Which Colleges are Most Worth Your Investment?

College tuition may be raising at a rate much higher than inflation, but some schools may be worth the extra cost. Payscale analyzed more than 700 schools to determine students’ tuition return on investment (ROI) -

California Institute of Technology (Caltech): Type: Private Category: Engineering 2010 Cost: $198,700 30 Year Net ROI: $1,713,000 Annual ROI: 12.2%

Harvey Mudd College: Type: Private Category: Engineering 2010 Cost: $203,300 30 Year Net ROI: $1,622,000 Annual ROI: 11.9%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Type: Private Category: Engineering 2010 Cost: $201,000 30 Year Net ROI: $1,518,000 Annual ROI: 11:7%

Princeton University: Type: Private Category: Ivy League 2010 Cost: $198,700 30 Year Net ROI: $1,494,000 Annual ROI: 11.7%

Stanford University: Type: Private Category: Private, Research 2010 Cost: $210,400 30 Year Net ROI: $1,478,000 Annual ROI: 11.5% (Linda A. Cicero 2005)

Dartmouth College: Type: Private Category: Ivy League 2010 Cost: $202,300 30 Year Net ROI: $1,477,000 Annual ROI: 11.6% (Joseph Mehling '69)

Duke University: Type: Private Category: Private, Research 2010 Cost: $201,300 30 Year Net ROI: $1,419,000 Annual ROI: 11.5% (Duke University)

Harvard University: Type: Private Category: Ivy League 2010 Cost: $202,600 30 Year Net ROI: $1372,000 Annual ROI: 11.4%

University of Notre Dame: Type: Private Category: Private, Research 2010 Cost: $194,500 30 Year Net ROI: $1,356,000 Annual ROI: 11.5% (University of Notre Dame)

University of Pennsylvania: Type: Private Category: Ivy League 2010 Cost: $203,900 30 Year Net ROI: $1,355,000 Annual ROI: 11.3%