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 non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices. The list is created by isolating the social mobility metrics from the main rankings of four-year institutions. Click here for detailed methodology, here for all of our other rankings, and here to download the full data set.

RankName8-year graduation ratePell/non-Pell grad rate gapNumber of Pell graduatesActual vs. predicted Pell enrollmentMedian earnings 9 yrs. after entering collegeEarnings performance rankNet price of attendance for families <$75,000 incomeNet price rank
1Univ. of Florida–Online (FL)*61%35%13810%60268630123
2Florida International University (FL)*68%0%465416%5193536543912
3Washington and Lee University (VA)95%-3%460%73321432051
4Georgetown University (DC)94%-4%219-8%848902739426
5University of Central Florida (FL)*73%-5%52977%49606197695523
6Florida Atlantic University (FL)*62%1%23283%4867057676021
7Albizu University–Miami (FL)61%42%469%3660914925716249
8Embry-Riddle Aero. Univ.–Worldwide (FL)36%-1%2511%7281311435590
9Strayer University–Florida (FL)°21%56%14315%345017520477189
10Davidson College (NC)92%1%66-2%6924913816110
11University of SC–Upstate (SC)*57%-1%5280%417781231294361
12Elizabeth City State University (NC)*44%-3%1909%326517828542
13Winston-Salem State University (NC)*63%-7%47413%37516351248772
14University of Florida (FL)*88%-4%25844%6026822327475
15Bethune-Cookman University (FL)38%-8%38418%32824201457092
16Salem College (NC)59%-2%997%36871141377570
17Duke University (NC)96%-1%2073%8314276511711
18University of South Florida (FL)*73%-2%33894%48826249623815
19Florida State University (FL)*82%-1%2338-2%51859218635217
20Polytech. U. of PR–Orlando (FL)52%25%164%3888618417662151
21NC Wesleyan College (NC)60%-18%649-5%391217316632131
22University of NC–Greensboro (NC)*59%-6%134219%4145979916637
23Univ. of NC–Pembroke (NC)*46%-2%5107%3674984901129
24George Mason University (VA)*75%-4%15537%631225314875110
25Rasmussen University (FL)°37%34%28210%3346724518310165
26Columbia Southern University (AL)°46%2%959-19%56615171161253
27Wheeling University (WV)77%1%86-9%502102224867241
28Appalachian State University (NC)*74%-5%9917%443042371017936
29East Carolina University (NC)*68%-8%1493-4%47027211332888
30University of NC–Chapel Hill (NC)*90%-3%997-2%59642193703824
31University of Richmond (VA)84%-3%15110%64035631205848
32University of North Florida (FL)*65%-3%1077-4%47713133608714
33Clayton State University (GA)*43%-2%6104%42495891044042
34New College of Florida (FL)*64%-5%475%399884767386
35Fayetteville State University (NC)*46%-3%4921%3449017659608
36Baptist College of Florida (FL)52%-15%94-2%3658632843816
37Virginia State University (VA)*48%-12%50017%38643371461693
38University of Virginia (VA)*94%-4%553-3%71079931220366
39VA Polytech. Inst. & State Univ. (VA)*86%-5%917-7%692534614310103
40Voorhees College (SC)38%-14%7726%29958181453189
41Trinity College of Florida (FL)49%9%564%319882061387874
42Florida Gulf Coast University (FL)*62%-1%814-4%46537104786028
43University of West Florida (FL)*56%-6%7485%4198723859809
44Wake Forest University (NC)89%-1%113-9%65492118930241
45Agnes Scott College (GA)72%-3%8113%461038616342129
46George Washington University (DC)83%-3%303-7%751491016948147
47GA Institute of Tech.–Main (GA)*91%-5%585-3%87399771146260
48Tuskegee University (AL)58%23%496-5%4063612733635267
