SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Oct 17, 2025 – A new EDsmart.org analysis of 1,755 four-year colleges has identified 30 “hidden gem” institutions that deliver better return on investment (ROI) than elite universities including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT.
CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College leads the list with 459% ROI and a Total Degree Cost of $13,401—$63,201 less than the elite benchmark ($76,602). Across all 30 schools, students pay an average of $24,736 to complete a degree—$51,866 less than elite colleges—while achieving an average ROI of 213% (compared to 148% at elite schools).
“Prestige isn’t payoff,” said Tyson Stevens, founder of EDsmart.org. “When you factor in net price and time-to-degree, many regional public colleges deliver more value than elite peers.”
Top 30 Elite Alternatives (by ROI)
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CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College – 459%
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CUNY Hunter College – 429%
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CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice – 344%
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CUNY Brooklyn College – 319%
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Talmudical Seminary of Bobov – 279%
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CUNY Lehman College – 277%
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CUNY Queens College – 264%
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CUNY City College – 251%
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California State University, Dominguez Hills – 241%
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Texas A&M International University – 230%
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UF Online – 226%
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California State University, Los Angeles – 210%
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God’s Bible School and College – 196%
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Ohio University–Eastern Campus – 188%
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California State University, Fullerton – 179%
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Luther Rice College & Seminary – 172%
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Trinity International University–Florida – 169%
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CUNY York College – 168%
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Berea College – 166%
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Florida Polytechnic University – 163%
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New College of Florida – 160%
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California State University, Stanislaus – 159%
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University of Connecticut, Waterbury – 148%
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Kehilath Yakov Rabbinical Seminary – 145%
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CUNY New York City College of Technology – 144%
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California State University, Bakersfield – 143%
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Ohio University–Zanesville Campus – 141%
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Indiana University–Kokomo – 140%
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University of Washington Tacoma – 140%
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Western Governors University – 139%
See Full Details HERE
Why It Matters
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Better ROI: 30 schools deliver 200–459% ROI, compared to elite schools’ 148% average.
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Lower Costs: Students save $51,866 on average over the course of a degree.
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Geographic Spread: Top-value schools are found across New York, California, Florida, Texas, Ohio, Indiana, Washington, and Kentucky, plus several religious and online institutions.
Methodology (In Brief)
ROI = (6-year median earnings ÷ Total Degree Cost) × 100.Total Degree Cost = Net Price × Average Years to Graduate.Elite benchmark: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT (standardized to 4.5 years).
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (May 2025).
ROI reflects observed outcomes and does not imply causation; results vary by major, region, and student background.
Media Contact
Company Name: EDsmart LLC
Contact Person: Tyson Stevens
Email: Send Email
City: Herriman
State: UT
Country: United States
Website: https://www.edsmart.org/