Find a Job You Really Want In
As seniors head back to school, there is one thing on their mind: College.
From the partying to having more freedom and the chance to make new friends, the decision to attend college is a big one.
The fear and dread of picking the right college should not be weighing down your last year of high school. Honestly, it shouldn’t weigh down anyone who is wanting to attend college no matter the age.
Luckily, we have found the best colleges in each state. I mean, these colleges go above and beyond the rest of the colleges. They are the total package.
Instead of keeping this secret to ourselves, we thought it should be well-known.
Out of the hundreds of colleges we searched through, these 50 stood out to us. From low-cost tuitions and student debt to job prospects and average earnings, these schools are truly the best of the best.
What’s more, these 10 schools are the best in the nation. Check it out.
Top 10 Total Package Colleges
- University of Florida – Online
- CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- University of Connecticut-Avery Point
- Logan University
- Texas A M International University
- University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
- Purdue University – Main Campus
- Augusta University
- James Madison University
- University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Everyone is always looking for the lowest cost, cheapest student debt, and schools that hand out the best job opportunities.
Well, we found those seemingly mythological schools. And they’re completely real.
How We Determined The Best Total Package Colleges
We considered a number of criteria in order to get the best total package college in each state. Using the most recent College Scorecard Data released by the Department of Education, we ranked all colleges in each state from best to worst with the following determining factors:
- Cost
- Debt
- Job Prospects
- Earnings
For debt, this number is the median, federal loan debt accumulated by all students who graduate with a degree.
The average annual cost of attendance includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses.
Job prospects and earnings both examine median earnings and employment 10 years after enrollment, to give students adequate time to finish their degree (and subsequent post-bachelors education) and establish themselves in the workforce.
We only looked at institutions where the predominant degree-path is Bachelors. We have a full list of the best total package college in each state.
First, here is a little more information about the best of the best.
1. University of Florida – Online
Average Debt: $16,247
Median Earnings: $65,700
Average Annual Cost: $17,405
The University of Florida – Online is our absolute top choice for offering the total package. This school has everything you could expect from a perfect college. Low annual cost of $17,405? Check. Low average debt of $16,247? Check. High median earnings of $65,700 for what you can expect after graduation? Check. This school definitely ticks all of the boxes.
2. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Average Debt: $10,500
Median Earnings: $50,000
Average Annual Cost: $14,177
The second-best total package college is the CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice. This school keeps everything low, low, low (except your after graduation earnings, of course). Students usually have only an average of $10,500 in debt after graduation. That low number is thanks to the school’s low annual cost of $14,177. It’s obvious the school doesn’t believe that you should have to sell your life away to get a decent education.
3. University of Connecticut – Avery Point
Average Debt: $21,500
Median Earnings: $66,000
Average Annual Cost: $16,868
The University of Connecticut at Avery Point is our third college of interest. Sure, it’s average debt is a little higher than the other colleges we’ve seen at this point, but with the median earnings of $66,000 you’ll have that $21,500 paid off in no time.
4. Logan University
Average Debt: $6,500
Median Earnings: $55,400
Average Annual Cost: $18,068
The No. 4 pick is Logan University in Missouri. This school is definitely a best-kept secret, especially with its annual cost only averaging $18,068. But the best part has to be the school’s average debt of only $6,500. We wouldn’t blame you if your jaw just dropped to the floor.
5.Texas AM International University
Average Debt: $14,830
Median Earnings: $46,700
Average Annual Cost: $13,914
Texas AM International University is the fifth-best total package college. With an average debt of $14,830 and the annual cost only $13,914, it’s definitely an affordable school.
6. University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
Average Debt: $22,613
Median Earnings: $52,500
Average Annual Cost: $17,213
The University of Wisconsin at La Crosse shows up on the list at No. 6. You can’t beat the average annual cost of $17,213 for a solid education. Add in the median earnings of $52,500 for graduates and you’ll be ready to apply.
7. Purdue University – Main Campus
Average Debt: $19,500
Median Earnings: $62,200
Average Annual Cost: $22,430
At No. 7, the main campus of Purdue University particularly surprised us (in a good way!). The school offers low annual costs averaging only $22,430, with the average student only having $19,500 in debt after graduation. But the cherry on top is the median earnings of $62,200. With that kind of salary, you won’t be in debt for long!
8. Augusta University
Average Debt: $21,472
Median Earnings: $70,600
Average Annual Cost: $20,618
Augusta University comes in as the eighth-best total package college. Sure, the school offers low average debt and annual costs, but the most impressive feat here is the median earnings after you graduate. At $70,600, you won’t have to be worried about that debt for long.
9. James Madison University
Average Debt: $20,500
Median Earnings: $63,300
Average Annual Cost: $26,007
James Madison University should have a motto of low debt and high earnings because that’s exactly what you get when you graduate from this total package school. Students who graduate from here typically have only $20,500 in debt, but make median earnings of $63,300. If that doesn’t have you scrambling to apply, nothing will.
