2025 Best ROI for MBA Programs

Executive Summary: Best ROI for MBA Programs in 2025

MBA programs continue to offer strong returns on investment (ROI) for many students, with some programs providing exceptional value. Key findings for include:

• ROI Distribution reveals a counterintuitive pattern: state universities show the highest returns with the top 10 ROI range from 645% to 1,139%), while prestigious and private institutions often yield lower returns (-40% to 10% ROI), with the national average at 186%.
• Top performers demonstrate the state university advantage: Texas A&M University-Texarkana leads with 1,139% ROI ($9,326 tuition with a graduate salary of $115,585), while prestigious schools like Stanford University have a graduate ROI of 10%($165,591 tuition with a graduate salary of $182,272), illustrating that higher tuition and starting salaries don’t necessarily translate to better ROI.
• Geographic location significantly impacts ROI potential, with highest returns in states like New Mexico – 505%, Montana – 431% and Idaho – 416% while traditionally prestigious locations have a much lower ROI. Oregon – 35%, New Hampshire – 37%, and District of Columbia – 62% show lower returns.
• Online vs Campus MBA Programs: Online MBA programs average 186% ROI versus 196% ROI for campus programs, representing a significant 11% advantage in financial returns.

While prestigious programs can offer strong returns, many lesser-known schools provide excellent value, especially when considering the total cost of the degree relative to career outcomes. Prospective students should carefully evaluate their personal circumstances and career goals when assessing MBA program ROI.

States with the Highest and Lowest ROI for MBA Programs

1. New Mexico - 505%
2. Montana - 431%
3. Idaho - 416%
4. Nevada - 344%
5. Maine - 340%
6. - 317%
7. Indiana - 317%
8. Mississippi - 305%
9. Arkansas - 296%
10. Oklahoma - 290%
11. Georgia - 290%
12. Nebraska - 287%
13. Kansas - 285%
14. Hawaii - 278%
15. Utah - 264%
16. Kentucky - 258%
17. Wyoming - 252%
18. Alabama - 238%
19. Texas - 235%
20. South Dakota - 234%
21. Iowa - 229%
22. South Carolina - 229%
23. Alaska - 221%
24. Missouri - 206%
25. Tennessee - 188%
26. North Carolina - 181%
27. West Virginia - 172%
28. Louisiana - 168%
29. Florida - 165%
30. Illinois - 165%
31. Ohio - 162%
32. Michigan - 160%
33. Maryland - 158%
34. Wisconsin - 158%
35. North Dakota - 149%
36. Minnesota - 146%
37. Virginia - 143%
38. Connecticut - 143%
39. Delaware - 140%
40. Washington - 135%
41. Rhode Island - 129%
42. California - 124%
43. Colorado - 120%
44. Vermont - 107%
45. Pennsylvania - 105%
46. Arizona - 105%
47. New York - 94%
48. New Jersey - 90%
49. Massachusetts - 86%
50. District of Columbia - 62%
51. New Hampshire - 37%
52. Oregon - 35%

Highest ROI for Campus MBA Programs

For in-person MBA programs in across the U.S., the ROI ranges from -40% to 1,139%. The lowest MBA ROI of -40% is from the program at Rochester Institute of Technology.The highest MBA ROI of 1,139% is offered by Texas A&M University-Texarkana. On average, MBA programs across the U.S. have an ROI of 186%.

