15 Best Value Public Colleges: 2024

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The Princeton Review’s just-released list of the best value colleges in the United States comprises 134 private and 75 public schools, based on its surveys of administrators at 650 institutions in the 2023–24 academic year.

Related: 14 Best Value Public Colleges: Princeton Review, 2023

Researchers analyzed data on school academics, cost/financial aid and career services, as well as on student debt and graduation rates. They also factored in data from its surveys of students attending the schools, and data from PayScale.com’s surveys of alumni about their starting and midcareer salaries and job satisfaction. 

They then used some 40 data points to tally Return on Investment ratings, which determined the selection of schools on the list. Various data points from the surveys were used to tally the project’s ranking lists.

The Princeton Review, a tutoring, test prep and college admissions services company, is not affiliated with Princeton University.

See the accompanying gallery for the 15 best value public colleges in 2024, according to The Princeton Review.

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