Nearly a third of all undergraduates are twenty-five or older. Yet no publication ranks colleges based on how well they serve adult students—except the Washington Monthly. We rank four-year colleges (defined as awarding more bachelor’s degrees than certificates or associate’s degrees) according to factors that specifically affect adult students, including ease of transfer, flexibility of schedule, and services for adults.
Click here for detailed methodology, here for the rest of our rankings, and here to download the full data set.
| Rank | Name | Ease of transfer (5 pts max) | Flexibility of programs (9 pts max) | Services for adult students (6 pts max) | % of students over age 25 | Part-time student grad rate | Mean earnings of independent students | Loan repayment rate of independent students | In-district tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Gate University (CA) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 90% | 42% | $78,200 | 66% | $16,095 |
| 2 | Concordia University–Saint Paul (MN) | 5 | 9 | 6 | 44% | 52% | $64,332 | 67% | $21,750 |
| 3 | University of Utah (UT)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 24% | 59% | $68,982 | 76% | $8,884 |
| 4 | Fort Hays State University (KS)* | 5 | 9 | 6 | 31% | 75% | $41,527 | 59% | $5,009 |
| 5 | University of Washington–Bothell (WA)* | 4 | 8 | 4 | 21% | 75% | $78,628 | 76% | $10,911 |
| 6 | George Mason University (VA)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 21% | 57% | $68,243 | 75% | $11,924 |
| 7 | Bethel University (MN) | 5 | 9 | 6 | 15% | 70% | $67,442 | 70% | $36,210 |
| 8 | Georgia Institute of Technology–Main (GA)* | 3 | 8 | 5 | 4% | 80% | $86,841 | 79% | $12,418 |
| 9 | Union Institute & University (OH) | 3 | 8 | 4 | 94% | 72% | $52,267 | 62% | $12,896 |
| 10 | University of Pennsylvania (PA) | 2 | 8 | 6 | 6% | 90% | $138,100 | 73% | $53,534 |
| 11 | Granite State College (NH)* | 4 | 9 | 5 | 79% | 50% | $37,088 | 59% | $7,593 |
| 12 | Southern NH University (NH) | 5 | 9 | 5 | 75% | 56% | $48,035 | 57% | $31,136 |
| 13 | University of Texas–Austin (TX)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 4% | 64% | $77,418 | 73% | $10,398 |
| 14 | University of Oklahoma–Norman (OK)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 11% | 42% | $67,345 | 69% | $9,063 |
| 15 | Curry College (MA) | 5 | 9 | 6 | 23% | 65% | $63,651 | 67% | $38,596 |
| 16 | City University (WA) | 4 | 8 | 5 | 79% | 47% | $53,100 | 62% | $17,400 |
| 17 | University of Iowa (IA)* | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8% | 55% | $78,837 | 60% | $8,965 |
| 18 | University of Wyoming (WY)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 19% | 54% | $53,898 | 72% | $4,443 |
| 19 | University of Washington–Seattle (WA)* | 3 | 8 | 5 | 8% | 74% | $78,628 | 76% | $10,974 |
| 20 | University of Minnesota–Twin Cities (MN)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 9% | 58% | $68,986 | 66% | $14,417 |
| 21 | University of Minnesota–Duluth (MN)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 5% | 50% | $88,143 | 60% | $13,344 |
| 22 | CA State University–East Bay (CA)* | 5 | 6 | 6 | 33% | 53% | $57,920 | 64% | $6,834 |
| 23 | University of MA–Amherst (MA)* | 5 | 9 | 6 | 8% | 63% | $52,903 | 63% | $15,411 |
| 24 | Stony Brook University (NY)* | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8% | 60% | $66,105 | 64% | $9,257 |
| 25 | CA State University–Dominguez Hills (CA)* | 5 | 9 | 5 | 37% | 53% | $50,828 | 54% | $6,837 |
| 26 | Viterbo University (WI) | 5 | 9 | 5 | 26% | 70% | $53,725 | 65% | $26,920 |
| 27 | Weber State University (UT)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 27% | 34% | $53,030 | 72% | $5,712 |
| 28 | Eastern Washington University (WA)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 20% | 50% | $48,425 | 65% | $7,109 |
| 29 | University of NC–Chapel Hill (NC)* | 3 | 8 | 5 | 3% | 69% | $78,298 | 77% | $9,005 |
