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.

RankName8-year graduation ratePell/non-Pell grad rate gapNumber of Pell graduatesActual vs. predicted Pell enrollmentMedian earnings 9 yrs. after entering collegeEarnings performance rankNet price of attendance for families <$75,000 incomeNet price rank
1Berea College (KY)67%-19%26341%36974436471
2Univ. of TX–Rio Grande Valley (TX)*57%-5%209820%427452946376
3University of North TX–Dallas (TX)*54%3%22710%N/A39726913
4Mississippi Univ. for Women (MS)*66%3%3115%38314731126249
5Texas A&M International Univ. (TX)*54%-2%69317%4169510038532
6Univ. of Houston–Downtown (TX)*47%5%12039%46788561278175
7University of the Cumberlands (KY)61%0%6408%36766161238082
8Vanderbilt University (TN)94%-4%2247%7574727674516
9Texas A&M–San Antonio (TX)*65%-10%5246%N/A35946826
10Sam Houston State University (TX)*61%-5%14001%4722821225680
11Le Moyne-Owen College (TN)27%1%8122%2927015921219
12Texas A&M–Texarkana (TX)*53%-9%15912%3866111991730
13Univ. of Houston–Clear Lake (TX)*66%-8%5094%5226791299595
14Northeastern State University (OK)*45%-13%5928%3934320869224
15University of North Texas (TX)*60%-3%23191%49310451074357
16University of Texas–Arlington (TX)*58%-2%22353%534123013577105
17Rust College (MS)37%2%1605%2785216985869
18Jackson State University (MS)*45%-3%70319%334053415858137
19King University (TN)71%-15%3997%49723121202189
20University of Houston–Victoria (TX)*47%1%205-4%4695919864923
21University of Texas–San Antonio (TX)*53%-2%190910%4925783883332
22University of Texas–El Paso (TX)*49%-8%187314%4279340915836
23Midwestern State University (TX)*53%-11%336-3%479223845720
24Wiley University (TX)39%-17%26412%28372311147444
25Rice University (TX)94%-2%1457%7541819950698
26Christian Brothers University (TN)56%2%1035%484701121198563
27Paul Quinn College (TX)27%8%2621%26672136875815
28Texas A&M–College Station (TX)*83%-11%2278-3%618519013846110
29Texas Woman's University (TX)*58%-11%8850%488827894833
30Kentucky State University (KY)*34%1%132-12%3189079814812
31East Central University (OK)*43%-3%2372%3909968855421
32Univ. of Texas–Permian Basin (TX)*51%-1%281-10%4872776675810
33University of AR–Pine Bluff (AR)*39%-15%2266%31543571054729
34University of Houston (TX)*62%-2%253014%543571951150472
35West Texas A&M University (TX)*54%-10%60713%440065215808125
36Texas State Univ.–San Marcos (TX)*62%-10%2239-2%49026331254985
37Southeastern OK State Univ. (OK)*41%-14%2631%3998621692211
38Texas College (TX)21%13%697%31110701386187
39Northwestern OK State Univ. (OK)*33%5%1060%3855547873625
40University of Texas–Tyler (TX)*55%-7%4263%4997838934638
41Philander Smith College (AR)39%-10%5212%311931415296119
42Milligan University (TN)66%4%642%4274617416962142
43Prairie View A&M University (TX)*46%-12%63312%37640181318699
44Grambling State University (LA)*40%-14%40420%329442315986129
45St. Edward's University (TX)63%2%30010%5019512119816179
46Tennessee Wesleyan University (TN)54%-11%975%39754891090435
47Parker University (TX)67%0%1623%3999121019917180
48Johnson University (TN)59%-1%747%3558015216798140
49Mid-America Christian Univ. (OK)37%-7%1978%41542617566153
50John Brown University (AR)69%-10%1591%470176917179145
51Stephen F. Austin State Univ. (TX)*55%-11%8121%425851071150754
52Austin Peay State University (TN)*44%-11%66413%37769981388694