Rank	University	ROI	In State Tuition	Avg. Starting Salary	State	Online
1	Texas A&M University-Texarkana	1,139.00%	$9,326	$115,585	TX	No
2	Tennessee State University	1,033.00%	$9,452	$107,108	TN	Yes
3	North Carolina A&T State University	996.00%	$9,790	$107,327	NC	Yes
4	Indiana University Northwest	906.00%	$7,458	$75,000	IN	Yes
5	Sonoma State University	809.00%	$9,494	$86,300	CA	No
6	Savannah State University	711.00%	$9,372	$75,976	GA	No
7	Indiana University South Bend	709.00%	$7,458	$60,300	IN	Yes
8	East Texas A&M University	655.00%	$10,724	$81,000	TX	Yes
9	Columbus State University	651.00%	$9,855	$74,000	GA	Yes
10	Mississippi State University	645.00%	$12,294	$91,600	MS	Yes
11	Georgia Southern University	615.00%	$9,824	$70,200	GA	Yes
12	New Mexico State University	613.00%	$10,314	$73,500	NM	Yes
13	Purdue University Northwest	605.00%	$12,350	$87,100	IN	No
14	University of Central Oklahoma	588.00%	$9,068	$62,400	OK	Yes
15	University of Houston-Victoria	584.00%	$11,030	$75,500	TX	Yes
16	Texas State University	563.00%	$23,365	$155,000	TX	No
17	Central Connecticut State University	562.00%	$12,848	$85,000	CT	No
18	Angelo State University	561.00%	$12,251	$81,000	TX	Yes
19	University of Massachusetts Boston	537.00%	$19,499	$124,277	MA	Yes
20	University of Montana	524.00%	$14,260	$89,000	MT	Yes
21	Georgia Southwestern State University	516.00%	$9,503	$58,500	GA	Yes
22	Augusta University	493.00%	$10,590	$62,800	GA	Yes
23	Tarleton State University	491.00%	$13,865	$81,926	TX	Yes
24	Southern Utah University	484.00%	$9,212	$53,800	UT	Yes
25	The University of Texas Permian Basin	481.00%	$13,252	$77,000	TX	Yes
26	University of North Georgia	474.00%	$9,846	$56,500	GA	Yes
27	Radford University	473.00%	$15,984	$91,600	VA	Yes
28	Stephen F. Austin State University	467.00%	$11,630	$65,950	TX	Yes
29	Mississippi College	464.00%	$12,000	$67,650	MS	Yes
30	California State University, Bakersfield	451.00%	$14,272	$78,600	CA	Yes
31	University of Nebraska at Kearney	450.00%	$13,293	$73,150	NE	Yes
32	Murray State University	449.00%	$16,455	$90,419	KY	Yes
33	Utah Valley University	442.00%	$13,956	$75,700	UT	No
34	Southern Arkansas University	437.00%	$13,788	$74,000	AR	Yes
35	Governors State University	436.00%	$13,788	$73,900	IL	Yes
35	McNeese State University	436.00%	$8,879	$47,550	LA	Yes
37	The Citadel	435.00%	$21,830	$116,700	SC	Yes
38	Idaho State University	420.00%	$17,856	$69,600	ID	Yes
39	University of Nebraska at Omaha	410.00%	$17,493	$89,200	NE	Yes
40	University of Southern Indiana	409.00%	$12,900	$65,700	IN	Yes
41	Texas A&M University-Kingsville	405.00%	$12,992	$65,600	TX	No
42	University of Massachusetts Dartmouth	404.00%	$17,578	$88,625	MA	No
43	University of Louisiana at Monroe	403.00%	$10,800	$54,300	LA	Yes
44	Frostburg State University	400.00%	$16,740	$83,700	MD	Yes
44	Emporia State University	400.00%	$11,876	$59,400	KS	Yes
46	Indiana University Kokomo	393.00%	$13,563	$66,900	IN	Yes
47	Western Kentucky University	392.00%	$12,600	$62,000	KY	Yes
48	Southeastern Oklahoma State University	389.00%	$12,420	$60,780	OK	Yes
49	California State University, Dominguez Hills	385.00%	$16,986	$82,400	CA	Yes
50	Lamar University	384.00%	$13,153	$63,600	TX	Yes
51	Kansas State University	383.00%	$16,049	$77,550	KS	Yes
52	The University of Iowa	381.00%	$23,453	$112,820	IA	No
52	Longwood University	381.00%	$13,361	$64,200	VA	Yes
54	University of Central Arkansas	378.00%	$11,239	$53,700	AR	Yes
55	Youngstown State University	377.00%	$13,500	$64,400	OH	Yes
56	Saginaw Valley State University	373.00%	$21,649	$102,450	MI	Yes
57	University of Nevada, Reno	371.00%	$17,556	$82,677	NV	No
58	Jacksonville State University	370.00%	$20,352	$95,570	AL	Yes
59	Arkansas Tech University	369.00%	$9,435	$44,250	AR	Yes
60	University of Alabama at Birmingham	363.00%	$16,200	$75,000	AL	Yes
61	Purdue University Fort Wayne	362.00%	$16,756	$77,400	IN	Yes
62	University of Illinois at Springfield	360.00%	$14,833	$68,300	IL	Yes
63	University of West Florida	359.00%	$12,460	$57,200	FL	Yes
64	Henderson State University	356.00%	$13,040	$59,500	AR	Yes
65	California State University, Los Angeles	349.00%	$22,052	$99,100	CA	No
65	University of Maine	349.00%	$19,500	$87,535	ME	No
67	Western Illinois University	345.00%	$15,231	$67,800	IL	Yes
67	Florida Gulf Coast University	345.00%	$13,428	$59,700	FL	Yes
69	University of Florida	343.00%	$26,473	$117,197	FL	Yes
70	University of Houston-Downtown	342.00%	$18,623	$82,273	TX	Yes
71	Missouri University of Science and Technology	340.00%	$16,488	$72,600	MO	Yes
72	University of Mary Washington	334.00%	$20,670	$89,700	VA	Yes
73	Indiana State University	332.00%	$19,000	$82,000	IN	Yes
74	University of Nevada, Las Vegas	331.00%	$21,784	$93,820	NV	Yes
74	University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras	331.00%	$13,926	$60,000	PR	Yes
