2020 Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: South

Below are our rankings of America’s Best Bang for the Buck Colleges—our exclusive list of schools ranked according to how well they help non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices. The list is created by isolating the social mobility metrics from the main rankings of four-year institutions. Click here for detailed methodology, here for all of our other rankings, and here to download the full data set.

Rank	Name	8-year graduation rate	Pell/non-Pell grad rate gap	Number of Pell graduates	First-gen students	Median earnings 10 years after entering college	Predicted median earnings 10 yrs after entering college	Net price of attendance for families below $75,000 income	% repaying $1 in loan principal 5 yrs after leaving coll.
1	Berea College (KY)	65%	-27%	233	39%	33666	26938	2149	69%
2	Texas A&M University–College Station (TX)*	81%	-6%	1463	30%	56961	54320	13156	85%
3	Univ. of Texas–Rio Grande Valley (TX)*	50%	-4%	904	54%	41415	39699	3298	58%
4	Texas A&M University–Texarkana (TX)*	63%	-6%	27	47%	36008	34158	9678	59%
5	Rust College (MS)	24%	40%	86	46%	23719	26531	9900	27%
6	Texas A&M International Univ. (TX)*	51%	-1%	296	49%	45192	42948	4769	57%
7	King University (TN)	72%	-12%	36	51%	42179	39388	18982	70%
8	Vanderbilt University (TN)	93%	-4%	197	12%	66055	65119	6363	89%
9	Tougaloo College (MS)	46%	-1%	67	29%	27298	24163	12305	41%
10	Southern Nazarene University (OK)	40%	16%	61	37%	47547	43784	14704	70%
11	University of Houston–Victoria (TX)*	61%	-3%	23	46%	40590	41922	8960	62%
12	Tennessee Wesleyan University (TN)	54%	-16%	32	44%	38249	33217	8382	67%
13	Southeastern OK State Univ. (OK)*	37%	-10%	83	46%	35496	32142	7403	57%
14	University of Texas–El Paso (TX)*	50%	-8%	684	41%	40165	36646	6989	57%
15	Trinity University (TX)	81%	-10%	80	18%	55655	54816	14639	92%
16	Univ. of Houston–Downtown (TX)*	42%	3%	149	52%	44341	43384	7448	51%
17	University of Texas–Arlington (TX)*	55%	0%	574	43%	48084	51234	11476	64%
18	Sam Houston State University (TX)*	59%	-10%	432	42%	43654	39876	11250	65%
19	University of Holy Cross (LA)	34%	12%	7	47%	40585	41017	13124	67%
20	John Brown University (AR)	69%	-15%	67	29%	47225	44250	18313	79%
21	Oklahoma Baptist University (OK)	59%	-16%	87	26%	38812	34127	15596	75%
22	Northeastern State University (OK)*	41%	-15%	137	42%	36045	34128	7946	56%
23	Alcorn State University (MS)*	42%	4%	173	33%	31179	29426	14776	33%
24	Wiley College (TX) ^^	33%	0%	30	45%	26823	20641	14545	31%
25	University of North Texas (TX)*	61%	-6%	872	35%	44442	46176	10536	65%
26	Dillard University (LA)	40%	-8%	110	36%	34366	31633	17262	52%
27	Tarleton State University (TX)*	52%	-6%	268	43%	42439	39735	15426	65%
28	Southwestern Christian University (OK) ^^	44%	2%	15	45%	28454	33965	10344	54%
29	Univ. of Texas–Permian Basin (TX)*	47%	-2%	53	46%	45288	46631	8333	64%
30	Bryan College (TN)	55%	-8%	42	38%	37569	40235	13852	76%
31	University of Tennessee–Martin (TN)*	50%	-16%	279	41%	36354	35423	8877	60%
32	Randall University (OK)	38%	5%	5	43%	35754	29643	15620	56%
33	Alice Lloyd College (KY)	39%	0%	46	46%	32864	31262	12405	58%
34	Maryville College (TN)	54%	-7%	75	33%	37657	40174	16240	76%
