailed methodology, here for all of our other rankings, and here to download the full data set.

ACCESS: Ranks colleges by how well they provide access to nonwealthy students. Among other metrics, it tracks how many students are on federal Pell Grants for low-to-middle-income families and compares that to how many Pell recipients those schools might be expected to enroll based on test scores, admission rates, and statewide family income.

AFFORDABILITY: Ranks colleges by their affordability. It includes the net price of the institution, or the amount that students with family incomes below $75,000 pay, minus aid. It also tracks how much debt graduates leave with.

OUTCOMES: Ranks colleges by the academic and financial outcomes they provide to students. It tracks the percentage of students graduating within eight years and compares that to statistical predictions. It compares graduation rates between wealthy and nonwealthy students. It also tracks the incomes that students make in their early careers and compares that to their peers’ early-career incomes. Additionally, the outcomes category ranks colleges by the numbers of graduates who go on to receive PhDs.

Rank	Name	Net price	Median earnings 9 yrs. after entering college	Student loan debt of graduates	8-year graduation rate	Access rank	Affordability rank	Outcomes rank
1	CA State University–Los Angeles (CA)*	3139	49310	13323	69%	2	3	24
2	CA State University–Northridge (CA)*	6645	49449	14124	70%	1	15	37
3	Brigham Young University (UT)	10498	61864	11523	83%	13	14	7
4	CA State University–Long Beach (CA)*	6598	54096	14724	83%	4	19	70
5	California State Univ.–Fullerton (CA)*	3867	53044	14167	79%	6	6	79
6	Stanford University (CA)	-813	106969	11917	97%	77	1	3
7	CA State Univ.–Dominguez Hills (CA)*	3332	47982	13942	68%	18	4	18
8	CA State University–Fresno (CA)*	5171	50337	14715	70%	10	11	53
9	CA State University–Sacramento (CA)*	7665	54997	15107	70%	11	25	32
10	CA State Univ.–San Bernardino (CA)*	4220	49708	14905	71%	16	8	20
11	CA State University–Stanislaus (CA)*	4642	52408	13912	71%	25	7	13
12	Brigham Young University–ID (ID)	4144	43847	13464	60%	26	5	23
13	California Institute of Tech. (CA)	3699	119183	15579	94%	131	10	2
14	Western Governors University (UT)	10070	51418	11296	52%	3	9	178
15	University of CA–Berkeley (CA)*	9898	77204	13326	94%	24	23	41
16	CA State Poly. Univ.–Pomona (CA)*	9232	59870	16517	78%	12	41	97
17	CA State University–Bakersfield (CA)*	5224	48488	16284	61%	28	21	46
18	Pomona College (CA)	4828	56872	11257	94%	99	2	8
19	University of WA–Tacoma (WA)*	6069	65544	14872	74%	49	16	17
20	Harvey Mudd College (CA)	18576	123761	23066	93%	133	127	1
21	University of California–Davis (CA)*	10568	66092	13066	89%	21	24	102
22	Claremont McKenna College (CA)	10712	89566	14500	92%	100	36	4
23	Arizona State University (AZ)*	10638	52547	19926	68%	8	70	140
24	San Francisco State University (CA)*	10652	57754	15583	67%	23	40	78
25	University of California–Irvine (CA)*	8038	66252	15183	87%	15	28	150
26	University of CA–San Diego (CA)*	9646	70214	16167	90%	19	39	103
27	Univ. of California–Merced (CA)*	9867	54649	17215	72%	17	48	107
28	University of CA–Riverside (CA)*	10151	55174	18167	80%	9	56	162
29	San Jose State University (CA)*	11422	65888	15346	76%	22	42	122
30	Northeastern University–Oakland (CA)	16856	52208	22899	66%	27	119	11
31	CA State Univ.–Channel Islands (CA)*	10258	51117	15270	71%	43	38	38
32	CA State University–Chico (CA)*	11368	55077	16828	74%	36	52	40
33	CA State Univ.–Monterey Bay (CA)*	7476	48945	13333	73%	48	12	61
34	University of California–LA (CA)*	8900	68444	14667	93%	30	29	110
