National rankings · 2019
College Rankings — Outcomes, Not Reputation
Title-IV main campuses ranked by federal-data outcomes — College Scorecard for Treasury earnings + IPEDS completion + Pell share, Federal Student Aid for default rate, IPEDS Admissions for selectivity. Each table reads one cohort metric in one direction; we don't aggregate metrics into a composite score because the tradeoffs are real and reader-specific. Earnings cuts are descriptive, not predictive — selection effects drive most of the cross-institution variation. Every table is filtered to institutions with 1,000+ undergrads — small specialty institutes (cosmetology, single-credential schools) arithmetically dominate the extremes on every metric and crowd out the editorially comparable schools. Spans 52 ingested states (5,059 institutions total).
Top 10 Highest Median earnings · 10 years after entry (USD)What this meansMedian annual earnings of federally aided students 10 years after first enrolling, computed from Treasury IRS tax records. The cohort includes non-completers and out-of-state movers — selection effects (who enrolls, who completes, what fields they enter) drive most of the variation across institutions.
Institutions reporting the highest median earnings 10 years after entry — Treasury cohorts, includes non-completers and out-of-state movers.
| # | Institution | City | State | Sector | Undergrads | Median earnings · 10 years after entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MIT | Cambridge | MA | Nonprofit | 4,571 | $143.4k |
| 2 | Caltech | Pasadena | CA | Nonprofit | 1,023 | $128.6k |
| 3 | MCPHS University | Boston | MA | Nonprofit | 3,474 | $125.6k |
| 4 | Stanford | Stanford | CA | Nonprofit | 7,841 | $124.1k |
| 5 | Babson | Wellesley | MA | Nonprofit | 2,696 | $123.9k |
| 6 | Bentley | Waltham | MA | Nonprofit | 4,288 | $121.0k |
| 7 | Carnegie Mellon | Pittsburgh | PA | Nonprofit | 7,187 | $114.9k |
| 8 | Penn | Philadelphia | PA | Nonprofit | 10,768 | $111.4k |
| 9 | Princeton | Princeton | NJ | Nonprofit | 5,579 | $110.1k |
| 10 | Santa Clara University | Santa Clara | CA | Nonprofit | 6,235 | $109.2k |
Top 10 Lowest Median earnings · 10 years after entry (USD)What this meansMedian annual earnings of federally aided students 10 years after first enrolling, computed from Treasury IRS tax records. The cohort includes non-completers and out-of-state movers — selection effects (who enrolls, who completes, what fields they enter) drive most of the variation across institutions.
Institutions reporting the lowest median earnings 10 years after entry. Selection effects (who enrolls, who completes, what fields they enter) drive most of the variation.
| # | Institution | City | State | Sector | Undergrads | Median earnings · 10 years after entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oglala Lakota College | Kyle | SD | Public | 1,156 | $22.5k |
| 2 | EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc-San Juan | San Juan | PR | Nonprofit | 1,258 | $22.8k |
| 3 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo | Fajardo | PR | Nonprofit | 1,149 | $23.1k |
| 4 | Columbia Central University-Caguas | Caguas | PR | For-profit | 2,494 | $23.1k |
| 5 | Health And Style Institute | Greensboro | NC | For-profit | 1,112 | $23.4k |
| 6 | Coahoma Community College | Clarksdale | MS | Public | 1,314 | $24.3k |
| 7 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus | Carolina | PR | Nonprofit | 4,383 | $24.3k |
| 8 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus | San Juan | PR | Nonprofit | 4,579 | $24.5k |
| 9 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo | Arecibo | PR | Nonprofit | 2,275 | $24.5k |
| 10 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla | Aguadilla | PR | Nonprofit | 3,002 | $24.8k |
Top 10 Highest Median earnings · 6 years after entry (USD)What this meansMedian annual earnings of federally aided students 6 years after first enrolling. Earlier in the post-college trajectory than the 10-year cut — fields that lead to graduate school (medicine, law, academia) generally show lower 6-year earnings than 10-year.
