Strongest operating margins – public universities

These 50 public universities rank highest by operating margin, drawn from 1850 institutions with reported data in the most recent U.S. Department of Education release (2024-25). Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center (Culpeper, VA) leads at 80.7%.

#	Institution	Operating margin
1	Culpeper Cosmetology Training CenterVA	80.7%
2	Tom P. Haney Technical CollegeFL	80.4%
3	Tri-Community Adult EducationCA	76.9%
4	Southeast New Mexico CollegeNM	68.8%
5	New Mexico Junior CollegeNM	66.8%
6	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksonTN	62.2%
7	Big Bend Technical CollegeFL	62.1%
8	Career Center of Southern IllinoisIL	62.1%
9	Tri-County Community CollegeNC	60.6%
10	J F Ingram State Technical CollegeAL	60.5%
11	Indian Capital Technology Center-MuskogeeOK	59%
12	Lake Tahoe Community CollegeCA	58.9%
13	Clovis Adult EducationCA	57.1%
14	Southern Oklahoma Technology CenterOK	55%
15	Saginaw Chippewa Tribal CollegeMI	54.9%
16	Rockland County BOCES-Practical Nursing ProgramNY	54.8%
17	Wilton Simpson Technical CollegeFL	54.2%
18	Schuyler Steuben Chemung Tioga Allegany BOCESNY	53.7%
19	George T Baker Aviation Technical CollegeFL	52.4%
20	Chisholm Trail Technology CenterOK	52.2%
21	Merritt CollegeCA	50.2%
22	North Central Missouri CollegeMO	49.8%
23	Henrico County-Saint Marys Hospital School of Practical NursingVA	49.3%
24	J. F. Drake State Community and Technical CollegeAL	48.7%
25	Fred W Eberle Technical CenterWV	47.4%
26	Burlington County Institute of Technology-Adult EducationNJ	46.1%
27	Roane-Jackson Technical CenterWV	46%
28	Rockingham Community CollegeNC	45.9%
29	Ben Franklin Career CenterWV	45.2%
30	University of South Carolina-SumterSC	44.8%
31	Pinellas Technical College-St. PetersburgFL	44.4%
32	Massachusetts Bay Community CollegeMA	44.1%
33	Portage Lakes Career CenterOH	44%
34	Grays Harbor CollegeWA	43.7%
35	Halifax Community CollegeNC	43%
36	Aiken Technical CollegeSC	42.8%
37	University of California College of the Law-San FranciscoCA	42.8%
38	California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtCA	42.7%
39	Columbia State Community CollegeTN	42.5%
40	Berkeley City CollegeCA	42.2%
41	Sierra CollegeCA	42%
42	University of Puerto Rico-UtuadoPR	41.2%
43	Erwin Technical CollegeFL	41.2%
44	College of AlamedaCA	40.9%
45	Lawson State Community CollegeAL	40.8%
46	Foothill CollegeCA	40.2%
47	Caddo Kiowa Technology CenterOK	39.7%
48	Pinellas Technical College-ClearwaterFL	39.6%
49	Buckeye Hills Career CenterOH	39.4%
50	Western Piedmont Community CollegeNC	39.2%

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.