Governments and philanthropic organizations devote billions of dollars annually to higher education via appropriations and donations to support campus operations, research, financial aid, and capital projects. Likewise, students and their families invest time and money when pursuing a college degree. Due to these significant investments, postsecondary institutions often face questions over their value and return on investment (ROI). This article engages debates about higher education's value by describing the contributions regional public universities (RPUs) make as broadly accessible anchor institutions. RPUs act as anchor institutions by enacting a tripartite mission focused on fostering postsecondary access, student-centeredness, and regional well-being. This article proposes novel metrics to measure the value of broad access anchor institutions, including accessibility in admissions, student body composition, and contributions to regional civic health, equity, and economic prosperity. This article argues for expanded understanding of higher education's value that captures the contributions of broadly accessible institutions (BAIs).