49Valdosta State University (GA)*45%-4%61811%41596231229169
50Columbia College (SC)59%-3%15210%3428710219094171
51Univ. of NC–Asheville (NC)*63%-6%2776%391392421058530
52Wesleyan College (GA)60%-12%41-2%34651451079034
53Florida Memorial University (FL)41%0%17012%3071812417423145
54Fort Valley State University (GA)*39%-5%21924%318781451294965
55Radford University (VA)*62%-7%574-1%46918251312484
56Livingstone College (NC)27%12%11719%2863318216218121
57Talladega College (AL)31%9%13214%2635717715282104
58Citadel: The Military Coll. of SC (SC)*74%-10%144-5%601599515034100
59Norfolk State University (VA)*40%-8%39417%36956601364175
60FL Agricultural & Mechanical U. (FL)*58%-6%77210%376551891075156
61Saint Augustine's University (NC)^^37%12%2173%3103417318576168
62University of Georgia (GA)*86%-7%1487-2%578921851182363
63Old Dominion University (VA)*57%-11%13275%47809401387497
64North Carolina Central Univ. (NC)*52%-9%64611%357031831364576
65William & Mary (VA)*91%-4%187-2%61696250659320
66Bluefield State College (WV)*45%-6%91-1%33727168963827
67Dalton State College (GA)*35%-8%1941%3415015347534
68Univ. of NC–Charlotte (NC)*63%-4%18426%483682041305183
69Emory University (GA)92%-1%4086%691502671017549
70Georgia State University (GA)*56%-3%256118%3952326516309136
71North Carolina A&T State Univ. (NC)*54%-9%8526%37971161904535
72Georgia Gwinnett College (GA)*25%-5%61211%414682151137646
73Georgia Southern University (GA)*53%-9%1592-1%45252261400098
74Strayer University–Alabama (AL)°14%0%2715%345011122019214
75Regent University (VA)48%0%2048%386006218214169
76Western Carolina University (NC)*65%-8%7560%415551381142759
77Concord University (WV)*42%-9%161-1%3621833800422
78North Carolina State Univ. (NC)*83%-6%11214%57818263970445
79Trinity Washington University (DC)40%-12%1586%4475181195257
80Virginia Military Institute (VA)*81%-2%51-17%659191031136239
81Virginia Commonwealth Univ. (VA)*69%-6%13421%4851315115667124
82Savannah State University (GA)*31%-4%3707%34379108957133
83Morris College (SC)30%-10%8621%27195741456491
84West Liberty University (WV)*53%2%190-11%380721201379877
85Claflin University (SC)51%-15%25010%341928719895201
86Bluefield College (VA)48%-2%1113%432212720925197
87Flagler College–St. Augustine (FL)63%-7%247-2%424926721227211
88Albany State University (GA)*30%-3%3241%33405381407385
89Embry-Riddle Aero.–Dayt. Beach (FL)64%-7%256-2%72813332898264
90Alabama State University (AL)*33%-10%41725%301855615366119
91Southern Wesleyan University (SC)57%-9%1063%3999112215490109
92Piedmont College (GA)55%-7%1314%418946416176118
93Chowan University (NC)32%-13%14221%344616115453107
94Herzing University–Atlanta (GA)°39%4%4821%3148017123528238
95Longwood University (VA)*68%-12%226-10%450627115268106
96University of West Georgia (GA)*49%-7%7820%414845115267114
97Univ. of NC–Wilmington (NC)*72%-7%8851%4696419415322116
98American University (DC)79%-1%300-12%651613120754202
99Shepherd University (WV)*51%-12%209-10%420089459347
100Newberry College (SC)53%-6%850%3949116617222140
101Emory and Henry College (VA)59%-15%714%414674317192137
102Winthrop University (SC)*60%-10%3841%4015415716091115
103University of Mary Washington (VA)*67%-4%173-6%5194011615926117
104Kennesaw State University (GA)*50%-6%19120%488738116719143
105Stratford University (VA)°33%16%5919%3411327024362237
106Alabama A&M University (AL)*32%-6%31316%349301371412987
107University of Mount Olive (NC)50%-15%2780%406146515473108