35	East Central University (OK)*	40%	-14%	79	46%	36206	32993	7595	53%
36	Midwestern State University (TX)*	50%	-10%	95	38%	40531	39117	8262	64%
37	Rice University (TX)	92%	-4%	152	14%	66106	73647	8023	91%
38	Texas Woman's University (TX)*	53%	-18%	216	41%	45379	38773	7637	64%
39	LA State University–Baton Rouge (LA)*	68%	-15%	624	27%	48823	45838	11988	77%
40	Grambling State University (LA)*	49%	-6%	200	41%	28769	30272	18082	41%
41	William Carey University (MS)	66%	-7%	59	36%	35440	37791	18709	57%
42	Mid-America Christian University (OK)	43%	2%	16	50%	39365	38625	16297	51%
43	LeTourneau University (TX)	54%	-3%	56	34%	49092	45252	19456	65%
44	Mississippi Valley State Univ. (MS)*	49%	4%	88	42%	23316	30591	14311	37%
45	Louisiana College (LA)	42%	-16%	36	37%	41644	36601	13198	68%
46	Brescia University (KY)	34%	-19%	20	45%	39132	32429	11342	62%
47	University of Texas–Austin (TX)*	80%	-11%	1500	26%	56510	61791	13134	82%
48	University of Texas–Tyler (TX)*	52%	0%	93	39%	43800	48988	10546	66%
49	Nicholls State University (LA)*	46%	-19%	130	47%	36920	39319	10176	71%
50	Sul Ross State University (TX)*	36%	0%	43	47%	38332	34261	13589	49%
51	Wayland Baptist University (TX)	46%	-11%	32	46%	41390	39696	17424	57%
52	Oklahoma Panhandle State Univ. (OK)*	37%	5%	14	42%	36448	39842	10222	57%
53	University of Oklahoma–Norman (OK)*	65%	-16%	536	29%	49844	46229	16243	75%
54	University of Arkansas–Pine Bluff (AR)*	29%	-13%	129	39%	27609	28351	8802	35%
55	Howard Payne University (TX)	44%	7%	65	38%	37019	37161	19363	60%
56	Northwestern State Univ. of LA (LA)*	42%	-10%	191	42%	34619	37677	10960	61%
57	Centre College (KY)	85%	4%	51	N/A	45229	49565	17452	86%
58	Southeastern Louisiana Univ. (LA)*	42%	-15%	284	41%	36751	38839	10867	69%
59	Texas Tech University (TX)*	62%	-11%	580	31%	50426	47189	13401	74%
60	Blue Mountain College (MS)	56%	-22%	17	37%	30862	31579	10382	60%
61	West Texas A&M University (TX)*	51%	-13%	177	40%	41888	41054	10697	65%
62	University of Texas–San Antonio (TX)*	45%	-1%	758	39%	45059	45691	10913	62%
63	Tusculum College (TN)	48%	-15%	55	45%	38567	37012	15531	58%
64	Oklahoma State University–Main (OK)*	62%	-18%	524	29%	45804	45179	11001	72%
65	LeMoyne-Owen College (TN)	23%	-14%	16	47%	27795	22273	9200	20%
66	Thomas More College (KY)	50%	-11%	41	38%	48113	44224	16433	68%
67	Northwestern OK State Univ. (OK)*	35%	-10%	39	42%	36555	36106	7494	64%
68	Texas Lutheran University (TX)	49%	-12%	72	36%	45505	42819	17105	71%
69	Milligan University (TN)	64%	-12%	38	N/A	N/A	41706	17918	72%
70	Bethel University (TN)	43%	-6%	91	53%	38419	38605	14502	43%
71	Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK)	43%	-20%	20	43%	49705	40128	24014	68%
72	University of the Ozarks (AR)	44%	-14%	32	36%	37196	34370	14160	66%
73	St. Edward's University (TX)	64%	-8%	170	31%	46454	47281	18853	70%
74	Arkansas Tech University (AR)*	45%	-20%	244	45%	34348	32319	11330	55%
75	Texas State Univ.–San Marcos (TX)*	62%	-11%	790	36%	45432	45687	12184	64%
76	University of St. Thomas (TX)	57%	-5%	52	37%	49794	50210	16301	65%
77	Jarvis Christian College (TX)	23%	-3%	21	44%	25661	24626	14434	25%
78	Rogers State University (OK)*	25%	-11%	24	43%	33416	29363	12410	56%
79	University of Houston (TX)*	54%	-3%	807	40%	51183	55809	13682	67%