76	Binghamton University	330.00%	$17,469	$75,142	NY	No
76	University of Southern Maine	330.00%	$20,370	$87,535	ME	Yes
77	West Chester University of PA	330.00%	$21,091	$90,600	PA	Yes
78	Southeast Missouri State University	330.00%	$13,804	$59,400	MO	Yes
80	Saint Xavier University	328.00%	$22,500	$96,302	IL	No
81	Weber State University	326.00%	$19,908	$84,900	UT	Yes
82	West Texas A&M University	322.00%	$18,500	$78,000	TX	Yes
83	University of Wisconsin-Parkside	314.00%	$15,327	$63,450	WI	Yes
83	Morgan State University	314.00%	$19,314	$80,000	MD	No
85	Missouri State University	313.00%	$15,108	$62,400	MO	Yes
86	Jacksonville University	312.00%	$31,500	$129,665	FL	Yes
86	California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo	312.00%	$27,462	$113,151	CA	No
88	Wright State University	310.00%	$28,080	$115,000	OH	Yes
89	Northern Kentucky University	309.00%	$19,443	$79,600	KY	Yes
90	Universidad Ana G. Mendez - Gurabo	305.00%	$15,000	$60,752	PR	No
91	North Carolina Central University	303.00%	$11,978	$48,300	NC	Yes
92	Missouri Western State University	301.00%	$12,893	$51,750	MO	Yes
93	Texas Woman's University	300.00%	$20,000	$79,925	TX	Yes
93	University of South Carolina Aiken	300.00%	$14,096	$56,400	SC	Yes
95	Southern Illinois University Edwardsville	299.00%	$18,941	$75,513	IL	Yes
96	University of North Carolina Wilmington	298.00%	$18,634	$74,200	NC	Yes
97	University of West Georgia	295.00%	$15,125	$59,800	GA	Yes
97	East Tennessee State University	295.00%	$13,280	$52,400	TN	Yes
99	The University of Georgia	294.00%	$30,606	$120,510	GA	Yes
100	Troy University	289.00%	$15,675	$61,000	AL	Yes
101	Southern Connecticut State University	287.00%	$17,432	$67,435	CT	Yes
102	Jackson State University	286.00%	$14,490	$55,900	MS	Yes
103	Illinois State University	284.00%	$20,050	$76,900	IL	No
103	University of Montevallo	284.00%	$16,140	$61,950	AL	Yes
105	Western Connecticut State University	282.00%	$28,638	$80,850	CO	Yes
105	Pittsburg State University	282.00%	$13,785	$52,600	KS	Yes
107	Morehead State University	281.00%	$17,970	$68,500	KY	Yes
108	Oklahoma State University	280.00%	$19,295	$73,300	OK	Yes
109	Kennesaw State University	279.00%	$19,000	$72,000	GA	Yes
110	Texas Southern University	278.00%	$15,316	$57,900	TX	Yes
110	University of Hawaii at Manoa	278.00%	$21,288	$80,400	HI	No
112	University of New Orleans	276.00%	$13,893	$38,410	LA	No
113	Cleveland State University	274.00%	$17,209	$64,319	OH	Yes
114	Midwestern State University	273.00%	$14,174	$52,872	TX	Yes
114	Black Hills State University	273.00%	$14,114	$52,650	SD	Yes
115	State University of New York College at Brockport	273.00%	$15,000	$55,950	NY	Yes
116	University of South Florida	273.00%	$14,955	$55,714	FL	Yes
118	The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	270.00%	$17,745	$65,600	TX	Yes
119	University of South Carolina	269.00%	$26,485	$97,819	SC	No
120	Arkansas State University	267.00%	$16,962	$62,200	AR	Yes
121	California State University, Chico	266.00%	$24,000	$87,750	CA	Yes
122	University of Southern Mississippi	264.00%	$17,131	$62,300	MS	No
122	State University of New York at New Paltz	264.00%	$15,230	$55,400	NY	Yes
124	University of Cincinnati	263.00%	$23,996	$87,013	OH	Yes
124	Louisiana State University Shreveport	263.00%	$12,474	$45,300	LA	Yes
126	Appalachian State University	262.00%	$17,463	$63,285	NC	Yes
126	Southeastern Louisiana University	262.00%	$13,245	$47,900	LA	Yes
128	Indiana University Southeast	261.00%	$17,905	$64,650	IN	Yes
129	Ball State University	260.00%	$21,197	$76,400	IN	Yes
129	Washburn University	260.00%	$18,080	$65,000	KS	No
130	Upper Iowa University	260.00%	$23,112	$61,400	WI	No
132	Northern Illinois University	258.00%	$26,096	$93,400	IL	Yes
133	University of North Alabama	257.00%	$16,830	$60,000	AL	Yes
134	University of Missouri-Kansas City	256.00%	$21,618	$76,900	MO	No
135	Dominican University	253.00%	$32,004	$113,000	IL	Yes
136	University of Wyoming	252.00%	$26,460	$93,010	WY	Yes
136	Stony Brook University	252.00%	$20,882	$73,500	NY	Yes
138	The University of Texas at Arlington	250.00%	$22,504	$78,800	TX	Yes
138	University of Arkansas at Little Rock	250.00%	$18,071	$63,300	AR	Yes
140	University of North Florida	249.00%	$17,767	$62,014	FL	No
141	Ouachita Baptist University	247.00%	$18,860	$65,400	AR	Yes
142	Michigan State University	246.00%	$34,564	$119,539	MI	Yes
142	Wichita State University	246.00%	$18,849	$65,300	KS	No
143	Central Michigan University	246.00%	$27,300	$94,350	MI	Yes
145	The University of Akron	244.00%	$17,872	$61,400	OH	Yes
146	The University of Texas at Dallas	243.00%	$45,000	$123,163	TX	Yes
147	University of South Alabama	242.00%	$14,400	$49,200	AL	Yes
148	East Carolina University	241.00%	$18,072	$61,600	NC	No
149	Clayton State University	240.00%	$17,000	$57,800	GA	Yes
150	University of Missouri-St. Louis	235.00%	$27,000	$90,489	MO	Yes
