Sometimes the college decision comes down to choosing between a public and private school. Public colleges tend to be more affordable at face value, and also come with larger class sizes and larger campuses. In comparison, private colleges offer smaller, more specialized classes and campuses. They are often thought of as too expensive and not worth the extra tuition costs — especially when you consider that you can potentially get the same degree for a fraction of the price at a public or state college.
It can be difficult to figure out which school will be the best option for you.
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To help, we've used salary data to calculate the return on investment for your tuition dollars at colleges across America. In terms of private schools, these 10 colleges are the ones that are going to get you the biggest and best return on your tuition dollars down the line.
10) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
- Total Tuition Cost: $232,000
- 20-Year ROI: $738,000
- Total Undergrad Enrollment: 2,304
- Location: Terra Haute, Indiana
9) Kettering University
- Total Tuition Cost: $208,000
- 20-Year ROI: $743,000
- Total Undergrad Enrollment: 1,841
- Location: Flint, Michigan
8) Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Total Tuition Cost: $235,000
- 20-Year ROI: $752,000.00
- Total Undergrad Enrollment: 5,778
- Location: Worcester, Massachusetts
7) Stanford University
- Total Tuition Cost: $247,000
- 20-Year ROI: $761,000
- Total Undergrad Enrollment: 16,336
- Location: Stanford, California
6) Princeton University
- Total Tuition Cost: $231,000
- 20-Year ROI: $764,000
- Total Undergrad Enrollment: 8,136
- Location: Princeton, New Jersey
5) Stevens Institute of Technology
- Total Tuition Cost: $244,000
- 20-Year ROI: $800,000
- Total Undergrad Enrollment: 2,976
- Location: Hoboken, New Jersey
4) Webb Institute
- Total Tuition Cost: $209,000
- 20-Year ROI: $854,000
- Total Undergrad Enrollment: 80
- Location: Glen Cove, New York
3) California Institute of Technology
- Total Tuition Cost: $240,000
- 20-Year ROI: $864,000
- Total Undergrad Enrollment: 979
- Location: Pasadena, California
2) Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Total Tuition Cost: $240,000
- 20-Year ROI: $959,000
- Total Undergrad Enrollment: 4,524
- Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
1) Harvey Mudd College
- Total Tuition Cost: $260,000
- 20-Year ROI: $962,000
- Total Undergrad Enrollment: 829
- Location: Claremont, California
10 private colleges that are worth the price originally appeared on PayScale.