53Texas A&M–Commerce (TX)*54%-7%782-1%43173491151273
54Crowley's Ridge College (AR)35%11%112%3356810314814109
55University of Memphis (TN)*53%-16%11637%41162241230481
56Tougaloo College (MS)42%-5%846%30521861256960
57Huston-Tillotson University (TX)37%-4%956%360754115044112
58Mississippi Valley State Univ. (MS)*38%-1%2173%271381791029337
59University of St. Thomas (TX)63%3%1199%5139618416656150
60Jarvis Christian College (TX)25%-7%5012%28557611127041
61Lindsey Wilson College (KY)50%-13%28614%336699514439104
62Langston University (OK)*33%-5%22112%295041291134850
63Welch College (TN)47%24%20-9%3342419717797159
64Sul Ross State University (TX)*39%-3%2078%377101131176056
65Northwestern State Univ. of LA (LA)*44%-11%499-5%40343361384692
66LA State Univ.–Alexandria (LA)*34%-6%125-14%3596513562894
67Centre College (KY)83%-9%472%543239714366100
68Tarleton State University (TX)*59%-7%882-6%460781717441161
69University of Pikeville (KY)55%-15%4164%389795513342103
70Sewanee–Univ. of the South (TN)81%-1%76-4%5261110517480160
71LA State Univ.–Shreveport (LA)*37%-8%1422%3997475742114
72Alcorn State University (MS)*43%-17%25127%3096910215873127
73University of OK–Norman (OK)*66%-12%9132%546483217191158
74Texas Tech University (TX)*64%-9%1484-7%53986581309397
75OK State University–Main (OK)*64%-16%1106-2%4946192965342
76Southwestern Assemb. of God U. (TX)44%0%14212%3726512021190188
77Williams Baptist University (AR)42%-6%457%35515881377184
78University of Central Oklahoma (OK)*44%-7%732-2%4192510915367121
79University of Southern MS (MS)*52%-18%96216%37833711278490
80Texas Wesleyan University (TX)41%5%1350%461922618704175
81University of Texas–Austin (TX)*83%-9%21442%6247221114095115
82Univ. of Arkansas–Fort Smith (AR)*38%-16%340-4%35370207895717
83Tennessee State University (TN)*39%-7%5384%368181041147971
84Lane College (TN)29%-14%13719%27614651422196
85University of TN–Martin (TN)*51%-19%4596%37794139993431
86Rhodes College (TN)83%-5%64-2%5761713017066155
87University of the Ozarks (AR)51%-15%40-6%371561151246864
88Trinity University (TX)78%-2%74-4%587121911202946
89Alice Lloyd College (KY)40%-9%585%3336310814999111
90LA State Univ.–Baton Rouge (LA)*69%-16%954-4%522995015328131
91Lincoln Memorial University (TN)62%-16%1026%4040113214677122
92Louisiana College (LA)36%-8%461%442581014247102
93Southern Univ./A&M College (LA)*39%-7%4133%361917716707152
94Bryan College (TN)47%-13%44-8%45272281370889
95Murray State University (KY)*57%-18%5072%37915183961627
96Ecclesia College (AR)^^28%6%15-5%351676217076146
97St. Mary's University (TX)59%-4%2129%4948018517700156
98Union College (KY)36%-6%675%353198116034130
99Univ. of Science & Arts of Okla. (OK)*43%-14%55-5%365734667523
100University of Texas–Dallas (TX)*70%-2%116316%579532171253683
101Southern Nazarene University (OK)55%-19%626%475723718295164
102Southeastern Louisiana Univ. (LA)*42%-14%526-5%40374911145653
103LeTourneau University (TX)52%-7%187-5%520138020874186
104Cameron University (OK)*25%-11%1634%3503172805318
105Texas A&M–Kingsville (TX)*51%-10%5319%442891761033051
106Eastern Kentucky University (KY)*49%-16%8561%39017431104965
107Texas Southern University (TX)*33%-9%51616%331618517958170
108McNeese State University (LA)*48%-14%298-9%40642128861922
109Morehead State University (KY)*48%-19%528-5%36547141965828
110Middle Tennessee State Univ. (TN)*50%-14%13363%416081331079558