150	California State University, San Marcos	235.00%	$15,648	$52,400	CA	No
152	Middle Tennessee State University	233.00%	$26,712	$89,000	TN	Yes
152	Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi	233.00%	$17,997	$60,000	TX	Yes
154	University of Massachusetts Amherst	231.00%	$33,622	$111,227	MA	Yes
155	University of Alabama in Huntsville	230.00%	$21,483	$71,000	AL	Yes
155	University of Houston-Clear Lake	230.00%	$20,892	$68,900	TX	Yes
157	University of Alaska Fairbanks	229.00%	$27,202	$89,474	AK	Yes
158	California State University, Fresno	228.00%	$27,000	$88,500	CA	No
159	University of Dayton	227.00%	$33,600	$109,932	OH	Yes
159	Sam Houston State University	227.00%	$21,147	$69,200	TX	Yes
161	University of the District of Columbia	225.00%	$30,765	$100,000	DC	No
162	Minnesota State University Moorhead	224.00%	$26,220	$85,000	MN	Yes
162	Boise State University	224.00%	$21,043	$71,088	ID	Yes
164	Western Michigan University	223.00%	$29,377	$95,000	MI	Yes
164	Union University	223.00%	$26,028	$84,000	TN	Yes
166	Dominican University of California	220.00%	$35,310	$113,000	CA	Yes
166	Shorter University	220.00%	$18,645	$42,400	GA	No
168	University of South Dakota	219.00%	$14,892	$47,553	SD	Yes
168	Kutztown University	219.00%	$18,692	$59,700	PA	Yes
170	Baruch College-The City University of New York	218.00%	$37,338	$118,633	NY	Yes
170	The University of Texas at San Antonio	218.00%	$24,512	$78,000	TX	Yes
172	The Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg	217.00%	$31,962	$101,400	PA	Yes
173	The University of Memphis	216.00%	$23,688	$74,800	TN	Yes
173	Western Carolina University	216.00%	$13,967	$44,100	NC	Yes
175	University of Hartford	213.00%	$30,168	$94,500	CT	Yes
175	Georgia College & State University	213.00%	$22,970	$71,800	GA	Yes
177	University of Toledo	212.00%	$23,506	$73,300	OH	Yes
178	Western New England University	211.00%	$36,000	$76,300	MA	Yes
179	University of Alaska Anchorage	210.00%	$22,161	$68,700	AK	Yes
179	Lander University	210.00%	$16,350	$50,700	SC	Yes
181	The University of Rhode Island	208.00%	$24,000	$73,900	RI	Yes
181	Drake University	208.00%	$25,848	$79,500	IA	Yes
183	University of Tennessee at Chattanooga	207.00%	$25,788	$79,043	TN	No
184	University of Washington Tacoma	206.00%	$49,504	$151,322	WA	No
185	Northeastern Illinois University	205.00%	$24,367	$74,350	IL	Yes
185	Eastern Washington University	205.00%	$16,500	$50,300	WA	Yes
187	Florida State University	202.00%	$18,693	$56,545	FL	Yes
188	California State University, Sacramento	201.00%	$25,260	$76,000	CA	Yes
189	The Pennsylvania State University Great Valley	200.00%	$42,316	$127,000	PA	Yes
189	California State Polytechnic University Pomona	200.00%	$29,800	$89,440	CA	No
190	University of Wisconsin Oshkosh	200.00%	$29,168	$87,400	WI	Yes
191	University of Northern Colorado	200.00%	$22,602	$67,750	CO	Yes
192	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater	200.00%	$26,000	$78,000	WI	Yes
194	Washington State University	199.00%	$32,328	$96,500	WA	Yes
195	Oklahoma City University	198.00%	$27,175	$81,000	OK	Yes
196	Palm Beach Atlantic University	197.00%	$25,920	$77,035	FL	No
197	California State University, Stanislaus	196.00%	$24,938	$73,800	CA	Yes
197	Delaware State University	196.00%	$15,625	$46,300	DE	Yes
198	William Paterson University	196.00%	$23,820	$70,500	NJ	Yes
200	Marshall University	193.00%	$19,170	$56,200	WV	Yes
200	University of Massachusetts Lowell	193.00%	$26,127	$76,600	MA	Yes
201	Marist College	193.00%	$32,040	$93,900	NY	Yes
203	George Mason University	192.00%	$37,737	$110,100	VA	Yes
203	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	192.00%	$33,772	$98,500	IL	Yes
205	Saint Mary's College of California	189.00%	$40,608	$117,200	CA	Yes
205	Valdosta State University	189.00%	$22,170	$64,000	GA	Yes
207	Oakland University	187.00%	$30,024	$86,300	MI	Yes
207	Salisbury University	187.00%	$20,792	$59,700	MD	Yes
208	Salem State University	187.00%	$20,934	$60,150	MA	Yes
210	University of Central Missouri	186.00%	$18,488	$52,900	MO	Yes
210	University of Dallas	186.00%	$30,778	$88,000	TX	Yes
212	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	185.00%	$32,400	$92,300	NE	Yes
212	University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire	185.00%	$29,700	$84,700	WI	Yes
214	Coastal Carolina University	184.00%	$18,460	$52,500	SC	Yes
215	Auburn University	183.00%	$27,385	$77,633	AL	Yes
215	Louisiana Tech University	183.00%	$16,518	$46,771	LA	Yes
216	Metropolitan State University of Denver	183.00%	$21,648	$61,200	CO	Yes
218	St. Cloud State University	182.00%	$28,969	$81,800	MN	Yes
219	The University of North Carolina at Greensboro	180.00%	$25,000	$70,100	NC	Yes
220	University of Illinois at Chicago	179.00%	$60,264	$167,977	IL	Yes
221	Clark Atlanta University	178.00%	$35,028	$97,350	GA	No
221	Alabama A&M University	178.00%	$17,313	$48,200	AL	Yes