80	St. Mary's University (TX)	60%	-14%	183	41%	46837	49626	15782	67%
81	LA State University–Shreveport (LA)*	36%	-11%	35	40%	36121	37907	8441	60%
82	Jackson State University (MS)*	47%	-8%	256	32%	30055	31498	13741	39%
83	Middle Tennessee State University (TN)*	49%	-10%	639	36%	37973	37981	10953	58%
84	East Texas Baptist University (TX)	43%	-8%	51	34%	39637	35424	18603	62%
85	University of Central Oklahoma (OK)*	43%	-11%	226	37%	39317	39427	12837	63%
86	Oral Roberts University (OK)	43%	-10%	77	30%	36613	35411	18606	67%
87	Southwestern University (TX)	74%	-8%	63	22%	51496	50722	20287	87%
88	University of Tennessee (TN)*	69%	-12%	805	25%	44510	49411	15397	74%
89	Cameron University (OK)*	24%	-10%	59	47%	34446	32666	8312	51%
90	University of the Cumberlands (KY)	52%	-2%	86	43%	33744	36696	17257	62%
91	University of Southern Mississippi (MS)*	53%	-22%	330	32%	36798	33835	12494	60%
92	Mississippi Univ. for Women (MS)*	57%	-28%	38	38%	34312	34278	10124	58%
93	Southern Univ. and A&M College (LA)*	36%	-23%	142	40%	34577	35906	14153	54%
94	Murray State University (KY)*	56%	-22%	242	35%	36789	38972	9654.366	66%
95	Lincoln Memorial University (TN)	53%	-9%	55	42%	37983	40510	14067.75	63%
96	Austin Peay State University (TN)*	40%	-16%	207	41%	35128	35300	11534.89	51%
97	Bellarmine University (KY)	66%	-7%	103	26%	47089	46914	21678.16	79%
98	Univ. of Arkansas–Fort Smith (AR)*	32%	-14%	115	49%	31416	35192	9090.144	51%
99	Ouachita Baptist University (AR)	63%	-19%	63	22%	39805	39749	16564.34	73%
100	Xavier University of Louisiana (LA)	43%	-15%	146	29%	49172	44881	16698.88	55%
101	Eastern Kentucky University (KY)*	47%	-21%	329	40%	35732	35823	10803.12	58%
102	Tennessee Technological Univ. (TN)*	57%	-14%	330	38%	39021	41217	13270.98	68%
103	Southwestern Adventist University (TX)	41%	-2%	31	33%	40594	38842	18631.07	59%
104	Texas A&M University–Commerce (TX)*	58%	-11%	144	43%	38725	39144	9813.118	50%
105	Schreiner University (TX)	48%	-8%	52	37%	39260	40030	16823.13	63%
106	Transylvania University (KY)	73%	-6%	63	18%	42694	43894	19787.5	82%
107	Asbury University (KY)	63%	-8%	67	25%	35261	37926	24629.46	79%
108	Prairie View A&M University (TX)*	42%	-14%	370	35%	35633	38221	10183.66	37%
109	Texas College (TX)	25%	11%	18	46%	24830	30918	16820.68	24%
110	Georgetown College (KY)	61%	-11%	50	31%	42162	42141	17061.4	77%
111	University of Texas–Dallas (TX)*	70%	-6%	302	31%	52370	64168	10976.28	71%
112	Trevecca Nazarene University (TN)	57%	-14%	44	37%	40571	44545	16480.04	70%
113	Sewanee–University of the South (TN)	79%	-4%	67	14%	43099	48418	16649.55	85%
114	Austin College (TX)	74%	-2%	68	24%	49122	54891	17170.96	79%
115	Stephen F. Austin State Univ. (TX)*	48%	-11%	454	36%	41173	40023	9707.953	59%
116	McMurry University (TX)	40%	-11%	48	38%	39773	38005	20083.39	61%
117	University of Kentucky (KY)*	62%	-18%	559	25%	44235	42139	15141.53	70%
118	Southern Univ. at New Orleans (LA)*	27%	-14%	25	50%	29281	35175	8358.577	51%
119	McNeese State University (LA)*	45%	-18%	170	39%	38013	39868	10254.35	61%
120	Philander Smith College (AR)	42%	-36%	40	43%	24681	28773	15372.71	46%
121	Univ. of Science & Arts of Okla. (OK)*	45%	-24%	16	43%	32784	31525	6694.574	61%