111Arkansas Tech University (AR)*48%-18%538-1%361391641184459
112Cumberland University (TN)62%-19%990%476381322735197
113University of Tennessee (TN)*71%-16%12497%5043917714091114
114University of Kentucky (KY)*65%-18%9530%49981821316998
115Delta State University (MS)*45%-13%231-3%352081161285977
116Houston Baptist University (TX)46%-10%17817%4668812617703157
117Tusculum College (TN)38%-10%848%390307815539123
118Lamar University (TX)*42%-14%500-3%42244251095662
119University of Mississippi (MS)*66%-18%10100%44393167984545
120Carson-Newman College (TN)55%-12%1429%3993011915972139
121University of LA–Monroe (LA)*51%-15%367-4%40021931016647
122Texas Lutheran University (TX)56%-18%802%463428418208166
123Transylvania University (KY)72%-9%533%4709211020416194
124Univ. of TN–Chattanooga (TN)*51%-10%6184%422581501108166
125Dillard University (LA)48%-24%14317%357135418118172
126Southwestern OK State Univ. (OK)*46%-15%224-1%406581661051640
127Belhaven University (MS)48%-5%2810%3991717516353144
128Rogers State University (OK)*26%-11%111-4%384401061223255
129Spalding University (KY)49%-11%107-1%424886021305190
130Arkansas State Univ. (AR)*54%-17%6841%355771571139968
131Wayland Baptist University (TX)40%-7%211-4%453604422247196
132East Tennessee State University (TN)*55%-18%7749%381851601141269
133Trevecca Nazarene University (TN)53%-7%132-3%429711781275888
134Bethel University (TN)36%-10%483-9%3980314014627108
135Midway University (KY)48%-10%6712%3726414920752185
136Tennessee Technological Univ. (TN)*59%-14%6598%418751931259986
137Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK)45%-12%78-6%50100524764208
138OK Panhandle State Univ. (OK)*31%-15%36-3%4007216273917
139University of Dallas (TX)68%-13%535%5047620014928113
140Southern Methodist University (TX)80%-5%2293%700289628958217
141Loyola University–New Orleans (LA)61%-8%1633%4355018017856168
142Nicholls State University (LA)*47%-20%2571%398231441123648
143McMurry University (TX)39%-11%7614%4156312218266167
144Blue Mountain Christian Univ. (MS)54%-22%51-7%3446417114377101
145University of TN–Southern (TN)*39%-15%865%3422111816786141
146Lee University (TN)56%-15%2493%3787919215970128
147North American University (TX)44%-23%213%N/A741243970
148Oklahoma Christian University (OK)56%-11%85-2%4171719415545124
149Thomas More University (KY)51%-24%58-6%50168816161132
150Xavier University of Louisiana (LA)52%-22%14417%4285914817387148
151Oklahoma Baptist University (OK)52%-14%113-4%4058112718618169
152Angelo State University (TX)*43%-12%338-14%431771511048539
153Northern Kentucky University (KY)*49%-20%570-7%4294113840575
154University of LA–Lafayette (LA)*54%-18%673-4%415531141158774
155University of Louisville (KY)*56%-15%787-3%4539613115384134
156Central Baptist College (AR)40%-19%490%393156417970163
157Belmont University (TN)72%-11%2380%4851214222613203
158Howard Payne University (TX)43%-15%69-14%427994819222177
159Southern Univ. at New Orleans (LA)*36%-13%158-3%3086217214601107
160University of Arkansas (AR)*66%-18%912-7%498011431293093
161Henderson State University (AR)*38%-16%2484%374078715868126
162So. Arkansas Univ.–Main (AR)*44%-14%2107%3634018714979116
163Freed-Hardeman University (TN)61%-21%72-2%3980418115182118
164Texas Christian University (TX)81%-7%255-6%5835013427986216
165Texas A&M–Corpus Christi (TX)*45%-4%5832%4467716517621165
