These 20 colleges give you the biggest bang for your buck

Many of the schools specialize in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. Additionally, the majority of these schools are located by the coasts, 10 of the top 20 schools are public, and some repeat in the list due to in-state and out-of-state tuition price differences.

The list shows that the important factors in education return on investment are: major, location, and debt burden.

Here are the top value colleges according to Payscale:

20. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT) (Private)

20 year net ROI: $738,000

Total 4 year cost: $232,000

Graduation rate: 78%

Typical years to graduate: 4 years

AVG loan amount: $45,500

Source: Payscale

19. Kettering University (Private)

20 year net ROI: $743,000

Total 4 year cost: $208,000

Graduation rate: 57%

Typical years to graduate: 5 years

AVG loan amount: $41,700

Source: Payscale

18. Georgia Institute of Technology (Out-of-State)

20 year net ROI: $746,000

Total 4 year cost: $174,000

Graduation rate: 82%

Typical years to graduate: 5 years

AVG loan amount: $31,700

Source: Payscale

17. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) (Private)

20 year net ROI: $752,000

Total 4 year cost: $235,000

Graduation rate: 85%

Typical years to graduate: 4 years

AVG loan amount: $43,000

Source: Payscale

16. Stanford University (Private)

20 year net ROI: $761,000

Total 4 year cost: $247,000

Graduation rate: 95%

Typical years to graduate: 4 years

AVG loan amount: $29,100

Source: Payscale

15. Princeton University (Private)

20 year net ROI: $764,000

Total 4 year cost: $231,000

Graduation rate: 97%

Typical years to graduate: 4 years

AVG loan amount: $14,100

Source: Payscale

14. Massachusetts Maritime Academy (In-State)

20 year net ROI: $773,000

Total 4 year cost: $89,900

Graduation rate: 70%

Typical years to graduate: 4 years

AVG loan amount: $32,000

Source: Payscale

13. California State University, Maritime (CSUM) (Out-of-State)

20 year net ROI: $781,000

Total 4 year cost: $131,000

Graduation rate: 54%

Typical years to graduate: 4 years

AVG loan amount: $30,600

Source: Payscale

12. Stevens Institute of Technology (Private)

20 year net ROI: $800,000

Total 4 year cost: $244,000

Graduation rate: 82%

Typical years to graduate: 5 years

AVG loan amount: $45,800

Source: Payscale

11. Colorado School of Mines (Out-of-State)

20 year net ROI: $818,000

Total 4 year cost: $188,000

Graduation rate: 76%

Typical years to graduate: 5 years

AVG loan amount: $33,400

Source: Payscale

10. Georgia Institute of Technology (In-State)

20 year net ROI: $824,000

Total 4 year cost: $96,200

Graduation rate: 82%

Typical years to graduate: 5 years

AVG loan amount: $31,700

Source: Payscale

9. California State University, Maritime (CSUM) (In-State)

20 year net ROI: $826,000

Total 4 year cost: $87,500

Graduation rate: 54%

Typical years to graduate: 4 years

AVG loan amount: $30,600

Source: Payscale

8. Webb Institute (Private)

20 year net ROI: $854,000

Total 4 year cost: $209,000

Graduation rate: 91%

Typical years to graduate: 4 years

AVG loan amount: $25,200

Source: Payscale

7. SUNY - Maritime College (Out-of-State)

20 year net ROI: $857,000

Total 4 year cost: $130,000

Graduation rate: 47%

Typical years to graduate: 5 years

AVG loan amount: $32,000

Source: Payscale

6. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (Private)

20 year net ROI: $864,000

Total 4 year cost: $240,000

Graduation rate: 92%

Typical years to graduate: 4 years

AVG loan amount: $19,000

Source: Payscale

5. Colorado School of Mines (In-State)

20 year net ROI: $883,000

Total 4 year cost: $123,000

Graduation rate: 76%

Typical years to graduate: 5 years

AVG loan amount: $33,400

Source: Payscale

4. SUNY - Maritime College (In-State)

20 year net ROI: $895,000

Total 4 year cost: $92,300

Graduation rate: 47%

Typical years to graduate: 5 years

AVG loan amount: $32,000

Source: Payscale

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (Private)

20 year net ROI: $959,000

Total 4 year cost: $240,000

Graduation rate: 91%

Typical years to graduate: 4 years

AVG loan amount: $32,200

Source: Payscale

2. Harvey Mudd College (Private)

20 year net ROI: $962,000

Total 4 year cost: $260,000

Graduation rate: 90%

Typical years to graduate: 4 years

AVG loan amount: $24,400

Source: Payscale

1. United State Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) (Federal)

20 year net ROI: $1,056,000

Total 4 year cost: $33,100

Graduation rate: 72%

Typical years to graduate: 4 years

AVG loan amount: $12,300

Source: Payscale

These 20 colleges give you the biggest bang for your buck

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