122	Univ. of Arkansas—Monticello (AR)*	34%	-21%	54	49%	31795	29224	10362.8	44%
123	Lindsey Wilson College (KY)	45%	-7%	111	46%	28037	30353	15287.46	46%
124	Christian Brothers University (TN)	50%	-19%	63	35%	45630	47526	9180.393	59%
125	Cumberland University (TN)	58%	-10%	37	42%	39215	41995	19895.43	61%
126	Lane College (TN)	31%	-2%	93	47%	24983	27220	12645.73	16%
127	University of Central Arkansas (AR)*	46%	-19%	288	35%	38014	36872	13058.67	61%
128	Henderson State University (AR)*	38%	-10%	135	39%	35772	33916	15494.86	54%
129	University of Pikeville (KY)	54%	-14%	61	48%	29801	34065	16378.04	54%
130	Kentucky State University (KY)*	25%	-10%	55	40%	29173	29682	8126.341	30%
131	LA State Univ.–Alexandria (LA)*	28%	-17%	6	44%	33659	33541	7728.171	59%
132	Southwestern OK State Univ. (OK)*	38%	-13%	91	42%	39068	39601	10106.68	59%
133	Belhaven University (MS)	39%	-16%	37	39%	37376	36604	16268.5	55%
134	So. Arkansas Univ.–Campus (AR)*	40%	-17%	97	42%	35394	36365	11909.63	53%
135	Union University (TN)	65%	-6%	88	33%	42155	50213	22773.07	72%
136	University of the Incarnate Word (TX)	54%	-6%	214	45%	45664	46283	20025.71	56%
137	Rhodes College (TN)	80%	-9%	72	12%	52754	55582	18273.03	89%
138	Northern Kentucky University (KY)*	44%	-18%	229	39%	37335	39483	6615.174	61%
139	Our Lady of the Lake U.–San Antonio (TX)	47%	3%	75	45%	39170	41646	16758.92	49%
140	University of Louisville (KY)*	54%	-13%	382	31%	41034	43809	13814.08	67%
141	Delta State University (MS)*	41%	-17%	57	33%	34523	33658	11633.98	54%
142	Kentucky Wesleyan College (KY)	39%	-14%	27	37%	35937	37495	18066.7	65%
143	Angelo State University (TX)*	39%	-13%	195	41%	39609	42252	10166.52	61%
144	University of Louisiana–Monroe (LA)*	42%	-20%	195	38%	37748	40079	9469.1	62%
145	East Tennessee State University (TN)*	50%	-19%	322	38%	35573	36933	12258.67	59%
146	University of Louisiana at Lafayette (LA)*	52%	-20%	369	38%	39302	44377	10061.15	69%
147	Midway University (KY)	48%	-15%	14	47%	36374	35476	21128.52	55%
148	Martin Methodist College (TN)	36%	-12%	52	43%	31873	29740	19316.68	47%
149	Central Baptist College (AR)	37%	-13%	6	37%	34118	36848	15202.58	60%
150	University of Memphis (TN)*	49%	-17%	434	37%	37266	37067	12206.02	44%
151	Loyola University–New Orleans (LA)	62%	-15%	142	20%	46444	46225	18229.12	74%
152	Lee University (TN)	53%	-16%	142	33%	34377	37898	16357.12	65%
153	Carson-Newman College (TN)	51%	-13%	84	33%	36974	36357	16129.54	68%
154	Bacone College (OK) ^^	24%	-6%	11	45%	32615	26825	24209.98	40%
155	Paul Quinn College (TX)	11%	-19%	8	47%	27878	25547	9418.862	27%
156	University of Mississippi (MS)*	63%	-19%	436	23%	42301	44402	12034.52	67%
157	Univ. of Mary Hardin–Baylor (TX)	51%	-20%	91	32%	43214	41179	21156.44	68%
158	Morehead State University (KY)*	46%	-19%	250	43%	32462	35750	10740.08	50%
159	Hardin-Simmons University (TX)	53%	-23%	45	34%	41672	41506	18533.77	71%
160	Southern Methodist University (TX)	79%	-10%	138	17%	58717	60922	23611.33	80%
161	Concordia University–Texas (TX)	45%	-5%	30	37%	42625	46911	19861.69	63%
162	Oklahoma City University (OK)	64%	-8%	41	27%	41923	45550	22383.04	71%
163	Arkansas State Univ. (AR)*	46%	-16%	290	39%	32542	35707	11939.6	53%
164	Harding University (AR)	64%	-21%	146	21%	39981	40430	15777.18	76%
