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 (4 pts) | Flexibility of programs (9 pts) | Services for adult students (6 pts) | % 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 Univ.-San Francisco (CA) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 89% | 39% | $76,855 | 66% | $15,120 |
| 2 | University of Utah (UT)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 27% | 66% | $66,381 | 77% | $8,518 |
| 3 | University of Iowa (IA)* | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8% | 66% | $76,785 | 62% | $8,575 |
| 4 | Bethel University (TN) | 5 | 9 | 5 | 58% | 75% | $45,451 | 41% | $10,505 |
| 5 | Bellevue University (NE) | 5 | 8 | 2 | 80% | 64% | $61,268 | 64% | $7,365 |
| 6 | George Mason University (VA)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 21% | 58% | $66,522 | 75% | $11,300 |
| 7 | Concordia Univ.-Saint Paul (MN) | 5 | 9 | 6 | 42% | 29% | $62,713 | 69% | $21,250 |
| 8 | Granite State College (NH)* | 4 | 9 | 5 | 79% | 55% | $35,850 | 60% | $7,425 |
| 9 | Curry College (MA) | 5 | 9 | 6 | 27% | 71% | $62,887 | 67% | $37,505 |
| 10 | Fort Hays State University (KS)* | 5 | 7 | 6 | 31% | 80% | $39,381 | 59% | $4,884 |
| 11 | Union Institute & University (OH) | 3 | 8 | 4 | 95% | 73% | $50,656 | 62% | $12,416 |
| 12 | Bethel University (MN) | 5 | 8 | 6 | 16% | 73% | $67,015 | 74% | $35,160 |
| 13 | Cornell University (NY) | 3 | 7 | 5 | 1% | 100% | $140,548 | 77% | $50,953 |
| 14 | Southern NH University (NH) | 5 | 9 | 5 | 74% | 55% | $46,701 | 59% | $31,136 |
| 15 | CA State Univ.-Dominguez Hills (CA)* | 5 | 9 | 5 | 38% | 53% | $49,560 | 55% | $6,423 |
| 16 | University of Baltimore (MD)* | 5 | 9 | 4 | 50% | 50% | $61,984 | 49% | $8,596 |
| 17 | University of Pennsylvania (PA) | 2 | 8 | 6 | 6% | 90% | $127,637 | 72% | $51,464 |
| 18 | Jacksonville University (FL) | 5 | 9 | 6 | 40% | 52% | $63,045 | 58% | $33,930 |
| 19 | University of MA-Amherst (MA)* | 5 | 9 | 6 | 8% | 64% | $51,432 | 65% | $14,971 |
| 20 | University of Oklahoma-Norman (OK)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 11% | 38% | $66,835 | 66% | $8,631 |
| 21 | Indiana Wesleyan University (IN) | 5 | 7 | 5 | 65% | 57% | $58,845 | 59% | $25,346 |
| 22 | City University of Seattle (WA) | 4 | 8 | 5 | 79% | 46% | $51,800 | 60% | $16,748 |
| 23 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (MN)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 10% | 62% | $63,030 | 67% | $14,142 |
| 24 | Indiana University-Bloomington (IN)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 2% | 76% | $53,362 | 59% | $10,388 |
| 25 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main (GA)* | 3 | 8 | 5 | 4% | 74% | $83,981 | 80% | $12,212 |
| 26 | Weber State University (UT)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 29% | 35% | $51,777 | 73% | $5,523 |
| 27 | University of WA Bothell (WA)* | 4 | 7 | 4 | 22% | 78% | $73,810 | 76% | $10,690 |
| 28 | CA State University-East Bay (CA)* | 5 | 6 | 6 | 33% | 50% | $56,190 | 64% | $6,564 |
| 29 | University of Wyoming (WY)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 21% | 53% | $52,317 | 72% | $4,311 |
| 30 | Univ. of MD Eastern Shore (MD)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 75% | 67% | $42,363 | 34% | $7,804 |
| 31 | University of Missouri-Kansas City (MO)* | 5 | 9 | 6 | 19% | 42% | $53,830 | 55% | $9,563 |
| 32 | Viterbo University (WI) | 5 | 9 | 5 | 26% | 70% | $52,113 | 65% | $26,150 |
| 33 | University of Texas-Austin (TX)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 4% | 64% | $69,581 | 72% | $10,092 |
