How We Calculate Value Scores
Every college gets a score from 0–100 based on a transparent formula. No subjective reputation points. No surveys. Just outcomes data.
Our Philosophy
Most college rankings reward prestige — endowment size, selectivity, peer reputation. Those metrics tell you which schools are hardest to get into, not which schools are worth the money.
We flip the question: For every dollar you spend, how much do you get back? A school that costs $15k/year and produces $70k earners is objectively a better financial decision than one that costs $55k/year and produces $80k earners — even if the second school is more “prestigious.”
Scoring Factors
Median Earnings (10 years post-enrollment)
35%The single most important outcome. How much do graduates actually earn? We use the Department of Education's 10-year post-entry earnings data, which captures mid-career salary rather than just starting salary.
Source: College Scorecard (MD_EARN_WNE_P10)
Net Price (True Cost After Aid)
25%What students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. A $60k/year school where the average student pays $20k after aid is different from one where they pay $45k.
Source: College Scorecard (NPT4_PUB / NPT4_PRIV)
Graduation Rate
20%A school you don't finish has zero ROI and leaves you with debt. Schools with high graduation rates demonstrate they support students through to completion.
Source: College Scorecard (C150_4_POOLED)
Payback Period
15%How many years of post-graduation earnings does it take to recoup the total cost of attendance? Calculated as (net price × 4) ÷ (median earnings − median high school earnings).
Source: Calculated from Scorecard data
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
5%A penalty factor. Schools where graduates carry high debt relative to their earnings get docked. If your debt exceeds your first-year earnings, that's a red flag.
Source: College Scorecard (DEBT_MDN / MD_EARN_WNE_P10)
Score Interpretation
Data Source
All data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, a public dataset covering 6,000+ institutions. We use the most recent available data release.
The College Scorecard tracks real outcomes — what students pay, what they earn, whether they graduate, and how much debt they carry. It's the most comprehensive source of college ROI data available to the public.
Limitations
- • Earnings data reflects all graduates, not specific majors. A business major and an art major at the same school will have different outcomes.
- • Value scores don't account for non-financial benefits (campus experience, network, personal growth).
- • Some schools have small sample sizes, making their data less reliable.
- • Earnings data has a 10-year lag — today's job market may differ.
- • Financial aid varies per student. The “net price” is an average, not your price.