35	CA State University–East Bay (CA)*	9510	59248	15723	69%	39	37	43
36	CA State University–San Marcos (CA)*	9278	52828	17405	67%	33	46	66
37	University of CA–Santa Barbara (CA)*	10555	61866	14498	86%	35	34	75
38	San Diego State University (CA)*	7712	54767	15166	80%	32	27	115
39	Heritage University (WA)	8236	42233	15281	58%	51	30	47
40	University of WA–Bothell (WA)*	6130	65544	14872	79%	53	17	88
41	Grand Canyon University (AZ)	19519	35393	21581	46%	7	122	164
42	CO Technical Univ. (CO)°	16210	32522	30524	20%	5	170	130
43	Utah Valley University (UT)*	7777	46510	15119	43%	41	26	120
44	Utah State University (UT)*	10322	44332	14423	56%	40	32	113
45	Fresno Pacific University (CA)	12439	49931	23122	67%	42	106	21
46	Sonoma State University (CA)*	8533	56381	17527	70%	82	43	34
47	University of NV–Las Vegas (NV)*	10533	47945	19073	53%	31	65	134
48	Cal Poly Humboldt (CA)*	10473	40066	17998	64%	47	57	80
49	University of WA–Seattle (WA)*	6507	65544	14872	84%	56	20	124
50	Soka University of America (CA)	9971	44187	17945	89%	155	54	9
51	Evergreen State College (WA)*	20420	37070	19010	60%	70	111	10
52	Portland State University (OR)*	13461	48504	21000	55%	34	93	72
53	University of Arizona (AZ)*	13109	51172	19976	64%	29	83	135
54	Prescott College (AZ)	16894	33648	17122	54%	61	77	49
55	University of CA–Santa Cruz (CA)*	12290	56473	17519	80%	37	62	129
56	University of Southern CA (CA)	15285	77715	18805	93%	50	86	65
57	CA State U.–Maritime Academy (CA)*	13073	84873	24860	71%	137	115	5
58	Washington State University (WA)*	7826	57844	19833	65%	60	58	109
59	University of Utah (UT)*	8238	56162	18613	70%	58	51	128
60	NM Inst. of Mining and Tech (NM)*	6355	62961	19099	57%	118	45	60
61	Simpson University (CA)	22937	45642	19422	68%	87	123	12
62	Southern Utah University (UT)*	9469	41835	12762	53%	94	18	127
63	CA Poly. St. U.–San Luis Obispo (CA)*	11329	77661	19167	86%	109	66	45
64	Brigham Young Univ.–Hawaii (HI)	13414	40931	9568	67%	194	13	31
65	Central Washington University (WA)*	12446	52189	19898	64%	93	76	48
66	Northern Arizona University (AZ)*	12303	45521	19292	61%	38	73	151
67	New Mexico Highlands Univ. (NM)*	12346	37364	12764	49%	126	31	96
68	University of the Pacific (CA)	16548	68251	19833	74%	59	100	90
69	Western Washington Univ. (WA)*	10780	52116	18831	72%	84	64	93
70	Pacific Lutheran University (WA)	16520	55915	22859	71%	68	117	42
71	Fort Lewis College (CO)*	14313	39494	18301	47%	86	74	76
72	Eastern Washington University (WA)*	9068	49150	19538	59%	91	60	95
73	Pitzer College (CA)	12869	57485	17075	87%	179	61	33
74	University of Hawaii–Hilo (HI)*	11128	41887	19714	43%	143	71	56
75	University of Oregon (OR)*	15846	51423	20380	74%	65	101	99
76	Whitman College (WA)	21430	52550	17079	89%	129	104	27
77	Colorado School of Mines (CO)*	19780	85997	23750	84%	106	136	14
78	Scripps College (CA)	19032	61742	14110	87%	152	68	57
79	Naropa University (CO)	21266	25960	24904	51%	44	151	71
80	Eastern Oregon University (OR)*	12663	42769	20319	43%	124	84	69
81	Willamette University (OR)	21617	54775	22559	72%	85	137	28
82	Colorado College (CO)	12620	48346	18321	86%	140	67	77
83	Univ. of Advancing Technology (AZ)	18524	45632	27604	43%	46	160	63
84	Occidental College (CA)	17111	60567	22499	84%	113	118	29
85	Saint Martin's University (WA)	16738	54206	22644	64%	122	116	25
86	Oregon State University (OR)*	14677	54153	21767	66%	55	107	139
87	Colorado State University (CO)*	12486	51790	20333	70%	83	82	119
88	Santa Clara University (CA)	31036	90472	19526	92%	160	161	6
89	Whitworth University (WA)	18736	49023	25329	73%	90	141	30
90	Warner Pacific University (OR)	17599	47921	26205	52%	69	142	58