Institutions reporting the highest median earnings 6 years after entry — earlier in the trajectory than the 10-year cut.
| # | Institution | City | State | Sector | Undergrads | Median earnings · 6 years after entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caltech | Pasadena | CA | Nonprofit | 1,023 | $132.1k |
| 2 | MIT | Cambridge | MA | Nonprofit | 4,571 | $131.6k |
| 3 | Carnegie Mellon | Pittsburgh | PA | Nonprofit | 7,187 | $105.4k |
| 4 | Stanford | Stanford | CA | Nonprofit | 7,841 | $102.9k |
| 5 | Harvard | Cambridge | MA | Nonprofit | 7,755 | $99.6k |
| 6 | West Coast University-Los Angeles | North Hollywood | CA | For-profit | 2,687 | $96.1k |
| 7 | Babson | Wellesley | MA | Nonprofit | 2,696 | $91.4k |
| 8 | Santa Clara University | Santa Clara | CA | Nonprofit | 6,235 | $91.2k |
| 9 | Penn | Philadelphia | PA | Nonprofit | 10,768 | $90.6k |
| 10 | Stevens | Hoboken | NJ | Nonprofit | 4,084 | $90.3k |
Top 10 Lowest Median earnings · 6 years after entry (USD)What this meansMedian annual earnings of federally aided students 6 years after first enrolling. Earlier in the post-college trajectory than the 10-year cut — fields that lead to graduate school (medicine, law, academia) generally show lower 6-year earnings than 10-year.
Institutions reporting the lowest median earnings 6 years after entry.
| # | Institution | City | State | Sector | Undergrads | Median earnings · 6 years after entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla | Aguadilla | PR | Public | 1,847 | $18.2k |
| 2 | Atlantic University | Guaynabo | PR | Nonprofit | 1,517 | $19.1k |
| 3 | University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo | Arecibo | PR | Public | 2,788 | $19.5k |
| 4 | Columbia Central University-Caguas | Caguas | PR | For-profit | 2,494 | $19.6k |
| 5 | Health And Style Institute | Greensboro | NC | For-profit | 1,112 | $19.8k |
| 6 | University of Puerto Rico-Humacao | Humacao | PR | Public | 2,555 | $20.0k |
| 7 | Oglala Lakota College | Kyle | SD | Public | 1,156 | $20.5k |
| 8 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce | Ponce | PR | Nonprofit | 3,827 | $20.6k |
| 9 | United Talmudical Seminary | Brooklyn | NY | Nonprofit | 2,006 | $20.8k |
| 10 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus | Carolina | PR | Nonprofit | 4,383 | $21.1k |
Top 10 Highest Completion rate · 150% of expected time (share of cohort)What this meansShare of first-time, full-time freshmen who complete their program within 150% of expected time (six years for a four-year degree, three years for a two-year degree). Reported by IPEDS Graduation Rate survey. Tiny cohorts skew toward 100% — top tables apply a 1,000-undergrad floor where editorially relevant.
Institutions with the highest 150%-time completion rate.
| # | Institution | City | State | Sector | Undergrads | Completion rate · 150% of expected time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee | Muskogee | OK | Public | 1,535 | 97.4% |
| 2 | Harvard | Cambridge | MA | Nonprofit | 7,755 | 97.3% |
| 3 | Northeast Technology Center | Pryor | OK | Public | 1,340 | 97.1% |
| 4 | Princeton | Princeton | NJ | Nonprofit | 5,579 | 97.1% |
| 5 | Notre Dame | Notre Dame | IN | Nonprofit | 8,923 | 96.8% |
| 6 | Penn | Philadelphia | PA | Nonprofit | 10,768 | 96.8% |
| 7 | Williams | Williamstown | MA | Nonprofit | 2,060 | 96.5% |
| 8 | Yale | New Haven | CT | Nonprofit | 6,811 | 96.3% |
| 9 | MIT | Cambridge | MA | Nonprofit | 4,571 | 96.1% |
| 10 | Dartmouth | Hanover | NH | Nonprofit | 4,367 | 96.0% |
Top 10 Lowest Completion rate · 150% of expected time (share of cohort)What this meansShare of first-time, full-time freshmen who complete their program within 150% of expected time (six years for a four-year degree, three years for a two-year degree). Reported by IPEDS Graduation Rate survey. Tiny cohorts skew toward 100% — top tables apply a 1,000-undergrad floor where editorially relevant.