165	Louisiana Tech University (LA)*	50%	-17%	174	31%	41936	46843	8512.682	72%
166	Williams Baptist University (AR)	43%	-4%	30	33%	33152	36080	15654.78	64%
167	Univ. of Tennessee–Chattanooga (TN)*	47%	-10%	315	29%	37877	39654	11510.84	59%
168	Hendrix College (AR)	80%	-13%	48	17%	41131	48983	17250.04	79%
169	Tennessee State University (TN)*	41%	-25%	225	38%	35537	35160	10226.5	37%
170	Huston-Tillotson University (TX)	30%	-13%	27	44%	31763	31735	16653.22	33%
171	Texas Christian University (TX)	75%	-9%	151	19%	51965	54194	25381.15	84%
172	Belmont University (TN)	71%	-8%	121	16%	43867	46516	28231.78	82%
173	Crowley's Ridge College (AR)	28%	2%	10	N/A	29215	30570	14102.54	43%
174	Abilene Christian University (TX)	61%	-16%	117	26%	42399	44377	23901.4	74%
175	Western Kentucky University (KY)*	48%	-21%	362	37%	34820	35762	12042.18	54%
176	University of Arkansas (AR)*	63%	-20%	488	27%	44723	48817	13494.12	70%
177	Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi (TX)*	47%	-8%	236	40%	42914	44626	15395.5	61%
178	Kentucky Christian University (KY)	31%	-7%	29	34%	32233	37528	17700.12	63%
179	Lamar University (TX)*	39%	-17%	194	42%	40308	39607	11363.8	49%
180	Campbellsville University (KY)	39%	-25%	81	45%	33350	33190	16453.77	55%
181	University of New Orleans (LA)*	40%	-11%	126	40%	38744	47344	9830.48	65%
182	Mississippi State University (MS)*	62%	-24%	413	24%	41056	44870	14868.41	69%
183	Langston University (OK)*	24%	-13%	17	40%	28295	30109	13196.49	32%
184	Texas Wesleyan University (TX)	51%	-5%	28	47%	42652	42149	24406.02	51%
185	University of Dallas (TX)	68%	-20%	47	16%	46519	50675	18391.78	80%
186	Texas A&M University–Kingsville (TX)*	44%	-14%	226	47%	41303	47145	11860.93	52%
187	Lubbock Christian University (TX)	51%	-19%	42	36%	40823	44502	20710.42	67%
188	Freed-Hardeman University (TN)	55%	-22%	56	20%	37271	41434	15636.63	70%
189	Southern Adventist University (TN)	61%	-12%	76	19%	38357	44311	19810.96	71%
190	Dallas Baptist University (TX)	59%	-9%	53	32%	43604	44364	23008.41	62%
191	Tulane University (LA)	69%	-7%	133	20%	58085	64129	20421.58	75%
192	Union College (KY)	34%	-20%	26	42%	32305	31955	17499.68	51%
193	Oklahoma Christian University (OK)	50%	-16%	51	18%	38186	45011	15491.05	75%
194	Lyon College (AR)	43%	-10%	32	33%	40070	44725	14558.93	64%
195	Houston Baptist University (TX)	39%	-16%	93	37%	46424	45946	19555.96	56%
196	Millsaps College (MS)	67%	-12%	29	17%	47644	51456	19084.19	73%
197	Welch College (TN)	35%	-16%	11	N/A	30231	34763	19928.32	53%
198	Southwestern Assemb. of God U. (TX)	41%	-21%	43	37%	34151	36441	24172.23	57%
199	Baylor University (TX)	72%	-11%	424	19%	50770	58112	27611.98	78%
200	Centenary College of Louisiana (LA)	50%	-22%	31	24%	44227	41879	22050.02	70%
201	Spalding University (KY)	46%	-22%	29	38%	44404	43598	20701.86	54%
202	Lipscomb University (TN)	59%	-19%	89	23%	41157	48815	21631.69	75%
203	Texas Southern University (TX)*	25%	-9%	180	40%	31417	36711	19521.22	31%
204	University of Arkansas at Little Rock (AR)*	37%	-36%	78	40%	34819	41287	12451.15	54%
205	University of Tulsa (OK)	70%	-21%	61	22%	46674	61562	19913.94	77%
206	Mississippi College (MS)	54%	-22%	73	24%	38907	45037	15412.81	61%
207	Fisk University (TN)	39%	-21%	40	28%	34265	36942	28168.46	41%

