America’s Top 20 Public Universities And Colleges That Offer The Best Value For The Money In 2018

When it comes to the best bang for your buck in public education, the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill is again at the top of the list. Out of 100 public universities that made the list, UNC Chapel Hill is ranked #1.

The annual list, published by Kiplinger announced the University of Florida as the second best-value college in their ranking of the top 100 public universities in the United States, followed by the University of Virginia (No. 3), the University of Michigan (No. 4), and University of California Berkeley (No. 5).

Among public colleges, magazine says University of California Los Angeles is the sixth-best value, and the University of Washington came in at no. 7 on the list. While University of Texas at Austin ranked No. 8 in a list of 100 public colleges, North Carolina State University ranked No. 9 and University of Maryland, College Park ranked No. 10.

Magazine also included a ranking of the 100 Best Values Private Universities And Colleges For 2018. Princeton University comes in at No. 1 on the list, followed by Harvard University, Duke University, Vanderbilt University, and Rice University.

Introduced in 1998, the rankings are based on objective measurements of academic quality and affordability, not subjective criteria. The rankings take into account things such as admission rates, graduation rates, lowest total cost and need-based financial aid.

America’s Top 20 Public Universities And Colleges That Offer The Best Value For The Money In 2018:

1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Average cost per year: $22,165
Average debt at graduation: $20,852
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $54,100

2. University of Florida
Average cost per year: $17,501
Average debt at graduation: $21,645
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $53,100

3. University of Virginia
Average cost per year: $29,321
Average debt at graduation: $24,598
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $60,700

4. University of Michigan
Average cost per year: $27,072
Average debt at graduation: $25,712
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $60,100

5. University of California, Berkeley
Average cost per year: $30,780
Average debt at graduation: $18,789
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $61,800

6. University of California, Los Angeles
Average cost per year: $30,066
Average debt at graduation: $21,323
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $58,700

7. University of Washington
Average cost per year: $23,916
Average debt at graduation: $21,900
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $54,800

8. University of Texas at Austin
Average cost per year: $ 21,130
Average debt at graduation: $25,338
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $54,900

9. North Carolina State University
Average cost per year: $20,994
Average debt at graduation: $21,507
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $49,300

10. University of Maryland, College Park
Average cost per year: $23,731
Average debt at graduation: $27,559
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $61,700

11. College of William and Mary
Average cost per year: $35,243
Average debt at graduation: $26,400
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $55,400

12. University of Georgia
Average cost per year: $22,864
Average debt at graduation: $21,730
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $48,500

13. University of Wisconsin—Madison
Average cost per year: $22,575
Average debt at graduation: $27,831
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $54,200

14. Florida State University
Average cost per year: $17,965
Average debt at graduation: $23,679
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $44,900

15. Purdue University
Average cost per year: $21,192
Average debt at graduation: $27,530
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $55,000

16. New College of Florida
Average cost per year: $17,380
Average debt at graduation: $16,577
Average salary 10 years after starting college: NA

17. Georgia Institute of Technology
Average cost per year: $24,710
Average debt at graduation: $32,169
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $75,800

18. Binghamton University, State University of New York
Average cost per year: $25,100
Average debt at graduation: $25,718
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $59,200

19. Truman State University
Average cost per year: $17,636
Average debt at graduation: $24,811
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $43,700

20. University of California, San Diego
Average cost per year: $28,555
Average debt at graduation: $21,830
Average salary 10 years after starting college: $58,600