Strongest operating margins – U.S. universities

These 50 U.S. universities rank highest by operating margin, drawn from 3838 institutions with reported data in the most recent U.S. Department of Education release (2024-25). McPherson College (McPherson, KS) leads at 96.2%.

#	Institution	Operating margin
1	McPherson CollegeKS · Private	96.2%
2	Culpeper Cosmetology Training CenterVA · Public	80.7%
3	Tom P. Haney Technical CollegeFL · Public	80.4%
4	Dongguk University Los AngelesCA · Private	80.2%
5	Spertus CollegeIL · Private	79.3%
6	Tri-Community Adult EducationCA · Public	76.9%
7	Williamson College of the TradesPA · Private	71.4%
8	Ponce Health Sciences University-Centro Universitario de San JuanPR · Private for-profit	69.4%
9	Southeast New Mexico CollegeNM · Public	68.8%
10	Phillips Theological SeminaryOK · Private	67%
11	New Mexico Junior CollegeNM · Public	66.8%
12	California Career CollegeCA · Private for-profit	66.7%
13	Maine College of Health ProfessionsME · Private	66.7%
14	Selma UniversityAL · Private	64.1%
15	Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular MedicineNY · Private	63.7%
16	American InterContinental University-AtlantaGA · Private for-profit	63.4%
17	PCI CollegeCA · Private for-profit	63%
18	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksonTN · Public	62.2%
19	Big Bend Technical CollegeFL · Public	62.1%
20	Career Center of Southern IllinoisIL · Public	62.1%
21	Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science IncPA · Private	60.8%
22	Tri-County Community CollegeNC · Public	60.6%
23	J F Ingram State Technical CollegeAL · Public	60.5%
24	Aquinas Institute of TheologyMO · Private	59.5%
25	Kairos UniversitySD · Private	59.3%
26	Hope College of Arts and SciencesFL · Private for-profit	59.1%
27	Indian Capital Technology Center-MuskogeeOK · Public	59%
28	Lake Tahoe Community CollegeCA · Public	58.9%
29	Lutheran School of Theology at ChicagoIL · Private	58.7%
30	Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary-OverbrookPA · Private	58.4%
31	Sri Sai Krish InstituteCA · Private for-profit	57.9%
32	Clovis Adult EducationCA · Public	57.1%
33	Talladega CollegeAL · Private	57.1%
34	Southern Oklahoma Technology CenterOK · Public	55%
35	Saginaw Chippewa Tribal CollegeMI · Public	54.9%
36	Rockland County BOCES-Practical Nursing ProgramNY · Public	54.8%
37	Wilton Simpson Technical CollegeFL · Public	54.2%
38	Ross College-SylvaniaOH · Private for-profit	54%
39	Schuyler Steuben Chemung Tioga Allegany BOCESNY · Public	53.7%
40	Life Chiropractic College WestCA · Private	53.6%
41	St. John's CollegeMD · Private	53.2%
42	San Francisco Conservatory of MusicCA · Private	52.7%
43	George T Baker Aviation Technical CollegeFL · Public	52.4%
44	Chisholm Trail Technology CenterOK · Public	52.2%
45	Concordia SeminaryMO · Private	51.9%
46	Hampden-Sydney CollegeVA · Private	50.2%
47	Merritt CollegeCA · Public	50.2%
48	North Central Missouri CollegeMO · Public	49.8%
49	Henrico County-Saint Marys Hospital School of Practical NursingVA · Public	49.3%
50	Lake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicinePA · Private	48.7%

A data ranking, not an Ibex endorsement or quality rating. Ranked solely on the metric named above using the most recent College Scorecard & IPEDS release, which lags the current academic year by 2–3 years. Institutions that do not report this metric are excluded. Figures and peer context appear on each institution’s profile.

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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard & IPEDS (most recent release, 2024-25), with NSF NCSES (HERD), the Clery Act & EADA collections, Census ACS, BLS Employment Projections, WICHE & the FSA Direct Loan Dashboard. Compiled by Ibex Insights. For informational benchmarking only, not financial, investment, or accreditation advice. See the methodology.