| 30 | Notre Dame of MD University (MD) | 4 | 9 | 6 | 47% | 68% | $61,297 | 56% | $36,070 |
| 31 | University of Baltimore (MD)* | 5 | 9 | 4 | 50% | 50% | $63,297 | 49% | $8,824 |
| 32 | Winona State University (MN)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 11% | 59% | $47,458 | 66% | $9,379 |
| 33 | CA State University–Long Beach (CA)* | 4 | 6 | 6 | 18% | 72% | $54,589 | 71% | $6,730 |
| 34 | Northeastern Illinois University (IL)* | 5 | 7 | 6 | 43% | 46% | $44,126 | 62% | $9,638 |
| 35 | Jacksonville University (FL) | 5 | 9 | 6 | 37% | 45% | $66,546 | 59% | $35,260 |
| 36 | Michigan State University (MI)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 3% | 56% | $82,825 | 64% | $15,375 |
| 37 | University of Michigan–Ann Arbor (MI)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 2% | 76% | $78,773 | 67% | $15,761 |
| 38 | Linfield College (OR) | 5 | 8 | 4 | 3% | 100% | $64,790 | 79% | $41,646 |
| 39 | SUNY Binghamton (NY)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 3% | 76% | $56,443 | 64% | $9,523 |
| 40 | Metropolitan State University (MN)* | 4 | 9 | 3 | 67% | 56% | $51,106 | 62% | $7,859 |
| 41 | Washington State University (WA)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 16% | 56% | $54,222 | 71% | $11,391 |
| 42 | University of Wisconsin–Madison (WI)* | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5% | 65% | $77,552 | 74% | $10,533 |
| 43 | University of Virginia (VA)* | 3 | 7 | 5 | 5% | 76% | $87,142 | 75% | $16,155 |
| 44 | University of North Dakota (ND)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 17% | 23% | $66,109 | 67% | $8,447 |
| 45 | Regis University (CO) | 5 | 9 | 5 | 48% | 46% | $62,497 | 62% | $35,610 |
| 46 | MidAmerica Nazarene University (KS) | 4 | 9 | 5 | 29% | 74% | $60,836 | 65% | $29,670 |
| 47 | Penn State–Harrisburg (PA)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 14% | 66% | $54,925 | 56% | $15,190 |
| 48 | California State University–Fullerton (CA)* | 5 | 5 | 6 | 19% | 64% | $53,079 | 69% | $6,850 |
| 49 | Framingham State University (MA)* | 5 | 8 | 5 | 17% | 50% | $54,011 | 70% | $9,920 |
| 50 | George Fox University (OR) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 13% | 85% | $60,080 | 67% | $35,016 |
| 51 | Rivier University (NH) | 5 | 7 | 6 | 39% | 55% | $55,750 | 66% | $31,050 |
| 52 | University of Southern Maine (ME)* | 5 | 9 | 5 | 30% | 38% | $46,254 | 66% | $8,638 |
| 53 | Westfield State University (MA)* | 5 | 9 | 5 | 12% | 61% | $45,723 | 64% | $9,715 |
| 54 | Siena Heights University (MI) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 45% | 73% | $49,575 | 54% | $25,932 |
| 55 | Park University (MO) | 4 | 9 | 5 | 71% | 19% | $52,344 | 58% | $8,632 |
| 56 | Cornell University (NY) | 3 | 7 | 5 | 1% | 67% | $145,072 | 75% | $52,853 |
| 57 | CA State University–Sacramento (CA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 23% | 56% | $54,436 | 66% | $7,204 |
| 58 | Indiana University–Bloomington (IN)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 2% | 63% | $58,552 | 56% | $10,533 |
| 59 | Western Illinois University (IL)* | 5 | 9 | 6 | 15% | 53% | $44,489 | 59% | $12,664 |
| 60 | SUNY College of Envir. Science & Forestry (NY)* | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7% | 83% | $47,986 | 69% | $8,543 |
| 61 | University of Washington–Tacoma (WA)* | 3 | 8 | 3 | 30% | 66% | $78,628 | 76% | $11,046 |
| 62 | Duquesne University (PA) | 4 | 9 | 6 | 4% | 72% | $72,828 | 65% | $36,394 |
| 63 | University of Texas–Arlington (TX)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 47% | 49% | $54,652 | 60% | $9,952 |
| 64 | Bellevue University (NE) | 5 | 8 | 2 | 79% | 29% | $63,166 | 62% | $7,752 |
| 65 | Tufts University (MA) | 3 | 7 | 5 | 1% | 83% | $126,137 | 72% | $54,318 |
| 66 | University of Mary (ND) | 5 | 6 | 5 | 16% | 71% | $55,721 | 72% | $18,150 |
