Rollins Recognized Among Nation’s Best Colleges for Quality and Affordability
September 22, 2023
By Jessica Firpi ’11

Rollins has been named one of the nation’s best colleges in an analysis of dozens of quality and affordability measures from more than 2,400 four-year institutions.
Rollins has been named in a comprehensive list of the nation’s best colleges by Money.com, a trusted online magazine that provides guidance and resources to help families make informed decisions about where to spend their tuition dollars.
To develop the list and school ratings, Money.com first looked at four-year public and private nonprofit colleges in the country, a group that totals more than 2,400. From there, they narrowed down the schools to a group of 736 based on the following criteria: 1) Must have at least 500 undergraduate students; 2) must have sufficient, reliable data to be analyzed; 3) must not be in financial distress; 4) must have a graduation rate that is at or above the median for its institutional category or have a high “value-added” graduation rate. After collecting and analyzing data on more than 700 qualifying institutions, the schools were assessed based on a combination of quality, affordability, and student outcomes.
To determine the quality of education, the institutions were measured against graduation rates, peer quality, and instructor access, among other criteria. The College boasts an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and a unique mentorship model that provides every student a community of mentors throughout their Rollins journey.

The affordability category took into consideration the net price of a degree and the average student debt, alongside other stats. Each year, around 95 percent of Rollins students receive more than $89 million in combined federal, state, and institutional aid. On average, first-year students with a demonstrated need receive as much as $35,000 in financial support, which makes the dream of a Rollins education a reality for many students who may have doubted the feasibility of attending.
Student outcomes were calculated using graduation rates, alumni salaries, employment outcomes, and return on investment. For more than 130 years, Rollins has held firm to the belief that a college education should do more than prepare students for their first job. It should help them discover what they truly care about and prepare them to pursue that purpose with all their might. As a result, our graduates’ prospects are as limitless as their ambition, and many have gone on to lead meaningful lives and productive careers everywhere from Amazon and Google to Coca-Cola and Walt Disney World.
The College’s inclusion on Money.com’s 2023 list of best colleges serves to highlight the importance of our mission and the value of a Rollins education in the marketplace.
Related News
March 18, 2025
Rollins Student Gives Back
Cecilia Hernandez '25 was honored during Acts of Kindness Week for her charity "Project for Hope" which provides stuffed animals to children who are hospitalized.
March 14, 2025
No Limits
Rollins first gave Juliette Bennie the opportunity and support she needed to leave her home of South Africa and then to see just how far she could go.
March 13, 2025
Rollins Experts Discuss African American History
Eric Smaw, a professor of philosophy, and Dorrell Briscoe, dean of religious life, discussed Black History topics in this WDBO Radio interview.