According to the 2025 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings, graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) received the best return on their investment. They earned the highest salaries, at a median of $133,793, in their early years. MIT was also in the top 3% of schools in terms of cost/benefit, giving students the best overall ROI. Find out where your favorite college ranked.
One reason is because of the school's excellence in STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.) Other schools with this emphasis also did well, such as Georgia Tech, the California Institute of Technology, and Harvey Mudd College.
Colleges with well-known liberal arts educations also ranked high, such as Stanford, Princeton, and Babson. For more, see WSJ, "The Top Colleges That Make New Graduates Rich," September 9, 2024.
Which Colleges Provide the Best Value?
Public universities offer the best bang for the buck, especially if financial aid is counted. These schools keep costs low but still increase the graduates' salaries. Find your favorite college's ranking here.
For example, the top-ranked Baruch College enabled graduates to make $45,000 more a year than a graduate with just a high school degree. This easily covers the four-year price of just $14,576. Other City Universities of New York were similar. Many public colleges have an investment-recoup time of under two years. (Source: WSJ, "The Top U.S. Colleges Offering the Best Value for 2025", September 14, 2024.
How This Affects Homeowners
Buyers: Many homeowners have to balance between saving for a college education and paying for a home. Knowing which college is a good investment for your child's future can help with that decision.
Sellers: Homeowners have built up equity in their home that could now be used for a college education. Knowing that it's worth paying for the best can help with the decision to tap into that equity. Find out now what your home is worth.