Institutions with the lowest 150%-time completion rate.
| # | Institution | City | State | Sector | Undergrads | Completion rate · 150% of expected time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rio Salado College | Tempe | AZ | Public | 4,879 | 3.9% |
| 2 | Dine College | Tsaile | AZ | Public | 1,507 | 5.5% |
| 3 | Southern University at Shreveport | Shreveport | LA | Public | 1,974 | 7.2% |
| 4 | Surry Community College | Dobson | NC | Public | 1,445 | 7.7% |
| 5 | Northland Pioneer College | Holbrook | AZ | Public | 1,024 | 8.3% |
| 6 | Ashford University | San Diego | CA | For-profit | 23,734 | 8.8% |
| 7 | Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe | Tempe | AZ | For-profit | 1,246 | 9.1% |
| 8 | Roxbury Community College | Roxbury Crossing | MA | Public | 1,583 | 10.4% |
| 9 | Cleveland Community College | Shelby | NC | Public | 1,236 | 10.6% |
| 10 | Henry Ford College | Dearborn | MI | Public | 8,695 | 10.6% |
Top 10 Highest Median debt at completion (USD)What this meansMedian federal-student-loan debt of completers at graduation, reported by College Scorecard. Excludes private and parent loans. Lower values can indicate generous aid, lower published prices, or a high share of completers who used federal loans sparingly.
Institutions whose completers carry the highest median federal student-loan debt at graduation.
| # | Institution | City | State | Sector | Undergrads | Median debt at completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ringling College of Art and Design | Sarasota | FL | Nonprofit | 1,719 | $27.0k |
| 2 | Saint Francis University | Loretto | PA | Nonprofit | 1,525 | $27.0k |
| 3 | Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | PA | Nonprofit | 2,120 | $27.0k |
| 4 | Providence College | Providence | RI | Nonprofit | 4,170 | $27.0k |
| 5 | Salve Regina University | Newport | RI | Nonprofit | 2,102 | $27.0k |
| 6 | Saint Anselm College | Manchester | NH | Nonprofit | 2,032 | $27.0k |
| 7 | WPI | Worcester | MA | Nonprofit | 5,344 | $27.0k |
| 8 | Kettering University | Flint | MI | Nonprofit | 1,279 | $26.6k |
| 9 | Art Center College of Design | Pasadena | CA | Nonprofit | 2,054 | $26.0k |
| 10 | Augustana College | Rock Island | IL | Nonprofit | 2,418 | $26.0k |
Top 10 Lowest Median debt at completion (USD)What this meansMedian federal-student-loan debt of completers at graduation, reported by College Scorecard. Excludes private and parent loans. Lower values can indicate generous aid, lower published prices, or a high share of completers who used federal loans sparingly.
Institutions whose completers carry the lowest median federal student-loan debt at graduation.
| # | Institution | City | State | Sector | Undergrads | Median debt at completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laredo College | Laredo | TX | Public | 5,086 | $2.3k |
| 2 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | Valdosta | GA | Public | 2,762 | $2.4k |
| 3 | Motlow State Community College | Tullahoma | TN | Public | 4,055 | $3.0k |
| 4 | Mech-Tech College | Caguas | PR | For-profit | 2,246 | $3.0k |
| 5 | Walters State Community College | Morristown | TN | Public | 3,781 | $3.3k |
| 6 | Modesto Junior College | Modesto | CA | Public | 14,714 | $3.4k |
| 7 | Barstow Community College | Barstow | CA | Public | 2,585 | $3.5k |
| 8 | Savannah Technical College | Savannah | GA | Public | 2,967 | $3.5k |
| 9 | Clovis Community College | Fresno | CA | Public | 6,759 | $3.5k |
| 10 | Fresno City College | Fresno | CA | Public | 18,774 | $3.5k |
Top 10 Highest Cohort default rate (3-year) (share of borrowers)What this meansShare of federal-loan borrowers who entered repayment in a given fiscal year and defaulted within three years. Federal Student Aid's official default-rate metric — lower means more borrowers stayed current after leaving the institution.
Institutions with the highest 3-year cohort default rate among federal-loan borrowers.
| # | Institution | City | State | Sector | Undergrads | Cohort default rate (3-year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John A Logan College | Carterville | IL | Public | 2,018 | 16.6% |
| 2 | Southeastern Technical College | Vidalia | GA | Public | 1,091 | 10.0% |
| 3 | Laredo College | Laredo | TX | Public | 5,086 | 10.0% |
| 4 | Beth Medrash Govoha | Lakewood | NJ | Nonprofit | 3,532 | 6.2% |
| 5 | Beaufort County Community College | Washington | NC | Public | 1,560 | 4.8% |
| 6 | Augusta Technical College | Augusta | GA | Public | 3,531 | 4.1% |
| 7 | North Georgia Technical College | Clarkesville | GA | Public | 1,966 | 4.1% |
| 8 | Oconee Fall Line Technical College | Sandersville | GA | Public | 1,580 | 2.7% |
| 9 | Yuba College | Marysville | CA | Public | 4,311 | 2.5% |
| 10 | Craven Community College | New Bern | NC | Public | 1,877 | 2.3% |
Top 10 Lowest Cohort default rate (3-year) (share of borrowers)What this meansShare of federal-loan borrowers who entered repayment in a given fiscal year and defaulted within three years. Federal Student Aid's official default-rate metric — lower means more borrowers stayed current after leaving the institution.
