Top 10 “Return on Investment” Colleges in 2025

Students searching for their ideal college often have varying criteria in mind. But one that should garner careful consideration is “return on investment” (ROI). This is the amount of money that one earns after a set period of time – typically 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 years – minus the cost of education.  

 

Such data, collected by the Center of Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University, demonstrates that earning a college degree results in a significant return on investment in the vast majority of cases.

 

Money reports that the Top 10 colleges and universities, when it comes to ROI for a bachelor’s degree, include many of the most prestigious schools as well as those that focus on Computer Science, Engineering and Medicine -- fields that typically result in high earning potential.

The Best Colleges Based on Declared Major

Students dreaming about their future college often consider many criteria, including location, athletic reputation, and the abundance of campus amenities. But the most important factor, for those focused on their academic experience and career preparation, is their choice of major. 

Once students identify the majors they will pursue for their college studies, they can easily make a list of potential schools based on those with a strong reputation in their future academic field. Reputable sources for this data include usnews.com, niche.com, and collegetransitions.com.

 

Students interested in Accounting or Marketing will find Indiana University – Bloomington ranked among the top five schools. This is a program to which local students, with good grades and SAT scores, can likely gain admission. Other schools among the top five for these fields, which are a “stretch” for almost everyone, include University of Pennsylvania and University of Texas – Austin.

Top 10 Apps to Discover Best-Fit Colleges

Students can put their screen time to great use in the college application process by using mobile apps to garner a wealth of information. U.S. News & World Report has recently identified some of these particularly helpful apps. 

BigFuture School app by College Board, free on iPhone and Android devices, offers customized career information and provides information on specific majors, financial aid, and many aspects of campus life.

 

Loper, available free in the Apple App and Google Play stores, matches students with best-fit colleges based on desired campus size, major, and student life. Over 200,000 students have already used Loper for college planning.