Best Return On Investment Colleges

The University of the Sciences, founded in 1821, is located in Philadelphia and was the first college of pharmacy in North America. USciences comes in 11th place, with a 20-year net ROI of $484,016. With multiple online degree programs, distance learners can obtain training in biology and health informatics as well as various degrees in the pharmaceutical or health care business. At USciences, 96% of graduates are employed or accepted for further education within 6 months of graduation. This school also has a graduation rate 10-15 points higher than the national average. Additionally, more than 94% of USciences students who apply to medical school are accepted. As an added financial feature, undergraduate students may participate in USciences tuition reset program, wherein no student will pay over $25,000 per year in tuition until after they complete their degree. USciences career services for alumni and graduating students include one-on-one counseling, job search assistance, workshops on networking and interviewing skills, as well as personal careers services and assistance for alumni 11 years or more beyond graduation.

Upstate Medical University, located in Syracuse, New York, is a SUNY health sciences institution and is the second oldest medical school in the state. Ranking at 12th place, Upstate has a 20-year net ROI of $461,068. With a student population of 1,500, Upstate offers graduate degree programs within the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions and Graduate Studies. Distance learners may take classes in a hybrid format for some majors, including degrees in information management and technology and nursing practice. Graduates of this university move on to successful careers with employers like Syracuse University, V.A. Medical Center, Verizon, Carrier Corp., Time Warner and St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center. In many cases, more than 95% of graduates from the medical school secure employment within 6 months of graduating. Career services are available for students and alumni of each college, including career development workshops and guest lecturers to make sure students not only enter the job market confidently but also effectively advance their careers after securing a position.

Illinois Institute of Technology is a private research institute located in Chicago. The school has 659 academic staff members and serves 7,300 students. It ranks 13th on our list, with a 20-year ROI of $215,828. Although this is selective school, Illinois Tech has a 100% graduation rate, and 67% of its students receive grants. The school offers graduate and undergraduate degrees, 19 of which are available partially or fully online, in fields such as engineering, science, architecture and design. Upon graduation, 89% of undergraduates and 98% of graduate students secure jobs or continue their education to obtain an advanced degree. Illinois Tech offers their current students and alumni a variety of career services, including workshops and events, career fairs, experiential learning opportunities, networking tools with alumni around the globe and one-on-one counseling. Additionally, with the help of the Career Services Office, many undergraduate students at Illinois Tech obtain part- or full-time internships that count for academic credit, offer some monetary compensation and strengthen students' resumes for the competitive job market upon graduation.

Established in 1919, Babson College is a private business school located in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Babson comes in at 14th on the list, with an ROI of $547,820. With a low admittance rate of 24%, this highly selective school boasts a graduation rate of 90%. Among the students enrolled, 48% receive grant money. Babson is known for cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit among its students and offers nearly 60 entrepreneurship-related classes. With its main campus in Wellesley and classroom locations in Boston, San Francisco and Miami, Babson offers its students several degrees in a hybrid format. Career development services are available for both undergraduate and graduate students. Babson alumni who wish to pursue further education can apply for alumni scholarships and preferential tuition pricing. Additionally, alumni have access to in-person or online career counseling, job boards and several alumni networking organizations. Career advisors at Babson work tirelessly to secure the most relevant industry information and career insights for students' benefit.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio specializes in health science education and research. It comes in 15th place on our list, with a 20-year net ROI of $475,248. Established in 1959, the school serves about 3,300 students with 1,674 academic staff members. Distance learners can obtain both bachelor's and master's degrees entirely online. Online bachelor's degrees at UT Health San Antonio typically consist of around 32 hours of coursework and can be completed in 1 to 3 years. One of UT Health San Antonio's primary functions is to fund medical research, for which it secures $185.3 million in annual research awards and sponsored program activity each year. The Office of Career Development provides students and alumni with innovative career and professional development, including workshops, networking opportunities and outreach programs. The Student Success Center also helps students and alumni prepare for and find employment by organizing career fairs that include potential employers from health care organizations.