10. University of Washington – Tacoma Campus
Average Debt: $15,000
Median Earnings: $69,600
Average Annual Cost: $21,570
The 10th best total package school belongs to the University of Washington’s Tacoma campus. Speaking of low average debt, graduates from here typically only owe $15,000 in student debt. What’s more, is the average median earnings for graduates is $69,600. Where do we sign up?
Summary of the Best Total Package Colleges
Instead of finding a school that is cheap, or finding a school that will provide great job opportunities, why not find schools that offer all of the above and so much more?
That’s what we thought when we looked into finding the colleges that offer the full package.
Everything from low debt to low annual costs and even high median earnings, these 10 colleges are your best bet.
Well, that is as long as you enjoy low debt and high earnings. To each their own.
We didn’t just stop at the top 10 though. We kept going to find the best total package in every state.
| State | College | Debt | Cost | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | University of Alaska Anchorage | $20,671 | $19,942 | $51,200 |
| Alabama | Auburn University | $21,000 | $31,282 | $56,300 |
| Arkansas | University of Arkansas | $21,500 | $22,750 | $52,700 |
| Arizona | Arizona State University-West | $20,349 | $22,594 | $55,500 |
| California | California State University-Los Angeles | $13,381 | $14,823 | $49,900 |
| Colorado | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | $21,022 | $22,243 | $71,200 |
| Connecticut | University of Connecticut-Avery Point | $21,500 | $16,868 | $66,000 |
| Delaware | University of Delaware | $24,388 | $25,584 | $64,000 |
| Florida | University of Florida-Online | $16,247 | $17,405 | $65,700 |
| Georgia | Augusta University | $21,472 | $20,618 | $70,600 |
| Hawaii | Brigham Young University-Hawaii | $9,016 | $18,043 | $49,100 |
| Iowa | University of Iowa | $22,000 | $22,607 | $62,000 |
| Idaho | Brigham Young University-Idaho | $12,601 | $12,223 | $49,400 |
| Illinois | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | $19,000 | $30,082 | $70,900 |
| Indiana | Purdue University-Main Campus | $19,500 | $22,430 | $62,200 |
| Kansas | University of Kansas | $21,105 | $24,996 | $59,300 |
| Kentucky | University of Kentucky | $23,102 | $28,711 | $54,000 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana State University and Agricultural Mechanical College | $20,250 | $28,539 | $60,100 |
| Massachusetts | Worcester State University | $19,334 | $20,923 | $52,400 |
| Maryland | Towson University | $19,302 | $24,733 | $55,100 |
| Maine | Maine Maritime Academy | $27,000 | $26,962 | $107,200 |
| Michigan | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $16,606 | $29,407 | $79,000 |
| Minnesota | University of Minnesota-Rochester | $19,500 | $25,362 | $61,200 |
| Missouri | Logan University | $6,500 | $18,068 | $55,400 |
| Mississippi | University of Mississippi | $19,500 | $24,822 | $56,600 |
| Montana | Montana State University | $23,500 | $20,464 | $48,900 |
| North Carolina | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $16,118 | $25,527 | $68,800 |
| North Dakota | Dickinson State University | $18,050 | $15,506 | $49,300 |
| Nebraska | Bellevue University | $21,000 | $18,574 | $60,500 |
| New Hampshire | University of New Hampshire at Manchester | $27,000 | $20,689 | $57,700 |
| New Jersey | Rutgers University-Newark | $22,032 | $25,083 | $68,100 |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | $19,356 | $21,244 | $58,500 |
| Nevada | University of Nevada-Reno | $19,500 | $21,792 | $56,300 |
| New York | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | $10,500 | $14,177 | $50,000 |
| Ohio | Ohio State University-Lima Campus | $20,500 | $17,058 | $53,600 |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | $21,000 | $23,446 | $55,300 |
| Oregon | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus | $22,500 | $23,702 | $56,700 |
| Pennsylvania | Thomas Jefferson University | $15,750 | $56,855 | $99,300 |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island College | $21,500 | $16,619 | $43,900 |
| South Carolina | Citadel Military College of South Carolina | $23,250 | $28,743 | $59,600 |
| South Dakota | South Dakota State University | $24,250 | $22,609 | $50,200 |
| Tennessee | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $20,500 | $30,930 | $56,700 |
| Texas | Texas A M International University | $14,830 | $13,914 | $46,700 |
| Utah | University of Utah | $17,500 | $20,422 | $63,500 |
| Virginia | James Madison University | $20,500 | $26,007 | $63,300 |
| Vermont | University of Vermont | $21,504 | $32,825 | $55,200 |
| Washington | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | $15,000 | $21,570 | $69,600 |
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | $22,613 | $17,213 | $52,500 |
| West Virginia | West Virginia University Institute of Technology | $23,872 | $17,166 | $52,700 |
| Wyoming | University of Wyoming | $18,498 | $19,777 | $54,200 |
Author
Amanda Postma is a writer for the Zippia Career Advice blog with a focus on creating entertaining content to help you through your job search. She received her BA from the University Of Missouri-Columbia.
