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Public colleges · Ranked list

Public four-year colleges on the same balanced blend

Which public four-year colleges combine completion, affordability, and reported earnings on the same transparent blend?

Question this page answersWhich public four-year colleges combine completion, affordability, and reported earnings on the same transparent blend?

Method version
1.0
Data updated
August 23, 2026
Eligible colleges
771 of 5,800
Data built
August 23, 2026

Eligibility rulePublic four-year colleges with at least 500 undergraduates that report an average net price, a completion rate, and median earnings ten years after entry.

Factors and weightsThree equal parts: one third completion rate, one third affordability where a lower average net price scores higher, and one third median earnings ten years after entry.

How the order is setEach factor is scaled from 0 to 1 across the eligible group, net price is reversed so a lower cost scores higher, and the three scaled values are averaged with equal weight. The page shows the top 25.

Missing dataA college missing any required factor is excluded and counted below, never scored as zero.

Read the full methodology

Net price here reflects the reported average for aided students, which usually leans in-state. Out-of-state students should compare published tuition on each profile instead.

Schools with fewer than 500 undergraduates are left out of the national lists, because one unusual value moves a very small school far up or down an order like this.

The list

  1. #1This blend

    Why it is hereReported 94% completion, a $12,116 average net price, and $102,772 median earnings ten years after entry.

  2. #2This blend

    Why it is hereReported 82% completion, a $6,174 average net price, and $90,610 median earnings ten years after entry.

  3. #3This blend

    Why it is hereReported 93% completion, a $13,481 average net price, and $92,446 median earnings ten years after entry.

  4. #4This blend

    Why it is hereReported 91% completion, a $6,541 average net price, and $71,588 median earnings ten years after entry.

  5. #5This blend

    Why it is hereReported 93% completion, a $13,138 average net price, and $83,648 median earnings ten years after entry.

  6. #6This blend

    Why it is hereReported 93% completion, a $12,548 average net price, and $82,511 median earnings ten years after entry.

  7. #7This blend

    Why it is hereReported 85% completion, a $4,815 average net price, and $71,588 median earnings ten years after entry.

  8. #8This blend

    Why it is hereReported 86% completion, a $12,470 average net price, and $84,943 median earnings ten years after entry.

  9. #9This blend

    Why it is hereReported 72% completion, a $3,033 average net price, and $75,971 median earnings ten years after entry.

  10. #10This blend

    Why it is hereReported 86% completion, a $16,665 average net price, and $90,768 median earnings ten years after entry.

  11. #11This blend

    Why it is hereReported 91% completion, a $11,655 average net price, and $72,200 median earnings ten years after entry.

  12. #12This blend

    Why it is hereReported 89% completion, a $15,678 average net price, and $82,860 median earnings ten years after entry.

  13. #13This blend

    Why it is hereReported 87% completion, a $14,251 average net price, and $80,735 median earnings ten years after entry.

  14. #14This blend

    Why it is hereReported 85% completion, a $14,355 average net price, and $81,054 median earnings ten years after entry.

  15. #15This blend

    Why it is hereReported 86% completion, a $14,741 average net price, and $80,838 median earnings ten years after entry.

  16. #16This blend

    Why it is hereReported 96% completion, a $21,565 average net price, and $86,863 median earnings ten years after entry.

  17. #17This blend

    Why it is hereReported 85% completion, a $14,091 average net price, and $78,466 median earnings ten years after entry.

  18. #18This blend

    Why it is hereReported 90% completion, a $13,936 average net price, and $68,726 median earnings ten years after entry.

  19. #19This blend

    Why it is hereReported 90% completion, a $17,354 average net price, and $73,792 median earnings ten years after entry.

  20. #20This blend

    Why it is hereReported 83% completion, a $14,600 average net price, and $72,424 median earnings ten years after entry.

  21. #21This blend

    Why it is hereReported 86% completion, a $11,297 average net price, and $61,675 median earnings ten years after entry.

  22. #22This blend

    Why it is hereReported 83% completion, a $16,109 average net price, and $74,915 median earnings ten years after entry.

  23. #23This blend

    Why it is hereReported 73% completion, a $16,504 average net price, and $84,276 median earnings ten years after entry.

  24. #24This blend

    Why it is hereReported 63% completion, a $10,163 average net price, and $78,466 median earnings ten years after entry.

  25. #25This blend

    Why it is hereReported 70% completion, a $6,555 average net price, and $62,951 median earnings ten years after entry.

This list caps at 25 entries. 746 more colleges met the eligibility rule and sit below the cap. Use the directory filters to see them all →

Why 5,029 of 5,800 colleges are not on this list