With a 20-year net ROI of $405,048, the University of Texas Medical Branch takes 16th place. Located in Galveston and established in 1891, the university is home to the oldest medical school in the state. The school boasts a faculty of 1,000 and a student body of more than 2,500. The University of Texas Medical Branch includes 4 separate schools: the School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the School of Nursing and the School of Health Professions. Though the number and type of alumni and career services vary by school, all schools offer job boards, online and in-person networking opportunities and continuing education services. Other career development groups, such as the Committee for Career Development in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, are active in each of the 4 schools. In these organizations, graduate students and postdoctoral students organize seminars and workshops to promote the success of their fellow students.

Johns Hopkins University offers one of the most diverse online degree programs on the web. Ranked 17th, JHU's 20-year net ROI is $411,876. With 32 online programs to choose from, distance learners can earn certificates, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in disparate fields, such as applied economics, biotechnology enterprise and entrepreneurship. This highly selective school offers grants to more than half of its students. Additionally, JHU has a high graduation rate of 94% and makes a special effort to take care of their alumni after graduation. Johns Hopkins University uses the Handshake career services platform and GoHopOnline to connect alumni job seekers and employers. Online alumni services include library access and specialized financial, travel and health services. One-on-one career help is also available for JHU alumni through each of the 9 schools as well as pre-professional advising for current students and alumni in health care and law. Career webinars are available through the Career Center and Alumni Relations Office. Webinar topics range from building a solid resume, to interviewing and networking, to specialized areas that feature JHU alumni speakers.

In 18th place, with a 20-year net ROI of $820,524, Oregon Health and Science University is a research university focused on health education, the study and prevention of diseases and patient care. Established in 1887, OHSU is a public university located in Portland. The institution as a whole employs over 16,000 people, which includes all medical and research facilities. Comparatively, there is only a small number of faculty and students- 2,800 and 4,000 respectively. The university is broken down into 3 schools: the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing and the School of Dentistry. Distance learners can choose from 4 online degrees, including OHSU's popular RNBS completion nursing program. Most programs at OHSU call for in-person clinical courses, making those online degree offerings hybrid. Alumni and current students at OHSU have access to career services through their home departments and the Career and Professional Center. Through these programs, students receive training sessions and resources that help them develop leadership, writing, research and presentation skills. Career advisors will also help students develop an individual development plan that explores career possibilities and sets goals that best fit their desired career path.

Located in Chesapeake, Virginia, Sentara College of Health Sciences ranks 19th, with a 20-year net ROI of $121,664. The school, which serves 500 students and employs 70 faculty members, offers students a variety of popular medical degrees, including the RN to BSN, Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, and the Clinical Nurse Leader MSN, all of which are available entirely online. Student achievement in all of Sentara's programs is notably high, with more than half of its majors reporting a job placement rate of 88% or higher. Students who graduated with degrees in invasive surgery and cardiac electrophysiology reported a 100% job placement in 2017. Sentara's alumni services boast an average job placement rate of 85%, although some specialty programs have 100% placement. Alumni take advantage of professional societies offered through the school, including the Nursing Honor Society and the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals.

Founded in 1885, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is located in Rapid City. Coming in 20th place, SD Mines has a 20-year ROI of $133,412. The school serves over 2,700 students with 172 faculty members. Overall, SD Mines has a job placement rate of 96%. Although only 56% of its students complete their degree programs, more than 67% of them receive grant funding while enrolled. At SD Mines, distance learners can choose from three entirely online or hybrid master's programs in construction engineering and management, engineering management and mining engineering and management. SD Mines' Career and Development Center provides students and alumni with resume and interview preparation, networking events and workshops. Alumni and students can also search for jobs, internships and co-op positions through the school's own online job search engine, Gold Mine. SD Mines' career services office also specializes in developing employment opportunities for its alumni around the state. Partnering the Dakota Roots website, SD Mines helps grow the state's workforce by connecting employers with students and alumni interested in working in or returning to South Dakota.

