Worst ROI: Highest Cost, Lowest Returns

Schools where the cost-to-outcome ratio raises serious concerns. The data tells an uncomfortable story.

50 schools ranked

#SchoolROI
1Lane College
Jackson, TN
3
2Allen University
Columbia, SC
3
3Texas College
Tyler, TX
4
4Jarvis Christian University
Hawkins, TX
4
5Benedict College
Columbia, SC
4
6Central State University
Wilberforce, OH
4
7Shaw University
Raleigh, NC
4
8Livingstone College
Salisbury, NC
4
9Miles College
Fairfield, AL
4
10Wiley University
Marshall, TX
5
11Langston University
Langston, OK
5
12Harris-Stowe State University
Saint Louis, MO
5
13Mississippi Valley State University
Itta Bena, MS
5
14Alabama State University
Montgomery, AL
5
15American InterContinental University System
Chandler, AZ
6
16Ashford University
San Diego, CA
6
17Stillman College
Tuscaloosa, AL
6
18South University-Savannah Online
Savannah, GA
7
19American InterContinental University-Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
7
20Salem University
Salem, WV
7
21National American University-Rapid City
Rapid City, SD
7
22Tougaloo College
Tougaloo, MS
7
23Florida Memorial University
Miami Gardens, FL
7
24University of Phoenix-Arizona
Phoenix, AZ
8
25Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR
8
26Southern University at New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
8
27Strayer University-Global Region
Washington, DC
9
28Strayer University-South Carolina
Greenville, SC
9
29Strayer University-Georgia
Chamblee, GA
9
30Los Angeles Film School
Hollywood, CA
9
31Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Carolina, PR
9
32Virginia Union University
Richmond, VA
9
33South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, SC
9
34Baker College
Owosso, MI
9
35Kentucky State University
Frankfort, KY
9
36Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley, GA
9
37Bethune-Cookman University
Daytona Beach, FL
9
38Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO
9
39Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus
San Juan, PR
10
40Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
Ponce, PR
10
41Texas Southern University
Houston, TX
10
42Chowan University
Murfreesboro, NC
10
43Lincoln University
Jefferson City, MO
10
44Savannah State University
Savannah, GA
10
45Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA
10
46Philander Smith University
Little Rock, AR
10
47University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff, AR
10
48Talladega College
Talladega, AL
10
49Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL
10
50Strayer University-Tennessee
Memphis, TN
11

How We Rank

Rankings are based on our ROI score (0-100), which weights five quantifiable factors: Earnings Premium (30%), Payback Period (25%), Debt-to-Earnings (20%), Completion Rate (15%), and Loan Repayment (10%). All data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. No subjective criteria are used.

Full methodology →