Top Highest ROI Colleges in USA: List of Best Schools Check Here!

Edited By Porishmita Paul | Updated on Sep 16, 2024 03:03 PM IST

USA has a large number of top colleges that offer high rates of ROI for international students. Some of the best college ROI universities in USA are Harvard University, MIT, Princeton University, Caltech, Yale University, Stanford University, etc. The average 20-year net ROI of these top universities in USA is around USD 1,026,200.

Top Highest ROI Colleges in USA: List of Best Schools Check Here!

Some popular programmes that offer the highest ROI in USA include MBA, Computer Science, Engineering, Law, Business Analytics, MS, Medicine, etc. The graduate employability rate of these US universities is higher than most top universities in the world as per the QS World University Rankings 2025. Students who are interested in studying in USA can read the complete article to learn more about the top US schools that offer the best return on investment.

Top 10 Highest ROI Colleges in USA

School Name Study in Ireland Want to study in Ireland? Explore Universities & Courses Apply	20-Year Net ROI
Stanford University	USD 1,056,000
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	USD 1,378,000
Princeton University	USD 1,049,000
Harvard University	USD 1,032,000
University of Pennsylvania	USD 969,000
Carnegie Mellon University	USD 938,000
Columbia University in the City of New York	USD 911,000
Yale University	USD 903,000
New Jersey Institute of Technology	USD 888,000
California Institute of Technology	USD 1,138,000

Stanford University

Stanford University is a private university in the USA ranked 6th in the QS World University Rankings 2025. The university offers multiple courses with high ROI rates for international students and has been recognised as one of the top 100 colleges with the best ROI for international students.

Location: Stanford, California
University Type: Private Research University
Top Courses: MBA, Computer Science, Engineering, Law, Business Analytics
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 4%
Graduate Employment Rate: Approximately 90%
Tuition Fees: Approximately USD 61,700 per year

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the top 100 universities in USA for international students. MIT has been recognised as one of the best ROI universities in USA. Some of the popular courses at MIT with high ROI are Engineering, Computer Science, Economics, Physics, Mathematics, etc.

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
University Type: Private Research University
Top Courses: Engineering, Computer Science, Economics, Physics, Mathematics
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 4%
Graduate Employment Rate: Approximately 95%
Tuition Fees: Approximately USD 85,960 per year (undergraduate)

Princeton University

Princeton University is considered one of the top college return on investment for international students in USA. The 20-year net ROI of Princeton University is around USD 1,049,000.

Location: Princeton, New Jersey
University Type: Private Ivy League Research University
Top Courses: Public Policy, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, History
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 4%
Graduate Employment Rate: Approximately 87%
Tuition Fees: Approximately USD 62,400 per year

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge. Harvard University acceptance rate is approximately 3-4% for international students. Some of the popular courses at Harvard with high ROI are MBA, Law, Medicine, Economics, Computer Science, etc.

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
University Type: Private Ivy League Research University
Top Courses: MBA, Law, Medicine, Economics, Computer Science
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 3-4%
Graduate Employment Rate: Approximately 95%
Tuition Fees: Approximately USD 54,200 per year

University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)

The University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university. University of Pennsylvania acceptance rate is under 6% for international students. Some of the popular courses at the University of Pennsylvania with high ROI are MBA (Wharton), Law, Medicine, Computer Science, Finance, etc.

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
University Type: Private Ivy League Research University
Top Courses: MBA (Wharton), Law, Medicine, Computer Science, Finance
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 6%
Graduate Employment Rate: Approximately 93%
Tuition Fees: Approximately USD 60,000 per year

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)

CMU is a private research university located in Indiana, United States of America. The average graduate employment rate at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is approximately 93% for international students. Some of the popular courses at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) are Computer Science, Engineering, Robotics, Business, Information Systems, etc.

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
University Type: Private Research University
Top Courses: Computer Science, Engineering, Robotics, Business, Information Systems
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 14%
Graduate Employment Rate: Approximately 93%
Tuition Fees: Approximately Rs. 55 lakhs per year

Columbia University in the City of New York

Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university situated in New York. Columbia University's acceptance rate is only 4%, which makes it extremely competitive for international students. The 20-year net ROI of Columbia University is around USD 911,000.

Location: New York, New York
University Type: Private Ivy League Research University
Top Courses: MBA, Law, Journalism, Computer Science, Economics
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 4%
Graduate Employment Rate: Approximately 94%
Tuition Fees: Approximately USD 65,000 per year

Yale University

Yale University is a private research university and has been ranked 23rd in the QS World University Rankings 2025. Yale University acceptance rate is approximately 4.5% for the year 2024-2025. Some of the popular courses at Yale University are Political Science, Economics, Business, History, etc.

Location: New Haven, Connecticut
University Type: Private Ivy League Research University
Top Courses: Law, Political Science, Economics, Business, History
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 4-5%
Graduate Employment Rate: Approximately 92%
Tuition Fees: Approximately USD 64,700 per year

New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)

New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is recognised among the top 100 colleges with the best ROI in ISA. It is a public research university and its acceptance rate is approximately 65% - 70% for international students.

Location: Newark, New Jersey
University Type: Public Research University
Top Courses: Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture, Business, Information Technology
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 65% - 70%
Graduate Employment Rate: Approximately 87%
Tuition Fees: Approximately USD 48,000 per year

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) was established in 1891 and was located in California. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) acceptance rate is approximately 4%. Some of the popular courses at the California Institute of Technology are Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, etc.

Location: Pasadena, California
University Type: Private Research University
Top Courses: Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Chemistry, Earth Sciences
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 4%
Graduate Employment Rate: Approximately 90%
Tuition Fees: Approximately USD 60,864 per year

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the best school for return on investment?

The best colleges for return on investment (ROI) often provide excellent job opportunities at relatively cheap tuition prices. In the United States, institutions such as Stanford University, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) frequently rank high in ROI due to high graduation earnings. Public universities, such as the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley, provide great ROI because of affordable tuition and strong employment prospects.

2. Which degree has the highest return on investment?

Degrees in fields like Computer Science, Engineering (especially Software, Electrical, and Mechanical), Data Science, and Business Administration (MBA) generally offer the highest return on investment (ROI). These fields are in high demand, leading to strong job prospects and competitive salaries.

3. What university has the highest ROI?

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) consistently ranks at the top due to its strong engineering, technology, and business programmes. Additionally, institutions such as Stanford University, Harvard University, etc rank high in ROI due to high graduation earnings.

4. Which MBA has highest ROI?

The MBA programmes with the highest ROI are typically offered by top-tier business schools like Stanford, Harvard, and Wharton. Graduates from these programs often secure high-paying jobs in consulting, finance, and tech. Other MBA programmes with strong ROI include INSEAD, London Business School, and MIT Sloan.

5. What is the ROI of Stanford University?

The ROI of Stanford University is USD 1,056,000 for a 20-year net ROI.