222	Eastern Kentucky University	178.00%	$15,264	$42,450	KY	Yes
224	Northern Arizona University	176.00%	$24,640	$68,100	AZ	Yes
224	University of Northern Iowa	176.00%	$23,917	$66,000	IA	No
226	University of Minnesota Duluth	175.00%	$33,798	$92,953	MN	No
227	California State University, East Bay	174.00%	$28,000	$76,600	CA	Yes
227	San Francisco State University	174.00%	$28,000	$76,600	CA	No
229	State University of New York at Oswego	173.00%	$22,860	$62,400	NY	Yes
229	Minnesota State University, Mankato	173.00%	$28,512	$77,720	MN	Yes
231	Providence College	171.00%	$29,810	$80,678	RI	No
231	Southern Illinois University Carbondale	171.00%	$21,972	$59,600	IL	Yes
233	University of Oklahoma	170.00%	$3,330,624	$56,949	OK	Yes
234	Rockhurst University	169.00%	$25,760	$69,400	MO	Yes
234	Wayne State University	169.00%	$27,472	$73,946	MI	Yes
235	University of Wisconsin-River Falls	169.00%	$27,216	$73,300	WI	Yes
237	Francis Marion University	168.00%	$15,918	$42,600	SC	Yes
238	Montclair State University	167.00%	$34,669	$92,400	NJ	Yes
238	College of William and Mary	167.00%	$42,000	$112,000	VA	Yes
240	Eastern Michigan University	166.00%	$34,616	$92,100	MI	Yes
241	University at Albany	165.00%	$30,000	$79,615	NY	Yes
242	Kent State University	163.00%	$19,908	$52,337	OH	Yes
243	North Dakota State University	162.00%	$21,022	$55,000	ND	Yes
244	The University of Alabama	161.00%	$28,377	$74,060	AL	Yes
244	University of Tennessee at Knoxville	161.00%	$38,875	$101,400	TN	Yes
246	University of Detroit Mercy	160.00%	$28,050	$72,900	MI	Yes
247	Xavier University	158.00%	$34,200	$88,100	OH	Yes
247	Shenandoah University	158.00%	$34,848	$89,900	VA	No
249	University of Colorado Colorado Springs	157.00%	$27,648	$71,000	CO	Yes
250	Georgia State University	156.00%	$36,522	$93,600	GA	Yes
250	The University of Texas at El Paso	156.00%	$20,634	$52,900	TX	Yes
251	Berry College	156.00%	$21,000	$53,850	GA	No
253	West Virginia University	155.00%	$24,273	$61,847	WV	Yes
253	Prairie View A&M University	155.00%	$23,699	$60,500	TX	No
254	Winthrop University	155.00%	$23,508	$60,000	SC	Yes
256	Grand Valley State University	154.00%	$30,024	$76,200	MI	No
256	Mercer University-Macon and Atlanta Campuses	154.00%	$32,460	$82,485	GA	Yes
257	Texas Wesleyan University	154.00%	$31,080	$79,000	TX	Yes
259	Iowa State University	152.00%	$29,966	$75,552	IA	Yes
259	Eastern Illinois University	152.00%	$23,880	$60,200	IL	Yes
261	California State University, Northridge	151.00%	$30,897	$77,400	CA	No
261	Ashland University	151.00%	$30,300	$76,001	OH	Yes
262	The University of Texas at Tyler	151.00%	$28,887	$72,600	TX	Yes
264	College of Charleston	149.00%	$28,204	$70,314	SC	Yes
264	La Salle University	149.00%	$27,200	$67,750	PA	Yes
266	Florida Southern College	148.00%	$34,155	$84,749	FL	Yes
267	Northern Michigan University	147.00%	$22,056	$54,500	MI	Yes
268	The State University of New York Polytechnic Institute	145.00%	$32,998	$81,000	NY	Yes
269	Abilene Christian University	142.00%	$25,800	$62,400	TX	Yes
270	Virginia Commonwealth University	141.00%	$34,172	$82,232	VA	Yes
270	Slippery Rock University	141.00%	$25,318	$61,100	PA	Yes
272	Old Dominion University	140.00%	$31,564	$75,800	VA	Yes
272	Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey-Camden	140.00%	$47,292	$113,372	NJ	Yes
274	Siena College	137.00%	$34,200	$81,000	NY	No
274	Texas Tech University	137.00%	$28,155	$66,717	TX	Yes
276	Utah State University	136.00%	$36,000	$85,000	UT	Yes
276	Virginia State University	136.00%	$24,978	$58,900	VA	No
277	University of Scranton	136.00%	$34,740	$82,100	PA	Yes
279	The University of Mississippi	135.00%	$25,914	$60,977	MS	Yes
279	Seattle Pacific University	135.00%	$36,675	$86,250	WA	Yes
281	Stockton University	134.00%	$35,568	$47,700	NJ	No
282	The University of North Dakota	133.00%	$19,793	$46,200	ND	Yes
283	Meredith College	132.00%	$34,320	$79,600	NC	No
284	San Jose State University	131.00%	$39,270	$90,800	CA	Yes
284	Ohio University	131.00%	$21,438	$49,598	OH	Yes
286	University of Washington Bothell	130.00%	$52,446	$120,800	WA	No
286	University of Colorado Denver	130.00%	$47,102	$108,246	CO	Yes
287	San Diego State University	130.00%	$31,200	$71,900	CA	Yes
288	University of Connecticut	130.00%	$44,100	$101,501	CT	Yes
290	The University of New Mexico	128.00%	$26,725	$61,000	NM	Yes
291	University of St. Thomas-Houston	127.00%	$35,000	$79,371	TX	No
292	University of Arkansas	125.00%	$35,527	$79,911	AR	Yes
293	Indiana University Bloomington/Indianapolis	124.00%	$29,573	$136,352	IN	Yes
294	Colorado State University	122.00%	$42,480	$94,300	CO	Yes
294	University of North Carolina at Charlotte	122.00%	$37,946	$84,260	NC	Yes
296	University of Baltimore	120.00%	$35,128	$77,400	MD	Yes
297	Rider University	119.00%	$38,160	$83,600	NJ	Yes
297	Indiana University of Pennsylvania	119.00%	$29,001	$63,600	PA	No
