College ROI Report
Updated 2024
Best-value Colleges for Business
A business major typically provides a high return on investment and prepares students for management and general business professions. Business majors typically study multiple aspects of business including accounting, marketing and finance.
| Rank | School Name | 20 Year Net ROI | Total 4 Year Cost | Graduation Rate | Typical Years to Graduate | Average Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank:1601 | School Name: Alcorn State University (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$-49,700 | Total 4 Year Cost:$94,600 | Graduation Rate:47% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$24,200 |
| Rank:1602 | School Name:Alcorn State University (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$-49,700 | Total 4 Year Cost:$94,600 | Graduation Rate:47% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$24,200 |
| Rank:1603 | School Name: Albany State University (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$-59,700 | Total 4 Year Cost:$127,000 | Graduation Rate:28% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$22,500 |
| Rank:1604 | School Name: Shaw University (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$-86,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$119,000 | Graduation Rate:14% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$22,900 |
| Rank:1605 | School Name:Stillman College (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$-178,700 | Total 4 Year Cost:$112,000 | Graduation Rate:25% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$24,600 |
| Rank:1606 | School Name:Mississippi Valley State University (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$-243,100 | Total 4 Year Cost:$83,500 | Graduation Rate:26% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$24,400 |
| Rank:1607 | School Name:Mississippi Valley State University (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$-243,100 | Total 4 Year Cost:$83,500 | Graduation Rate:26% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$24,400 |
Tom Cruise’s Joel Goodson might have had the right idea when he planned to major in business in the 1983 classic film Risky Business. (He also made a shrewd decision by choosing to attend New Jersey’s Princeton University, a highly ranked Ivy League school in our overall rankings.) Business accounts for up to one-third of all bachelor’s degrees granted in the United States, and business majors learn a versatile set of skills, making them some of the best-paid alumni in Payscale’s report. Business majors are popular and have the potential to prepare you for a high-paying career, but it’s very important that you select a college with a proven track record for providing business majors with a high return on their investment.
Unfortunately, not all business degrees are created equal. But Payscale’s College ROI Report shows business majors often get good value from their education if they attend the right school. This table shows you the best value colleges for business majors across the nation so you can make an educated guess as to where your educational dollars will be best invested. So without further ado, here are the top-ranked business schools in Payscale’s College ROI Report:
A business degree from this golden university is worth its weight in gold, literally. The University of California, Berkeley’s Golden give business students an enormous bang for their buck. This goes to show why Berkeley’s Haas School of Business has such a stellar reputation. If you’re considering pursuing a business degree from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, you’ll be joining the likes of Intel’s Paul Otellini, Gap Inc.’s Donald Fisher, and Levi Strauss & Co.’s father-son duo Walter A. Haas Sr. and Walter A. Haas Jr., along with a plethora of notable politicians and U.S. representatives.
Georgetown University always grabs a high spot on the College ROI Report for business majors. The Hoyas work hard, but they play hard, too. This university is famous for producing some of basketball’s best-ever big men, including perennial NBA all-stars Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutumbo, and legendary Hall-of-Famer Patrick Ewing.
Pursuing a business degree is not only versatile and applicable to nearly every industry, but, more importantly, it’s a wise investment that promises healthy returns after graduation, especially if you attend one of the best value colleges for business majors listed in Payscale’s College ROI Report. Consider coupling your business major with a minor that compliments your personal interests so that, after graduation, you are more equipped to pursue a career that suits your personality, or, better yet, turn your passions into a business of your own.
More rankings for best-value colleges:
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