Institutions with the lowest 3-year cohort default rate among federal-loan borrowers.
| # | Institution | City | State | Sector | Undergrads | Cohort default rate (3-year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charter College | Anchorage | AK | For-profit | 2,277 | 0.0% |
| 2 | University of Alaska Anchorage | Anchorage | AK | Public | 6,916 | 0.0% |
| 3 | University of Alaska Fairbanks | Fairbanks | AK | Public | 4,027 | 0.0% |
| 4 | Alabama A&M | Normal | AL | Public | 5,726 | 0.0% |
| 5 | Alabama State | Montgomery | AL | Public | 3,322 | 0.0% |
| 6 | Athens State University | Athens | AL | Public | 2,407 | 0.0% |
| 7 | Auburn | Auburn | AL | Public | 25,732 | 0.0% |
| 8 | Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery | AL | Public | 2,693 | 0.0% |
| 9 | Central Alabama Community College | Alexander City | AL | Public | 1,134 | 0.0% |
| 10 | Chattahoochee Valley Community College | Phenix City | AL | Public | 1,044 | 0.0% |
Top 10 Highest Admission rate (share of applicants)What this meansShare of applicants who were offered admission, reported by IPEDS Admissions. A lower admission rate signals selectivity, not quality — selectivity reflects applicant volume relative to bed count more than instructional outcomes.
Institutions admitting the largest share of applicants. Higher admission rate ≠ lower quality — it reflects applicant volume relative to bed count.
| # | Institution | City | State | Sector | Undergrads | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harding University | Searcy | AR | Nonprofit | 3,323 | 100.0% |
| 2 | University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton | AR | Public | 1,538 | 100.0% |
| 3 | Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe | Tempe | AZ | For-profit | 1,246 | 100.0% |
| 4 | Mississippi University for Women | Columbus | MS | Public | 1,593 | 100.0% |
| 5 | Southwestern Oklahoma State University | Weatherford | OK | Public | 3,469 | 100.0% |
| 6 | Texas A&M University-Central Texas | Killeen | TX | Public | 1,698 | 100.0% |
| 7 | Martinsburg College | Martinsburg | WV | For-profit | 3,214 | 100.0% |
| 8 | UTEP | El Paso | TX | Public | 20,547 | 99.9% |
| 9 | Bethune-Cookman University | Daytona Beach | FL | Nonprofit | 2,414 | 99.9% |
| 10 | Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo | CO | Public | 3,028 | 99.8% |
Top 10 Lowest Admission rate (share of applicants)What this meansShare of applicants who were offered admission, reported by IPEDS Admissions. A lower admission rate signals selectivity, not quality — selectivity reflects applicant volume relative to bed count more than instructional outcomes.
Institutions admitting the smallest share of applicants. Selectivity reflects applicant volume relative to bed count, not instructional outcomes.
| # | Institution | City | State | Sector | Undergrads | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caltech | Pasadena | CA | Nonprofit | 1,023 | 3.1% |
| 2 | Harvard | Cambridge | MA | Nonprofit | 7,755 | 3.5% |
| 3 | Stanford | Stanford | CA | Nonprofit | 7,841 | 3.9% |
| 4 | Columbia | New York | NY | Nonprofit | 8,899 | 4.2% |
| 5 | Yale | New Haven | CT | Nonprofit | 6,811 | 4.5% |
| 6 | Princeton | Princeton | NJ | Nonprofit | 5,579 | 4.5% |
| 7 | MIT | Cambridge | MA | Nonprofit | 4,571 | 4.7% |
| 8 | UChicago | Chicago | IL | Nonprofit | 7,540 | 4.8% |
| 9 | Brown | Providence | RI | Nonprofit | 7,273 | 5.2% |
| 10 | Northeastern | Boston | MA | Nonprofit | 15,719 | 5.7% |