298	Ithaca College	119.00%	$32,040	$70,300	NY	No
299	Auburn University at Montgomery	119.00%	$28,593	$62,700	AL	Yes
301	Sacred Heart University	118.00%	$35,840	$78,300	CT	No
302	Florida Atlantic University	117.00%	$36,000	$78,220	FL	Yes
303	Georgia Institute of Technology	116.00%	$63,404	$136,819	GA	No
303	Valparaiso University	116.00%	$30,000	$64,840	IN	Yes
305	University of Wisconsin-Madison	114.00%	$55,575	$118,983	WI	Yes
305	Saint Joseph's University	114.00%	$42,912	$92,000	PA	Yes
306	Yeshiva University	114.00%	$52,794	$113,214	NY	Yes
308	Widener University	112.00%	$36,102	$76,600	PA	Yes
309	Ramapo College of New Jersey	111.00%	$46,892	$99,100	NJ	Yes
310	University of Kansas	110.00%	$32,701	$68,780	KS	Yes
310	Purdue University	110.00%	$44,816	$94,000	IN	Yes
311	Queens University of Charlotte	110.00%	$41,940	$88,100	NC	Yes
313	Drury University	108.00%	$28,512	$59,400	MO	Yes
314	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	107.00%	$32,769	$67,900	WI	Yes
314	University of Vermont	107.00%	$31,878	$66,000	VT	No
315	University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point	107.00%	$28,224	$58,350	WI	No
317	Arizona State University	106.00%	$60,393	$124,664	AZ	Yes
318	Colorado State University-Pueblo	105.00%	$24,168	$49,500	CO	Yes
318	Nova Southeastern University	105.00%	$44,351	$90,756	FL	Yes
319	University of Delaware	105.00%	$39,954	$82,000	DE	Yes
321	Brigham Young University	104.00%	$58,544	$119,281	UT	No
321	Saint Louis University	104.00%	$37,470	$76,282	MO	No
322	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	104.00%	$48,300	$98,523	MA	Yes
324	Shippensburg University	102.00%	$34,380	$69,300	PA	Yes
324	Nicholls State University	102.00%	$28,000	$56,641	LA	Yes
326	John Carroll University	101.00%	$32,356	$65,000	OH	Yes
327	Robert Morris University	99.00%	$33,750	$67,000	PA	Yes
328	Bowling Green State University	98.00%	$27,200	$53,853	OH	Yes
329	University of Washington	97.00%	$76,890	$151,322	WA	No
330	The University of Arizona	96.00%	$54,785	$107,345	AZ	Yes
330	Elon University	96.00%	$42,237	$82,600	NC	No
331	Creighton University	96.00%	$33,234	$65,000	NE	Yes
333	Marquette University	95.00%	$46,620	$90,700	WI	Yes
333	Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey-Newark/New Brunswick	95.00%	$58,442	$113,800	NJ	Yes
334	Nichols College	95.00%	$28,440	$55,392	MA	Yes
335	Villanova University	95.00%	$60,000	$116,800	PA	Yes
337	University of Central Florida	93.00%	$39,000	$75,200	FL	No
338	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	91.00%	$62,000	$118,300	VA	Yes
339	University at Buffalo	89.00%	$38,358	$72,500	NY	Yes
340	The Pennsylvania State University	87.00%	$61,236	$114,483	PA	Yes
340	Hofstra University	87.00%	$58,960	$110,500	NY	Yes
342	Texas A&M University	86.00%	$62,000	$115,585	TX	No
342	University of Missouri	86.00%	$45,000	$83,500	MO	Yes
344	Whitworth University	85.00%	$34,560	$64,050	WA	Yes
344	Rowan University	85.00%	$37,391	$69,300	NJ	Yes
346	California State University, San Bernardino	84.00%	$41,500	$76,200	CA	Yes
347	The University of Michigan-Dearborn	83.00%	$50,997	$93,200	MI	Yes
347	Clemson University	83.00%	$43,088	$78,767	SC	Yes
348	University of Houston	83.00%	$47,000	$85,878	TX	Yes
349	California State University, Fullerton	83.00%	$44,550	$81,500	CA	Yes
351	Howard University	79.00%	$71,204	$127,223	DC	No
351	Bryant University	79.00%	$42,180	$75,417	RI	Yes
352	Fayetteville State University	79.00%	$30,268	$54,300	NC	Yes
354	The College of New Jersey	78.00%	$50,482	$90,000	NJ	No
355	University of Utah	77.00%	$65,700	$116,348	UT	Yes
356	Samford University	76.00%	$33,264	$58,400	AL	Yes
357	Michigan Technological University	74.00%	$49,294	$85,950	MI	No
358	North Carolina State University	72.00%	$55,732	$95,606	NC	Yes
359	University of Kentucky	71.00%	$39,449	$67,579	KY	Yes
359	Fairleigh Dickinson University	71.00%	$47,816	$81,900	NJ	Yes
360	Stetson University	71.00%	$38,700	$66,000	FL	Yes
362	Le Moyne College	70.00%	$35,952	$61,100	NY	No
363	Roger Williams University	69.00%	$39,276	$66,450	RI	No
364	Bellarmine University	68.00%	$32,495	$54,750	KY	No
365	University of Colorado at Boulder	67.00%	$55,997	$93,401	CO	Yes
365	University of St. Thomas-Minnesota	67.00%	$61,596	$102,900	MN	Yes
367	Lipscomb University	66.00%	$50,565	$84,000	TN	No
368	Seattle University	64.00%	$53,130	$87,000	WA	Yes
368	University of Louisiana at Lafayette	64.00%	$31,281	$51,200	LA	Yes
370	The University of Tulsa	62.00%	$51,516	$83,700	OK	Yes
370	University of New Hampshire	62.00%	$41,182	$66,667	NH	Yes
371	University of New Haven	62.00%	$39,770	$64,600	CT	Yes
373	Bradley University	61.00%	$35,740	$57,450	IL	No
374	Temple University	60.00%	$60,000	$95,989	PA	Yes
374	St. Bonaventure University	60.00%	$37,380	$59,900	NY	Yes
376	DePaul University	59.00%	$53,952	$86,000	IL	Yes