91	University of Nevada–Reno (NV)*	13064	51735	19307	61%	78	75	141
92	California Lutheran University (CA)	18863	57171	21750	74%	96	120	68
93	Weber State University (UT)*	9375	46690	15371	43%	134	35	152
94	University of Colorado–Boulder (CO)*	14186	58302	19500	71%	74	85	137
95	University of Wyoming (WY)*	8096	48809	18225	62%	121	47	144
96	Thomas Aquinas College (CA)	19618	42696	18000	83%	142	102	67
97	Montana State Univ.–Northern (MT)*	11581	43303	16864	41%	174	53	104
98	University of Phoenix–Phoenix (AZ)°	13112	32490	32369	26%	14	166	186
99	University of Redlands (CA)	18568	61723	26095	70%	92	146	36
100	Reed College (OR)	16186	47189	20340	77%	166	103	50
101	University of Hawaii–West Oahu (HI)*	8487	46267	15818	50%	190	33	108
102	Mount St. Mary's Univ.–LA (CA)	28024	64400	25316	66%	45	181	64
103	Westminster University (UT)	19925	55515	22820	65%	102	128	59
104	Saint Mary’s College of CA (CA)	19110	65939	23980	76%	145	135	26
105	University of NM–Main (NM)*	14756	37493	18567	56%	52	80	182
106	Amer. InterCont. Univ.–Online (IL)°	13999	31220	32316	15%	20	173	180
107	Oregon Institute of Technology (OR)*	11913	64593	22698	52%	164	98	74
108	University of Idaho (ID)*	10824	45706	22319	61%	127	89	105
109	Humphreys–Stockton/Modesto (CA)	10109	33584	33334	53%	62	162	82
110	University of San Diego (CA)	18434	71658	23053	81%	125	126	55
111	Azusa Pacific University (CA)	20128	56517	23606	72%	105	138	62
112	NM State Univ.–Main (NM)*	7510	33479	18227	54%	80	44	185
113	Western Oregon University (OR)*	16364	44198	21141	52%	147	110	85
114	Linfield University (OR)	23603	64794	25652	75%	130	168	19
115	Metropolitan State U. Denver (CO)*	13225	44748	21417	37%	79	96	154
116	Idaho State University (ID)*	16010	39238	21213	57%	136	108	89
117	Lewis & Clark College (OR)	22031	46518	21540	75%	97	130	83
118	Woodbury University (CA)	26555	53257	27570	63%	67	184	44
119	St. John's College (NM)	23627	35393	26749	65%	81	179	51
120	University of Colorado–Denver (CO)*	12800	53789	21103	51%	112	91	143
121	University of La Verne (CA)	24764	54828	24250	62%	72	164	81
122	University of San Francisco (CA)	32425	75694	23167	76%	75	182	35
123	University of Hawaii–Manoa (HI)*	9958	49251	18720	64%	141	59	161
124	Gonzaga University (WA)	22392	67545	24568	86%	167	154	22
125	Univ. of Montana–Western (MT)*	12813	36343	21167	50%	159	92	121
126	Chaminade Univ. of Honolulu (HI)	28138	44653	23203	49%	54	175	118
127	Univ. of CO–Colorado Springs (CO)*	12183	46473	20466	49%	95	81	171
128	Utah Tech University (UT)*	13073	37160	15356	40%	162	50	174
129	Pepperdine University (CA)	32807	69162	24670	85%	128	185	16
130	Southern Oregon University (OR)*	12339	41295	20943	52%	169	87	136
131	Seattle Pacific University (WA)	20217	53103	24667	67%	76	143	125
132	University of Northern CO (CO)*	14607	44711	20487	57%	168	94	131
133	University of Portland (OR)	27684	70839	23003	82%	114	171	54
134	Northwest University (WA)	18049	48661	20742	57%	158	113	116
135	CO State University–Pueblo (CO)*	11235	47338	21711	43%	165	88	146
136	Seattle University (WA)	26501	65855	20927	77%	138	147	73
137	University of Denver (CO)	22836	59360	21208	75%	123	133	100
138	University of Puget Sound (WA)	25098	56032	25654	76%	151	177	39
139	University of Montana (MT)*	13938	38094	22133	46%	57	105	191
140	Vanguard Univ. of So. California (CA)	17442	47211	22750	64%	110	121	145
141	California Baptist University (CA)	22042	51422	26688	61%	64	169	138
142	Montana State Univ.–Billings (MT)*	12982	38639	18249	35%	185	69	153
143	George Fox University (OR)	23300	52491	24000	71%	116	155	91
144	Whittier College (CA)	20766	49927	24979	69%	73	150	142