108Miles College (AL)30%-13%18413%281611481409379
109Elon University (NC)83%-6%110-11%626041925695248
110Coker University (SC)50%-8%1077%349182201347173
111Huntingdon College (AL)54%0%113-2%4356713221070207
112University of West Alabama (AL)*37%-8%1085%37055301500599
113Francis Marion University (SC)*45%-10%2911%370831501149151
114Davis & Elkins College (WV)45%-2%44-4%380166917432146
115Warner University (FL)47%-10%1188%405005518514161
116North Greenville University (SC)60%-4%184-6%3685321216469123
117Univ. of SC–Beaufort (SC)*37%-6%113-6%41506481408678
118Pfeiffer University (NC)51%-8%6411%420774422940221
119GA Southwestern State Univ. (GA)*44%-12%209-2%40796801138350
120WV Univ. Institute of Tech. (WV)*30%-9%53-26%4747516869119
121Columbus State University (GA)*44%-11%4020%375251591236258
122Columbia International Univ. (SC)62%-5%47-8%3214324117806149
123Wofford College (SC)82%-3%77-12%581787020364210
124College of Charleston (SC)*66%-9%482-6%4688518615206105
125Auburn Univ.–Montgomery (AL)*38%-8%20210%383531211268662
126South Carolina State University (SC)*37%-10%24816%3269910919146173
127Converse College (SC)57%-11%528%352935419719179
128Stetson University (FL)63%-6%20113%4579322220900195
129South University–Savannah (GA)27%19%635%2988323922025215
130South Univ.–Virginia Beach (VA)°27%30%85-2%2988319225551252
131Webber International University (FL)42%-1%52-3%413994125832256
132Strayer Univ.–North Carolina (NC)°13%-13%13618%345011221820208
133Rollins College (FL)75%-3%190-1%4979720024260236
134Barton College (NC)55%-10%94-2%3976714020148192
135Lander University (SC)*48%-11%162-4%357141741414581
136Marshall University (WV)*52%-18%5522%3873191646718
137Furman University (SC)80%-4%790%5533010020109205
138Amridge University (AL)27%-27%2625%35437516678128
139Mars Hill University (NC)40%-5%1295%3752416917117138
140University of SC–Aiken (SC)*44%-6%193-1%395451811028538
141James Madison University (VA)*84%-26%652-12%602631515925132
142Georgia College & State Univ. (GA)*63%-7%255-11%4907711017418141
143Clemson University (SC)*83%-11%698-7%5941217217152152
144Bob Jones University (SC)61%-8%214-3%385122261391582
145Spelman College (GA)77%-9%222-6%506322434926275
146Berry College (GA)69%-4%112-1%4431324418046154
147Catawba College (NC)52%-13%142-1%4060316716399122
148Benedict College (SC)26%-14%18017%279611631410780
149Bennett College (NC)32%-11%5612%31319721728227
150Covenant College (GA)68%-2%680%4315314420363209
151LaGrange College (GA)48%-10%74-4%448595920437199
152University of Montevallo (AL)*54%-9%1816%3545920216208120
153Strayer University–Arlington (VA)°29%7%2030%3450125621421203
154WV Wesleyan College (WV)53%-14%84-10%4263310616894134
155Univ. of SC–Columbia (SC)*76%-11%1146-5%5161021015779126
156Mary Baldwin University (VA)39%-4%9712%3840411216774144
157Eastern Mennonite University (VA)72%-17%8716%4489923519618177
158Johnson C. Smith University (NC)42%-8%1480%3539811918485176
159Christopher Newport Univ. (VA)*76%-8%172-14%5135822718222158
160Wingate University (NC)53%-9%1434%450658817130150
161University of North Georgia (GA)*39%-7%557-7%41783199931231
162Lees-McRae College (NC)59%-14%1098%3693020720125191
163Paine College (GA)18%-5%396%28834681243654
164Full Sail University (FL)°43%-14%204315%3451521628627259
165Mercer University (GA)63%-6%36813%4914725518666174
166College of Coastal Georgia (GA)*32%-8%100-3%333862241167347