377	California State University, Long Beach	58.00%	$45,600	$71,833	CA	Yes
377	Kean University	58.00%	$40,260	$63,700	NJ	Yes
379	The Pennsylvania State University at Erie	57.00%	$60,972	$95,600	PA	Yes
380	Fairfield University	56.00%	$41,580	$64,800	CT	Yes
381	St. Mary's University	55.00%	$37,061	$57,600	TX	No
381	Barry University	55.00%	$35,640	$55,400	FL	Yes
383	Portland State University	54.00%	$50,984	$78,264	OR	Yes
384	University of Pittsburgh	51.00%	$68,348	$102,965	PA	No
384	University of the Pacific	51.00%	$46,250	$69,750	CA	Yes
385	Butler University	51.00%	$39,000	$59,000	IN	Yes
387	New Jersey Institute of Technology	49.00%	$66,576	$99,501	NJ	Yes
388	Florida International University	48.00%	$42,000	$62,115	FL	Yes
389	Drexel University	47.00%	$59,241	$87,061	PA	Yes
389	Alfred University	47.00%	$39,500	$57,900	NY	Yes
391	University of San Diego	46.00%	$69,610	$101,333	CA	Yes
391	Oregon State University	46.00%	$52,090	$75,900	OR	Yes
392	Loyola University New Orleans	46.00%	$37,980	$55,290	LA	Yes
394	Santa Clara University	45.00%	$83,860	$122,000	CA	Yes
394	New York Institute of Technology	45.00%	$58,320	$84,580	NY	Yes
396	University of Louisville	43.00%	$38,500	$54,903	KY	Yes
397	Quinnipiac University	40.00%	$52,015	$73,000	CT	Yes
398	Lehigh University	39.00%	$68,900	$95,699	PA	No
398	University of North Texas	39.00%	$52,268	$72,545	TX	Yes
400	Pacific Lutheran University	38.00%	$47,664	$65,700	WA	Yes
400	Iona University	38.00%	$49,940	$68,700	NY	Yes
401	Western Washington University	38.00%	$48,448	$67,100	WA	No
403	University of Minnesota	36.00%	$89,402	$121,882	MN	Yes
403	Manhattan College	36.00%	$48,970	$66,575	NY	Yes
404	Seton Hall University	36.00%	$57,225	$78,081	NJ	Yes
406	Suffolk University	35.00%	$59,391	$80,455	MA	Yes
406	Duquesne University	35.00%	$57,090	$77,253	PA	Yes
408	The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	33.00%	$100,218	$133,517	NC	Yes
409	St. Edward's University	32.00%	$45,582	$60,300	TX	Yes
410	University of Oregon	30.00%	$65,726	$85,236	OR	No
410	Millsaps College	30.00%	$36,072	$46,750	MS	Yes
411	Canisius University	30.00%	$43,240	$56,315	NY	Yes
413	Bentley University	29.00%	$67,080	$86,822	MA	No
414	Fordham University	28.00%	$99,497	$127,511	NY	Yes
415	Southern Methodist University	27.00%	$96,788	$122,609	TX	Yes
415	Louisiana State University	27.00%	$50,486	$64,142	LA	Yes
417	University of California, Irvine	26.00%	$97,342	$122,899	CA	No
418	University of Portland	25.00%	$58,617	$73,500	OR	No
419	Tennessee Technological University	24.00%	$54,000	$66,800	TN	Yes
420	University of Rochester	23.00%	$108,038	$132,671	NY	Yes
420	Long Island University-Post Campus	23.00%	$53,454	$65,600	NY	Yes
422	Illinois Institute of Technology	22.00%	$67,690	$82,352	IL	Yes
422	St. John Fisher University	22.00%	$46,836	$56,947	NY	Yes
423	James Madison University	22.00%	$75,600	$92,100	VA	Yes
424	University of Maryland	22.00%	$98,865	$121,103	MD	Yes
426	Babson College	21.00%	$89,550	$108,703	MA	Yes
426	Loyola University Chicago	21.00%	$73,375	$89,000	IL	No
427	Hult International Business School	21.00%	$85,000	$102,928	MA	Yes
429	The University of Texas at Austin	20.00%	$120,432	$144,564	TX	No
430	Clarkson University	19.00%	$59,032	$70,017	NY	Yes
430	Belmont University	19.00%	$69,207	$82,200	TN	No
431	University of Miami	19.00%	$92,290	$109,555	FL	Yes
433	Harvard University	17.00%	$149,820	$175,000	MA	No
434	University of California, Davis	14.00%	$95,438	$109,075	CA	Yes
435	The University of Michigan	12.00%	$137,056	$153,465	MI	Yes
436	Georgetown University	11.00%	$124,814	$138,552	DC	Yes
436	University of Richmond	11.00%	$72,000	$79,683	VA	No
437	South Carolina State University	11.00%	$38,880	$43,200	SC	No
439	Stanford University	10.00%	$165,591	$182,272	CA	No
440	University of California, Berkeley	9.00%	$139,628	$152,831	CA	No
441	University of Notre Dame	8.00%	$123,500	$133,018	IN	No
441	American University	8.00%	$98,282	$105,666	DC	Yes
442	Northwestern University	8.00%	$162,030	$175,000	IL	No
444	Vanderbilt University	7.00%	$131,000	$139,711	TN	No
445	University of Virginia-McIntire	4.00%	$151,200	$157,090	VA	No
445	Case Western Reserve University	4.00%	$92,040	$95,875	OH	No
446	University of San Francisco	4.00%	$79,200	$82,500	CA	Yes
447	Clark University	4.00%	$59,080	$61,367	MA	Yes
448	Stevens Institute of Technology	4.00%	$81,880	$85,398	NJ	Yes
450	Dartmouth College	3.00%	$155,040	$159,842	NH	No
450	University of California, Los Angeles	3.00%	$142,142	$146,727	CA	No
451	The George Washington University	3.00%	$113,090	$115,951	DC	No
453	University of Denver	2.00%	$96,000	$98,276	CO	Yes
453	Rice University	2.00%	$139,081	$142,212	TX	Yes
455	New York University	1.00%	$160,130	$161,475	NY	No
455	The Ohio State University	1.00%	$106,123	$106,779	OH	Yes
456	Loyola Marymount University	1.00%	$89,202	$89,900	CA	No

