The average cost of tuition and fees to attend private college these days in the United States exceeds $40,000, according to U.S. News and World Report. 

Many universities are actually much more expensive. Harvey Mudd College, for example, costs nearly $90,000, according to the college’s website.

With such a large investment in play, it’s important students get the best return on their college costs.

So with that kind of upfront investment, what kind of future return can graduates expect? Asks Meagan Drillinger for Stacker.

Stacker’s Emma Rubin compiled a list of the top 50 private colleges in the nation with the best return on investment.

One Delaware County school made the list.

Villanova University placed 29th on the list.  Graduates earned an estimated $1,860,000 over 40 years

Median earnings after ten years were $90,613. 

The university’s annual net price was $41,027, with a median debt of $24,988.

Villanova has a 90 percent graduation rate.

Data for the top 50 list comes from a Georgetown University Center on Education Study and Workforce.

Colleges are ranked by the highest 40-year return on investment, measured by current costs plus projected earnings. 

Costs considered were tuition and living expenses, student fees, food, and transportation, among others.

See the entire national list at Stacker.