166Oklahoma City University (OK)71%-10%87-5%4596818621243193
167Hendrix College (AR)68%-12%46-1%456172051330476
168Southwestern Christian Univ. (OK)28%-9%51-8%3589912317264151
169Oral Roberts University (OK)45%-15%1694%404516718920176
170Southwestern University (TX)73%-7%95-8%5182716821997207
171University of New Orleans (LA)*46%-9%355-4%409452021084561
172East Texas Baptist University (TX)41%-13%90-2%444615119807178
173Mississippi State University (MS)*63%-23%9893%4355817314172117
174William Carey University (MS)50%-12%248-4%367691701280191
175Univ. of the Incarnate Word (TX)53%-11%4922%4755915819954184
176Brescia University (KY)41%-14%64-11%367211451348279
177Asbury University (KY)60%-16%996%3596120320017181
178Hallmark University (TX)48%-9%329%340492181080234
179Austin College (TX)71%-6%751%5352021418426174
180Randall University (OK)^^38%-16%16-7%372111216336138
181University of AR–Little Rock (AR)*42%-14%472-1%3872316115397135
182Bellarmine University (KY)67%-18%127-4%521519420336187
183University of Tulsa (OK)71%-12%102-1%5443420622754204
184Kentucky Wesleyan College (KY)44%-16%562%3800015421410195
185Southwestern Adventist Univ. (TX)53%-39%81-2%422096617185147
186University of Central Arkansas (AR)*46%-19%5577%3920212514463120
187Centenary College of Louisiana (LA)58%-5%38-6%4339815621185199
188Hardin-Simmons University (TX)51%-20%902%473415318395173
189Our Lady of the Lake San Antonio (TX)47%-8%1667%4011818218038171
190Southern Adventist University (TN)62%-10%1243%4358521520522183
191Western Kentucky University (KY)*51%-21%796-3%375301551212778
192Harding University (AR)67%-18%227-13%4526414716849154
193Univ. of Arkansas—Monticello (AR)*36%-29%1123%309401371138252
194Univ. of Mary Hardin–Baylor (TX)51%-15%2253%472864227001213
195Campbellsville University (KY)40%-7%164-10%3494518821645191
196Schreiner University (TX)53%-11%82-2%4373819023046201
197Millsaps College (MS)67%-17%31-8%4993610121695205
198South University–Austin (TX)°27%11%23-5%2988321225446212
199Concordia University–Texas (TX)45%-9%124-6%5034814623109202
200Dallas Baptist University (TX)54%-18%122-10%478812224702210
201Lubbock Christian University (TX)55%-22%107-1%4534411122932200
202Maryville College (TN)53%-21%912%4255611717532162
203Union University (TN)63%-10%1543%4687519627675215
204Baylor University (TX)78%-10%574-5%5556119828987218
205Georgetown College (KY)52%-19%55-15%442061241285367
206Dallas Christian College (TX)26%-9%18-17%371869924036209
207Louisiana Tech University (LA)*55%-18%311-13%44678201966043
208Kentucky Christian University (KY)29%-10%27-15%3711416321072192
209Fisk University (TN)39%-19%6919%370215924975214
210Lipscomb University (TN)66%-14%138-1%4673221322345198
211Ouachita Baptist University (AR)62%-19%64-11%4365215918991182
212Lyon College (AR)50%-14%58-5%3894720916654143
213Abilene Christian University (TX)64%-20%180-9%4783815326142211
214South College (TN)38%-32%6412%3214618915586136
215Amer. InterContinental U.–Houston (TX)34%-41%3821%3122020416181133
216Mississippi College (MS)55%-21%166-9%4106820816652149
217University of Holy Cross (LA)35%-44%48-14%427146314526106
218Tulane University (LA)69%-8%178-12%5282921623130206
Definitions:
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.
* = public
° = for-profit
^^ Under heightened financial monitoring by the U.S. Department of Education