The Best Value U.S. Colleges

Best Value Colleges in America for 2021

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 2021 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking but additionally factors in the typical price paid by students to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2021 as the overall best value college in America is Harvard University. The highest value public state college is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.
Public Private 4 year

1,036 results nationwide

Harvard University
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H
Cambridge, MA
Harvard University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Value in America

  • 31,566enrollment
  • $18,030net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 4.04Avg GPA
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Stanford University
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S
Stanford, CA
Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Value in America

  • 17,381enrollment
  • $16,779net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1570SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 4.18Avg GPA
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Yale University
Y
New Haven, CT
Yale University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value in America

  • 13,433enrollment
  • $18,073net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95*Avg GPA
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Amherst College
A
Amherst, MA
Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Value in America

  • 1,855enrollment
  • $16,339net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1520SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.91*Avg GPA
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Williams College
W
Williamstown, MA
Williams College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Value in America

  • 2,149enrollment
  • $17,303net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.94*Avg GPA
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Princeton University
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P
Princeton, NJ
Princeton University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Value in America

  • 8,374enrollment
  • $18,712net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA
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Pomona College
P
Claremont, CA
Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Value in America

  • 1,573enrollment
  • $18,500net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1390-1540SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.89*Avg GPA
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M
Cambridge, MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Value in America

  • 11,574enrollment
  • $20,465net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1570SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96*Avg GPA
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Wellesley College
W
Wellesley, MA
Wellesley College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Value in America

  • 2,534enrollment
  • $19,805net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.86*Avg GPA
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Rice University
R
Houston, TX
Rice University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Value in America

  • 7,124enrollment
  • $20,335net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.96*Avg GPA
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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

#11 Best Value in America

  • 31,077enrollment
  • $21,828net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91*Avg GPA
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
N
Chapel Hill, NC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#12 Best Value in America

  • 30,011enrollment
  • $10,085net price
  • 23%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1500SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 4.6Avg GPA
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Colby College
C
Waterville, ME
Colby College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Value in America

  • 2,000enrollment
  • $19,592net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1520SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.86*Avg GPA
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Duke University
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D
Durham, NC
Duke University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#14 Best Value in America

  • 16,606enrollment
  • $24,386net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.94*Avg GPA
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Swarthmore College
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S
Swarthmore, PA
Swarthmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Value in America

  • 1,559enrollment
  • $19,759net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1540SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.9*Avg GPA
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Dartmouth College
D
Hanover, NH
Dartmouth College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#16 Best Value in America

  • 6,572enrollment
  • $23,869net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1560SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.9*Avg GPA
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University of Pennsylvania
P
Philadelphia, PA
University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#17 Best Value in America

  • 25,860enrollment
  • $24,771net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA
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Claremont McKenna College
C
Claremont, CA
Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Value in America

  • 1,327enrollment
  • $24,456net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1510SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.89*Avg GPA
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