| 34 | Southern IL University-Carbondale (IL)* | 5 | 9 | 6 | 19% | 47% | $54,912 | 53% | $13,073 |
| 35 | Michigan State University (MI)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 3% | 56% | $77,482 | 65% | $14,880 |
| 36 | Grand Canyon University (AZ) | 5 | 8 | 6 | 61% | 30% | $63,555 | 33% | $16,975 |
| 37 | Regis University (CO) | 5 | 9 | 5 | 52% | 45% | $60,503 | 63% | $34,450 |
| 38 | King University (TN) | 4 | 8 | 4 | 53% | 82% | $60,206 | 66% | $27,276 |
| 39 | Post University (CT)° | 5 | 8 | 5 | 75% | 38% | $49,375 | 43% | $15,258 |
| 40 | Keene State College (NH)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5% | 80% | $42,185 | 63% | $13,613 |
| 41 | University of New Mexico-Main (NM)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 24% | 58% | $42,787 | 55% | $8,050 |
| 42 | Notre Dame of MD University (MD) | 4 | 9 | 6 | 50% | 61% | $56,873 | 56% | $35,019 |
| 43 | Stony Brook University (NY)* | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8% | 59% | $64,974 | 63% | $8,999 |
| 44 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (MI)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 2% | 79% | $74,484 | 66% | $15,310 |
| 45 | CA State University-Long Beach (CA)* | 4 | 6 | 6 | 18% | 74% | $53,059 | 71% | $6,460 |
| 46 | Montana State Univ.-Billings (MT)* | 5 | 9 | 6 | 41% | 29% | $36,492 | 55% | $5,826 |
| 47 | Eastern Washington University (WA)* | 5 | 7 | 6 | 21% | 52% | $46,318 | 66% | $6,951 |
| 48 | Washington State University (WA)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 16% | 58% | $53,264 | 69% | $11,041 |
| 49 | Westfield State University (MA)* | 5 | 8 | 5 | 12% | 72% | $44,362 | 67% | $9,275 |
| 50 | MidAmerica Nazarene University (KS) | 4 | 9 | 5 | 31% | 73% | $58,197 | 66% | $28,150 |
| 51 | Florida Atlantic University (FL)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 27% | 58% | $48,548 | 55% | $4,831 |
| 52 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK) | 5 | 9 | 4 | 51% | 41% | $59,089 | 65% | $25,070 |
| 53 | Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth (MN)* | 3 | 9 | 6 | 5% | 48% | $82,395 | 63% | $13,139 |
| 54 | College of Saint Elizabeth (NJ) | 5 | 9 | 4 | 41% | 68% | $55,068 | 66% | $32,282 |
| 55 | Northeastern Illinois University (IL)* | 5 | 6 | 6 | 45% | 49% | $41,907 | 62% | $9,212 |
| 56 | Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)* | 5 | 7 | 6 | 14% | 60% | $55,952 | 56% | $13,130 |
| 57 | Penn State-Main (PA)* | 5 | 9 | 6 | 2% | 58% | $52,441 | 58% | $17,900 |
| 58 | University at Buffalo (NY)* | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8% | 51% | $70,230 | 58% | $9,574 |
| 59 | University of Northern Iowa (IA)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 9% | 59% | $44,834 | 58% | $8,303 |
| 60 | University of Redlands (CA) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 23% | 81% | $66,974 | 68% | $46,570 |
| 61 | College of Saint Scholastica (MN) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 31% | 72% | $54,194 | 68% | $35,326 |
| 62 | Park University (MO) | 4 | 9 | 5 | 76% | 9% | $51,106 | 60% | $12,130 |
| 63 | Colorado State Univ.-Fort Collins (CO)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 7% | 46% | $51,033 | 66% | $11,052 |
| 64 | SUNY-Binghamton (NY)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 3% | 72% | $52,815 | 62% | $9,271 |
| 65 | Misericordia University (PA) | 5 | 9 | 5 | 22% | 69% | $53,688 | 62% | $30,740 |
| 66 | University of Alabama (AL)* | 5 | 9 | 6 | 8% | 51% | $48,823 | 51% | $10,470 |