| 67 | Northern Vermont University (VT)* | 5 | 9 | 5 | 34% | 54% | $36,981 | 60% | $11,730 |
| 68 | Mount Mercy University (IA) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 34% | 58% | $50,796 | 69% | $30,582 |
| 69 | Florida Atlantic University (FL)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 25% | 58% | $49,590 | 57% | $4,831 |
| 70 | University of MD–College Park (MD)* | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6% | 55% | $66,051 | 70% | $10,399 |
| 71 | CUNY Baruch College (NY)* | 3 | 9 | 5 | 25% | 53% | $61,456 | 67% | $7,062 |
| 72 | Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)* | 5 | 7 | 6 | 14% | 61% | $57,645 | 56% | $13,256 |
| 73 | San Francisco State University (CA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 19% | 58% | $56,452 | 62% | $7,254 |
| 74 | University of CO–Colorado Springs (CO)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 25% | 36% | $49,806 | 64% | $8,314 |
| 75 | Western Washington University (WA)* | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8% | 63% | $46,518 | 67% | $7,933 |
| 76 | Colorado State University (CO)* | 5 | 7 | 6 | 9% | 52% | $53,326 | 65% | $11,395 |
| 77 | Molloy College (NY) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 22% | 57% | $68,345 | 63% | $30,310 |
| 78 | College of St. Scholastica (MN) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 30% | 65% | $56,891 | 66% | $36,212 |
| 79 | Governors State University (IL) | 4 | 9 | 5 | 53% | 59% | $44,331 | 48% | $11,746 |
| 80 | Nebraska Wesleyan University (NE) | 5 | 9 | 5 | 17% | 63% | $53,517 | 67% | $32,894 |
| 81 | Montana State University–Billings (MT)* | 5 | 9 | 6 | 40% | 26% | $37,141 | 55% | $5,833 |
| 82 | Utah Valley University (UT)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 26% | 25% | $54,018 | 64% | $5,652 |
| 83 | Fresno Pacific University (CA) | 5 | 9 | 5 | 55% | 51% | $47,603 | 53% | $30,508 |
| 84 | Central Washington University (WA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 19% | 59% | $51,884 | 64% | $7,903 |
| 85 | University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (WI)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 10% | 44% | $40,606 | 68% | $8,209 |
| 86 | Brown University (RI) | 4 | 6 | 5 | 1% | 100% | $110,407 | 63% | $53,419 |
| 87 | CA State University–Stanislaus (CA)* | 5 | 5 | 6 | 21% | 60% | $49,103 | 65% | $7,038 |
| 88 | Hawai'i Pacific University (HI) | 5 | 9 | 5 | 37% | 28% | $58,100 | 65% | $24,550 |
| 89 | Western Carolina University (NC)* | 5 | 8 | 5 | 18% | 64% | $43,135 | 58% | $6,897 |
| 90 | University of Kentucky (KY)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 7% | 44% | $55,240 | 62% | $11,942 |
| 91 | CUNY Lehman College (NY)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 45% | 43% | $49,434 | 52% | $7,010 |
| 92 | Stephens College (MO) | 5 | 7 | 4 | 19% | 100% | $51,900 | 64% | $30,344 |
| 93 | Cardinal Stritch University (WI) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 43% | 51% | $56,535 | 58% | $28,844 |
| 94 | University at Buffalo (NY)* | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7% | 50% | $73,315 | 57% | $9,828 |
| 95 | Utah State University (UT)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 19% | 36% | $53,196 | 75% | $7,175 |
| 96 | Silver Lake College of the Holy Family (WI) | 5 | 9 | 4 | 41% | 68% | $43,159 | 60% | $27,360 |
| 97 | Adelphi University (NY) | 5 | 8 | 6 | 12% | 57% | $68,657 | 62% | $37,170 |
| 98 | University of New Mexico–Main (NM)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 24% | 49% | $44,503 | 52% | $7,449 |
| 99 | University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (WI)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 21% | 34% | $50,750 | 60% | $9,565 |
| 100 | SUNY Empire State College (NY)* | 4 | 9 | 3 | 81% | 46% | $47,137 | 51% | $7,185 |