For example, the top rated MBA program is Tennessee State University with an with an average in-state tuition of $9,452, an average startling salary for gradates of $107,108, giving an ROI of 1,033%.

When evaluating ROI for MBA programs, you might want to consider their location and length. Programs located in large cities usually come with higher tuition and living costs while shorter programs can get you out into the job market faster. You should also consider the school’s ranking as this can affect your chances of getting accepted into a top notch program.

Overall, when choosing an MBA program it is important to understand the costs involved as well as the potential return on your investment. By comparing tuition and expected salaries of various programs, you can make an informed decision that will help you achieve your career goals.

Tips for Using ROI as a Method for Choosing an MBA Program

for Using ROI as a Method for Choosing an MBA Program

The ROI analysis of 458 MBA programs reveals striking patterns that challenge conventional wisdom about business school selection. This comprehensive data shows that program prestige and cost don’t necessarily correlate with the best financial returns.

Understanding ROI Dynamics

The relationship between MBA program investment and returns follows a distinctive pattern that contradicts common assumptions. Lesser-known state universities consistently deliver the highest ROI (500-567%), while prestigious private institutions often show lower returns (-40-50%). This creates a clear bell curve distribution where the national average sits at 186%, with extreme variations at both ends. The data demonstrates that premium pricing doesn’t guarantee premium returns, and affordable programs often provide superior financial outcomes.

Program Value Assessment
State universities consistently outperform on ROI metrics, with online programs averaging 186% ROI versus 196% for campus programs. Regional schools frequently provide better financial returns than prestigious institutions, challenging the traditional notion that elite programs are the best investment.

Strategic Evaluation Framework

Making an informed MBA program choice requires careful consideration of multiple financial factors beyond just tuition costs. A comprehensive evaluation must include all program-related expenses and potential returns.

Financial Metrics
The total investment calculation must consider:

• Program tuition and fees
• Living expenses for program duration
• Opportunity cost of lost wages
• Expected starting salary post-graduation
• Geographic salary variations
• Industry-specific compensation trends

Making the ROI Decision

The ROI calculation provides a clear metric for comparing programs:

$ latex \displaystyle ROI = \frac{(\text{Graduate Salary} – \text{Tuition})}{\text{Tuition}} \times 100\% $

This formula reveals surprising results when comparing institutions. For example, Texas A&M University-Texarkana has an average graduate ROI 1,139% while Rochester Institute of Technology has an average graduate ROI of -40%.

Beyond ROI Considerations

While ROI provides a crucial metric, other factors contribute to the long-term value of an MBA program. Career alignment factors include:

• Industry placement rates in desired sectors
• Geographic job market strength in target locations
• Alumni network reach and effectiveness
• Program specialization options matching career goals
• Employer relationships and recruitment patterns

The data conclusively shows that the highest ROI programs often come from unexpected sources, suggesting that prospective students should look beyond traditional rankings and focus on programs offering optimal financial returns while aligning with their career objectives and long-term professional growth plans.

As you evaluate the return on investment for MBA programs, also look at school rankings. Top business schools such as Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School produce graduates with high salaries and ROI.

Each school has its own unique offerings and benefits that can help you make a decision on which school to attend. It is important to research each school’s curriculum and offerings to ensure that it fits with your career aspirations. Additionally, it is important to look at the average starting salary that graduates receive after completing the program. This can help you determine how much you will be able to earn after graduation.

When making a decision about which MBA program is best for you, it is important to evaluate the cost and ROI for each program. Make sure that you compare each school’s tuition fees with the average salary for MBA graduates from that particular school. This will help you determine if you can make a good return on your investment.

Online vs. Campus MBA ROI Comparison

Financial Returns

• Online MBA average ROI: 186%
• Campus MBA average ROI: 196%
• Online programs often deliver better financial returns due to continued employment

Cost Structure

Factor	Online MBA	Campus MBA
Tuition	Lower	Higher
Living Expenses	None	Significant
Opportunity Cost	Minimal	High (lost wages)
Total Investment	$10,000-40,000	$120,000-180,000

Career Impact

• Online programs allow immediate application of skills in current role
• Campus programs offer stronger in-person networking
• Both formats show similar post-graduation salary potential ($115,000 average)

Key Advantages

Online MBA Benefits

• Continue earning while studying
• No relocation costs
• Flexible schedule
• Lower total program cost
• Higher average ROI

Campus MBA Benefits

• Stronger in-person networking
• Traditional recruiting opportunities
• Full immersion experience
• Direct peer interaction
• Immediate access to faculty

The data demonstrates that online MBA programs often provide superior ROI due to lower costs and the ability to maintain employment during study, though both formats can deliver strong career outcomes when aligned with individual goals and circumstances.