145	Boise State University (ID)*	15626	42726	21477	56%	107	109	169
146	Lewis-Clark State College (ID)*	11088	39661	18561	47%	191	63	155
147	Adams State University (CO)*	11280	36525	20833	35%	144	79	176
148	Bushnell University (OR)	19930	42258	23066	58%	104	132	147
149	Eastern NM University–Main (NM)*	5509	33706	16194	47%	195	22	165
150	Corban University (OR)	19303	40821	23341	58%	178	131	92
151	University of Alaska–Fairbanks (AK)*	7512	40765	19791	37%	188	55	172
152	University of the Southwest (NM)	18384	41801	22518	37%	101	125	163
153	University of Providence (MT)	20110	39771	19865	59%	183	114	123
154	Loyola Marymount University (CA)	30079	64922	19833	81%	173	159	84
155	ArtCenter College of Design (CA)	42977	65093	31489	75%	66	196	15
156	Western New Mexico Univ. (NM)*	11075	31963	22817	41%	181	95	158
157	Westmont College (CA)	24413	56047	23388	74%	119	157	133
158	Multnomah University (OR)	25419	39644	20786	54%	88	140	173
159	William Jessup University (CA)	25358	48533	22511	64%	161	153	117
160	Embry-Riddle Aero.–Prescott (AZ)	35075	72813	24304	67%	135	187	52
161	Regis University (CO)	19995	62256	24989	56%	177	145	111
162	Montana Technological Univ. (MT)*	13797	46524	20411	60%	172	90	181
163	Walla Walla University (WA)	19106	53121	26816	66%	170	156	114
164	University of Alaska–Anchorage (AK)*	10560	44065	20403	33%	187	72	179
165	University of Alaska Southeast (AK)*	5166	40771	20516	36%	196	49	156
166	Northwest Nazarene University (ID)	22557	43564	23729	62%	132	149	148
167	Pacific University (OR)	27005	50259	24408	71%	150	178	106
168	Carroll College (MT)	17487	49709	25527	65%	182	139	126
169	Sierra Nevada College (NV)	30173	37370	21816	54%	176	174	86
170	Rocky Mountain College (MT)	15866	42222	25860	52%	153	134	159
171	Concordia University–Irvine (CA)	22239	54647	23809	63%	186	148	101
172	Chapman University (CA)	34134	59840	20583	81%	117	180	132
173	Colorado Mesa University (CO)*	13048	39782	22096	40%	157	99	187
174	La Sierra University (CA)	21720	51101	27063	44%	120	172	149
175	Hope International University (CA)	21838	41095	23724	43%	149	144	170
176	Point Loma Nazarene University (CA)	39881	54530	22830	76%	108	191	112
177	Biola University (CA)	22486	47265	24331	70%	148	152	167
178	College of Idaho (ID)	18262	41392	23958	62%	171	129	177
179	Western Colorado University (CO)*	12721	40461	21801	53%	193	97	183
180	Montana State University (MT)*	17651	44774	22956	55%	146	124	188
181	Colorado Christian University (CO)	21115	43247	28004	31%	111	176	175
182	DigiPen Institute of Tech. (WA)°	33758	72929	27000	55%	139	192	98
183	Los Angeles Pacific University (CA)	20962	N/A	18750	41%	98	112	196
184	Hawaii Pacific University (HI)	27241	49927	22357	39%	184	163	157
185	Pacific Union College (CA)	18258	57463	27445	52%	180	158	166
186	University of Silicon Valley (CA)°	26375	47944	31000	48%	103	189	160
187	Dominican University of CA (CA)	44979	70759	27000	73%	115	195	87
188	Rocky Mt. Coll. of Art & Design (CO)	23883	33362	31357	26%	63	186	192
189	University of Arizona–Global (AZ)*	24386	31268	31955	20%	71	188	194
190	California Institute of the Arts (CA)	36114	36979	26000	70%	156	193	168
191	Arizona Christian University (AZ)	28715	41297	22146	43%	163	167	193
192	Nevada State University (NV)*	12972	45643	19703	33%	189	78	197
193	National University (CA)	28406	58331	26056	39%	192	183	184
194	DeVry University–Ontario (CA)°	31239	39744	27872	25%	154	190	190
195	Newschool of Arch. & Design (CA)^^	47106	59347	33662	58%	175	197	94
196	Academy of Art University (CA)°	34850	34985	31000	28%	89	194	195
197	Univ. of Phoenix–Southern CA (CA)°	12593	32490	32369	51%	197	165	189