Definitions:

Median earnings: median annual earnings 10 years after entering college.

Pell/non-Pell graduation gap: graduation rate for Pell students minus the graduation rate for non-Pell students; a positive number indicates that students who receive Pell grants graduate at a higher rate than those who don’t, and vice versa.

First-gen students: percent of students who are the first in their family to go to college.

Predicted median earnings: expected median annual earnings based on student demographic data, adjusted for institutions’ location and academic mission.

Net price: actual cost of attendance for first-time, full-time, in-state students with family incomes below $75,000 per year over the last three years.

2020 Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: South

Definitions:

Median earnings: median annual earnings 10 years after entering college.

Pell/non-Pell graduation gap: graduation rate for Pell students minus the graduation rate for non-Pell students; a positive number indicates that students who receive Pell grants graduate at a higher rate than those who don’t, and vice versa.

First-gen students: percent of students who are the first in their family to go to college.

Predicted median earnings: expected median annual earnings based on student demographic data, adjusted for institutions’ location and academic mission.

Net price: actual cost of attendance for first-time, full-time, in-state students with family incomes below $75,000 per year over the last three years.

Loan repayment rate: percent of students who pay back at least $1 in loan principal within 5 years of leaving college.

* = public
° = for-profit

Definitions:

Median earnings: median annual earnings 10 years after entering college.

Pell/non-Pell graduation gap: graduation rate for Pell students minus the graduation rate for non-Pell students; a positive number indicates that students who receive Pell grants graduate at a higher rate than those who don’t, and vice versa.

First-gen students: percent of students who are the first in their family to go to college.

Predicted median earnings: expected median annual earnings based on student demographic data, adjusted for institutions’ location and academic mission.

Net price: actual cost of attendance for first-time, full-time, in-state students with family incomes below $75,000 per year over the last three years.

Loan repayment rate: percent of students who pay back at least $1 in loan principal within 5 years of leaving college.

* = public ° = for-profit

* = public
° = for-profit