The Best Value Colleges

Best Value Colleges in America for 2025

Explore the colleges that provide the best value for your money in the United States based on academic quality, outcomes, net price and financial aid. The rankings are calculated using ratings from the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking factored against the typical net price paid by students - to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2025 as the overall best value college in America is Harvard University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $17,900 average net price. The highest value public state college is University of Virginia Main Campus. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.
Public Private 4 year

1,049 results nationwide

Harvard University
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H
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Value in America

  • 30,386enrollment
  • $17,900net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Williams College
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W
Williamstown, MA

Williams College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Value in America

  • 2,168enrollment
  • $16,988net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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Amherst College
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A
Amherst, MA

Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value in America

  • 1,910enrollment
  • $17,965net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1550SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Dartmouth College
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D
Hanover, NH

Dartmouth College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Value in America

  • 6,746enrollment
  • $17,322net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Princeton University
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P
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#5 Best Value in America

  • 8,922enrollment
  • $19,811net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.93Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Stanford University
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S
Stanford, CA

Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#6 Best Value in America

  • 18,446enrollment
  • $17,998net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Pomona College
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P
Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Value in America

  • 1,664enrollment
  • $17,423net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

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Colby College
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C
Waterville, ME

Colby College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Value in America

  • 2,284enrollment
  • $15,163net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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M
Cambridge, MA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Value in America

  • 11,920enrollment
  • $21,519net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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California Institute of Technology
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C
Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Value in America

  • 2,463enrollment
  • $23,397net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Wellesley College
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W
Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Value in America

  • 2,418enrollment
  • $21,501net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

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Columbia University in the City of New York
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C
New York, NY

Columbia University in the City of New York

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Value in America

  • 35,279enrollment
  • $20,869net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Swarthmore College
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S
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#13 Best Value in America

  • 1,644enrollment
  • $17,930net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1560SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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Rice University
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R
Houston, TX

Rice University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Value in America

  • 8,556enrollment
  • $20,587net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Wesleyan University
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W
Middletown, CT

Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Value in America

  • 3,271enrollment
  • $20,463net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Northwestern University
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N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#16 Best Value in America

  • 23,203enrollment
  • $23,341net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Johns Hopkins University
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J
Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Value in America

  • 30,362enrollment
  • $22,844net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Washington University in St Louis
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W
Saint Louis, MO

Washington University in St Louis

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#18 Best Value in America

  • 16,500enrollment
  • $22,440net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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