| 67 | Western Illinois University (IL)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 15% | 55% | $43,631 | 61% | $12,382 |
| 68 | Metropolitan State University (MN)* | 4 | 8 | 3 | 71% | 57% | $49,013 | 62% | $7,566 |
| 69 | University of Kentucky (KY)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 7% | 47% | $51,731 | 64% | $11,484 |
| 70 | George Fox University (OR) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 13% | 84% | $56,708 | 68% | $33,730 |
| 71 | Winona State University (MN)* | 5 | 7 | 6 | 11% | 55% | $46,425 | 67% | $9,075 |
| 72 | Columbia College (MO) | 5 | 8 | 4 | 76% | 31% | $43,231 | 50% | $7,887 |
| 73 | SUNY Empire State College (NY)* | 4 | 9 | 3 | 82% | 46% | $45,612 | 52% | $6,985 |
| 74 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)* | 5 | 8 | 6 | 22% | 34% | $48,911 | 61% | $9,493 |
| 75 | Silver Lake Coll. of the Holy Family (WI) | 5 | 9 | 4 | 52% | 60% | $44,082 | 62% | $26,340 |
| 76 | Hawaii Pacific University (HI) | 5 | 9 | 5 | 40% | 28% | $55,715 | 65% | $23,440 |
| 77 | University of Southern Maine (ME)* | 5 | 8 | 5 | 31% | 40% | $43,864 | 67% | $7,796 |
| 78 | University of North Dakota (ND)* | 5 | 7 | 6 | 17% | 20% | $64,721 | 66% | $8,137 |
| 79 | University of Washington-Seattle (WA)* | 3 | 7 | 5 | 9% | 73% | $73,810 | 76% | $10,753 |
| 80 | Fresno Pacific University (CA) | 5 | 9 | 5 | 49% | 52% | $45,881 | 56% | $29,370 |
| 81 | Utah Valley University (UT)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 30% | 28% | $52,789 | 66% | $5,530 |
| 82 | Adelphi University (NY) | 5 | 8 | 6 | 14% | 60% | $63,404 | 64% | $35,740 |
| 83 | Penn State-Harrisburg (PA)* | 5 | 7 | 6 | 16% | 57% | $52,441 | 58% | $14,828 |
| 84 | University of Virginia-Main (VA)* | 3 | 7 | 5 | 5% | 71% | $82,590 | 76% | $15,164 |
| 85 | SUNY Coll. of Envir. Science & Forestry (NY)* | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7% | 100% | $45,955 | 65% | $8,103 |
| 86 | Lewis University (IL) | 5 | 9 | 5 | 21% | 58% | $56,999 | 63% | $30,050 |
| 87 | Albertus Magnus College (CT) | 4 | 8 | 5 | 55% | 67% | $62,150 | 47% | $30,526 |
| 88 | CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College (NY)* | 3 | 9 | 5 | 23% | 54% | $58,871 | 68% | $6,810 |
| 89 | University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)* | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5% | 63% | $68,952 | 76% | $10,488 |
| 90 | College of William and Mary (VA)* | 3 | 7 | 6 | 1% | 83% | $66,456 | 76% | $18,687 |
| 91 | University of Colorado-Denver (CO)* | 4 | 6 | 5 | 23% | 37% | $84,193 | 66% | $9,088 |
| 92 | Penn State-Shenango (PA)* | 5 | 7 | 5 | 47% | 38% | $52,441 | 58% | $13,296 |
| 93 | Eastern Michigan University (MI)* | 5 | 9 | 6 | 23% | 40% | $42,314 | 49% | $11,209 |
| 94 | Midway University (KY) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 61% | 44% | $42,323 | 54% | $23,350 |
| 95 | CA State University-Stanislaus (CA)* | 5 | 5 | 6 | 21% | 59% | $47,401 | 66% | $6,728 |
| 96 | CA State Univ.-Monterey Bay (CA)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 18% | 40% | $48,304 | 71% | $6,379 |
| 97 | Southwestern College (KS) | 4 | 7 | 5 | 55% | 61% | $57,733 | 62% | $27,250 |
| 98 | Governors State University (IL)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 54% | 56% | $44,313 | 49% | $10,516 |
| 99 | California State Univ.-Fullerton (CA)* | 5 | 4 | 6 | 19% | 63% | $51,445 | 70% | $6,560 |
| 100 | Mount St. Mary's University (CA) | 5 | 8 | 4 | 26% | 70% | $68,739 | 69% | $37,722 |