When the cost of a college degree can exceed $500,000, it’s smart to consider schools with reputations for providing students with the education and experience necessary to thrive after graduation.
And when it comes to the best return on investment, the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta earns top marks for the third year in a row, according to The Princeton Review’s latest rankings.
The publication considered colleges’ ratings in the following categories to determine which schools offer the best value:
- Academics: based on admissions selectivity and student surveys
- Financial aid: based on school-reported data and student opinion
- College costs: based on the difference between the school’s sticker price and average scholarship and grant awards
Of course, the amount you ultimately pay for your college education may depend less on a school’s sticker price and more on your family’s financial situation. It’s possible for some students to go to an expensive college for free or close to nothing if they qualify for and receive federal or institutional aid.
But with relatively low tuition fees and high median earnings among former students, Georgia Tech offers the best value for students out of the nearly 400 colleges Princeton Review considered. Like other schools known for their academic rigor, Georgia Tech’s focus on science, technology, engineering and math likely contributes to the high salaries students go on to command.
Forbes named Georgia Tech one of the “new Ivies” in 2024 and again in 2025. The list identified highly selective universities that employers say are on par, if not better, than the eight Ivy League colleges.
Still, “there isn’t a sense of cut-throat academic rivalry” at Georgia Tech, a student wrote in Princeton Review’s survey. “Everyone is much more helpful and supportive of one another.”
Here are the 10 public colleges with the best ROI, according to The Princeton Review, along with tuition figures for the 2025-26 academic year, per the schools’ websites; average annual net prices and median earnings among students 10 years after attendance, according to Department of Education data.
1. Georgia Institute of Technology
- 2025-26 in-state tuition: $10,512
- 2025-26 out-of-state tuition: $33,596
- Average net price 2023-24: $13,289
- Median earnings: $102,772
2. University of Virginia
- 2025-26 in-state tuition: $16,258 to $28,398, depending on program and class year
- 2025-26 out-of-state tuition: $55,436 to $68,114, depending on program and class year
- Average net price 2023-24: $22,881
- Median earnings: $86,863
3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- 2025-26 in-state tuition: $7,020
- 2025-26 out-of-state tuition: $43,152
- Average net price 2023-24: $12,983
- Median earnings: $72,200
4. University of California—Irvine
- 2025-26 in-state tuition: $13,602
- 2025-26 out-of-state tuition: $51,204
- Average net price 2023-24: $12,840
- Median earnings: $80,735
5. University of California—Berkeley
- 2025-26 in-state tuition: $17,478
- 2025-26 out-of-state tuition: $55,080
- Average net price 2023-24: $14,979
- Median earnings: $92,446
6. University of California—San Diego
- 2025-26 in-state tuition: $14,934
- 2025-26 out-of-state tuition: $52,536
- Average net price 2023-24: $11,750
- Median earnings: $84,943
7. University of Michigan
- 2025-26 in-state tuition: $18,346 to $20,648, depending on class year
- 2025-26 out-of-state tuition: $63,962 to $68,444, depending on class year
- Average net price 2023-24: $14,832
- Median earnings: $83,648
8. University of Washington
- 2025-26 in-state tuition: $13,406
- 2025-26 out-of-state tuition: $44,640
- Average net price 2023-24: $13,485
- Median earnings: $78,466
9. North Carolina State University
- 2025-26 in-state tuition: $9,028
- 2025-26 out-of-state tuition: $33,993
- Average net price 2023-24: $16,931
- Median earnings: $68,758
10. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- 2025-26 in-state tuition: $18,046 to $23,426, depending on major
- 2025-26 out-of-state tuition: $38,398 to $46,498, depending on major
- Average net price 2023-24: $15,201
- Median earnings: $81,504
Want to stand out, grow your network, and get more job opportunities? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course, How to Build a Standout Personal Brand: Online, In Person, and At Work. Learn from three expert instructors how to showcase your skills, build a stellar reputation, and create a digital presence that AI can’t replicate. Sign up today with coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off the regular course price of $67 (plus tax). Offer valid July 22, 2025, through September 2, 2025.
Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.
