To find colleges that combine quality and affordability, Money analyzed dozens of data points, including graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid and alumni salaries. The result? A new star rating system with 736 colleges where your tuition (and time) is likely to pay off.
Looks like a decent list, to me, I'm a bit surprised at some omissions. Anything private of course is $$$, the publics are usually OK for in state. I often see the top publics as being UCal, UM, UVA, UNC, ... etc., which doesn't make it so. From what I could tell circa 1980, UNC undergrad was >> UGA undergrad, I think that gap has narrowed some now. UF is generally considered to be a good public.
No Texas schools unless I missed one.