167Spring Hill College (AL)56%-18%72-7%440568318310164
168Johnson & Wales U.–Charlotte (NC)59%-22%14311%3932410725704253
169Limestone College (SC)44%-16%2539%3933314721643216
170Barry University (FL)47%-7%3764%4813710117863163
171West Virginia University (WV)*62%-15%950-11%474751151055352
172Saint Leo University (FL)40%-10%10477%421779616994148
173Coastal Carolina University (SC)*50%-9%642-3%402282611172555
174Randolph College (VA)57%-11%35-3%433464219843200
175Edward Waters College (FL)22%9%50-12%288332511353668
176Univ. of Virginia's Coll.–Wise (VA)*50%-18%125-8%39032155887213
177University of Mobile (AL)51%-6%85-1%3779520818765167
178Bridgewater College (VA)63%-11%98-5%4472312916585133
179University of North Alabama (AL)*52%-18%370-4%373432131067444
180Shorter University (GA)50%-16%1423%3987314615898111
181Averett University (VA)49%-15%100-4%427196624770247
182Brenau University (GA)44%-17%1458%46755923165228
183Jacksonville State University (AL)*51%-16%467-1%3791818016706130
184Stillman College (AL)21%-20%787%315873417274142
185Southern Virginia University (VA)40%-8%5015%367459219118183
186Virginia Union University (VA)35%-9%1400%3386511719666198
187Shaw University (NC)23%-11%1297%3014513918160159
188South University–Montgomery (AL)°23%6%34-2%2988313122938231
189Hampton University (VA)64%7%293-22%487729935974272
190University of Miami (FL)81%-4%409-5%6424120924343240
191Faulkner University (AL)47%-13%3396%3680423319415175
192Roanoke College (VA)70%-8%110-6%4874513021684225
193ECPI University (VA)°53%-9%73513%3675927122522217
194University of South Alabama (AL)*48%-9%6423%416201981386196
195Middle Georgia State Univ. (GA)*29%-7%3101%345862401056643
196Greensboro College (NC)39%-12%48-1%392591421472295
197Gardner-Webb University (NC)57%-18%2485%4084512518310170
198Auburn University (AL)*78%-14%659-11%5531817919792188
199Glenville State College (WV)*32%-17%862%334381131480194
200Living Arts College (NC)°49%-21%1425%2708619023214235
201Hollins University (VA)62%-16%5510%354989719208184
202Clark Atlanta University (GA)45%-7%30115%355499833740269
203Marymount University (VA)67%-11%131-13%566698223233229
204American Public Univ. System (WV)°19%-10%1340-11%420092471037040
205Gallaudet University (DC)58%-20%94-9%379127215790127
206Florida Southern College (FL)64%-9%1601%4657822822633218
207Toccoa Falls College (GA)51%-5%77-11%3357224320247194
208University of AL at Birmingham (AL)*57%-16%73612%4492425315119112
209University of Lynchburg (VA)64%-15%138-3%4719215219307182
210Allen University (SC)22%-8%4519%247102291336664
211Troy University (AL)*39%-16%7034%364912461410786
212Belmont Abbey College (NC)49%-16%126-7%4093921118382166
213Point University (GA)42%-14%112-21%3494116019270178
214Augusta University (GA)*50%-11%3314%404332601221967
215Virginia Wesleyan University (VA)51%-10%1159%4260213621280222
216Meredith College (NC)64%-13%1080%4238322517454156
217Lenoir-Rhyne University (NC)54%-16%1110%4001020518541162
218West Virginia State University (WV)*40%-9%160-32%336111751342271
219Fairmont State University (WV)*47%-27%269-11%38669135947832
220South Univ./Savannah Online (GA)14%-2%29113%298839023268230
221High Point University (NC)67%-11%96-15%528753933265270
222Jacksonville University (FL)53%-14%209-7%527084923064223
223Catholic University of America (DC)74%-11%86-18%633275025207245
224AI Miami Int. U. of Art & Design (FL)31%-8%1691%3029910525817255