The University of Maryland-Baltimore has a 20-year ROI of $629,264. Established in 1807, UMB has over 6,700 students and 2,840 faculty members. The school is nationally recognized for its programs in public health, law, dentistry, pharmacy, social work and human services. Distance learners can earn both the RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MS degrees entirely online. Master's degree students have even more options, with hybrid and fully online options available in fields such as cybersecurity, forensic medicine, pharmacometrics and nursing informatics. For alumni and current students, the Office of Research and Career Development offers workshops, classes and seminars for those pursuing research-intensive careers. Their services also include tutorials on grant writing and publishing and funding original research. While alumni resources differ between each of the 7 professional schools, most offer specialized online networking platforms, class reunions and receptions, and access to a job board.

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a "Big Ten" public research university established in 1817 and has more than 540,000 living alumni--one of the largest alumni networks on the planet. Ranked in 22nd place, UM has an ROI of $160,760. The university boasts a notably high graduation rate at 92%, with 42% of those students receiving grant support while enrolled. UM offers several online degrees for distance learners, including convenient degree completion programs for transfer students with previous college credit. UM-Ann Arbor, in conjunction with its other campuses in Flint, Dearborn and Detroit, offers dozens of 52-week online courses through its Michigan Online program. In addition, UM uses the Handshake platform to provide alumni and students with access to job boards, available internships, campus and alumni events, job fairs and continuing education information. Alumni and currents students may also use the University Career Alumni Network (UCAN) to connect with UM graduates around the world and to pair students with alumni mentors who provide one-on-one, career-related advice.

Coming in 23rd place with a 20-year net ROI of $667,788, Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. CMU is known for its programs in computer science, information and technology management, engineering and its Tepper School of Business. This selective school boasts a 90% graduate rate. While enrolled, 50% of its students receive grant support. Distance learners can earn a Master of Business Administration in a hybrid format through the Tepper School that follows the same rigorous curriculum as the traditional on-campus degree. Distance learners can also take advantage of CMU's Access Weekends, where online students can convene in Pittsburgh, D.C., Philadelphia or Silicon Valley to attend live classes, take exams, give presentations and visit with potential employers. The Career and Professional Development Center offers a variety of services to help students and alumni prepare for and secure employment. The Development Center programs include college- and industry-specific counseling and advising, career fairs, workshops, interview and resume assistance, and access to online databases with available internships and part- and full-time professional positions.

Serving more than 29,000 undergraduate students and 11,000 graduate students, the University of California, Berkeley is a public research institution established in 1868. Taking 24th place, UC Berkeley has an ROI of $101,000. The graduation rate at this competitive school is 93%, with 53% of those students receiving grants. Aside from being known as the flagship institution for the University of California system and one of the top public universities in the U.S., UC Berkeley's extension program offers a plethora of fully online degrees and certificates. From common online degree programs in business and education to stand-out degrees in art and design and biotechnology, the extension program offers online instruction for virtually any degree seeker. Graduates of UC Berkeley become a part of the Cal Alumni Association, which provides professional and social networking opportunities through corporate and networking events, continuing education services and mentorship opportunities.

Ranked in 25th place, Vanderbilt University is a private research university with a 20-year net ROI of $302,744. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt has a graduation rate of 93%. Approximately 63% of its students receive grant funding throughout their program. Remote students can pursue online degrees in education, human development and counseling and even an MBA. Known for its education school, Vanderbilt's Peabody College offers distance learners graduate degrees with state-of-the-art instruction and unique course offerings. The alumni association provides lifelong opportunities for its graduates to engage and connect through a variety of services and events. The VUconnect platform helps graduates search Vanderbilt's city-based alumni chapters and network of 125,000 alumni worldwide to make social connections and find career advancement opportunities. Alumni also have access to online job boards, industry research data and expert advice from career coaches via phone, email or skype. Vanderbilt alumni may also participate in the travel program, which features educational trips to locations all over the world, often with Vanderbilt professors, for "beyond the classroom" learning experiences.