225Keiser University (FL)52%-8%51818%3403421735792271
226University of Alabama (AL)*70%-19%1138-5%4961416419295181
227William Peace University (NC)47%-18%1203%3814817821985220
228Brewton-Parker College (GA)24%-3%24-13%3520312818787172
229Randolph-Macon College (VA)67%-5%69-17%4906115421704226
230Presbyterian College (SC)66%-14%53-14%4825511119227186
231Thomas University (GA)46%-11%64-16%4185416220360185
232Brevard College (NC)43%-12%49-2%3685123619345180
233Reinhardt University (GA)42%-11%89-5%4084317023195234
234St. Andrews University (NC)40%-15%53-2%413992829905263
235Amer. InterCont. Univ.–Atlanta (GA)°19%-27%6926%3122011415125102
236Montreat College (NC)44%-9%3510%3900225421892219
237Oglethorpe University (GA)49%-11%702%4645014116807139
238Nova Southeastern University (FL)57%-8%48012%5024925724502242
239Liberty University (VA)37%-22%30187%390272928457260
240Ferrum College (VA)33%-8%1038%3848418826175258
241Charleston Southern University (SC)43%-13%219-4%3911723015969113
242Salem University (WV)°33%-12%317%2841424817915153
243University of Charleston (WV)46%-11%87-10%4342619119762187
244Life University (GA)45%-8%71-7%4045618727062254
245Emmanuel College (GA)42%-12%45-8%3307225920115190
246South University–Columbia (SC)°25%-5%1017%2988325821064206
247Howard University (DC)62%-7%561-1%515328542685277
248Ave Maria University (FL)67%-9%70-15%4325027216651135
249Truett McConnell University (GA)41%-14%52-28%3900121417836155
250Queens University of Charlotte (NC)55%-16%103-5%4924013423883232
251Campbell University (NC)48%-17%2910%4590212620153193
252FL National University–Main (FL)53%-31%14128%2813227420908196
253Guilford College (NC)51%-12%144-6%3988025220436212
254Morehouse College (GA)55%-15%1723%4248519529642268
255Hampden-Sydney College (VA)67%-11%42-22%5749415620068204
256University of AL–Huntsville (AL)*57%-15%2814%5106726815776125
257Shenandoah University (VA)59%-11%111-17%4988814324774243
258Sweet Briar College (VA)39%-8%26-2%437495220453213
259Oakwood University (AL)51%-19%116-3%3443320322019233
260Savannah Coll. of Art & Design (GA)69%-15%441-8%414525842242276
261Samford University (AL)72%-10%87-13%4901623225420246
262Lynn University (FL)61%-4%84-7%4097426233597266
263Univ. of the District of Columbia (DC)*26%-16%118-7%3708122115050101
264Anderson University (SC)59%-17%140-10%3689226618494160
265University of Tampa (FL)61%-8%344-13%5145223429993262
266Palm Bch. Atl. U.–W. Palm Bch. (FL)53%-13%197-4%4244123124794244
267Southeastern University (FL)48%-10%234-14%3825116526330251
268St. Thomas University (FL)50%-9%83-24%4783121925754250
269Bethany College (WV)40%-29%40-9%39115158988825
270Eckerd College (FL)65%-3%96-9%4316126929247265
271Warren Wilson College (NC)48%-14%5916%2936427322468239
272Methodist University (NC)37%-22%1268%3936126423256224
273Florida Institute of Technology (FL)63%-8%159-5%3868927626858257
274Everglades University (FL)57%-28%2957%3934927529501261
275Young Harris College (GA)41%-23%81-24%3839719617493157
276Erskine College and Seminary (SC)49%-25%51-4%4342520136707273
277Beacon College (FL)62%-8%115%2116327736023274
Definitions:
Pell/non-Pell graduation gap: graduation rate for Pell students minus the graduation rate for non-Pell students; a positive number indicates that students who receive Pell grants graduate at a higher rate than those who don’t, and vice versa.
* = public
° = for-profit