Analysis

Cost-effectiveness index

Composite ranking of 134 municipalities' compulsory school effectiveness, based on SALSA deviation and cost per student.

March 2026 · Source: Kolada 2024, SALSA 2024/25

What is the cost-effectiveness index?

Unlike the quadrant page that divides municipalities into four groups, this index provides a composite scoring system. Each municipality receives a score combining:

  • SALSA deviation — how much better or worse the municipality's schools perform compared to expectations (higher = better)
  • Cost per student — the home municipality's total cost for compulsory school years 1–9 (lower = better)

Both dimensions are normalised to z-scores (mean = 0, standard deviation = 1). The index is then computed as: score = z(SALSA) − z(cost). Higher score = better efficiency.

Tier classification

The municipalities are divided into five equally sized groups (quintiles):

A: Very high efficiency B: High efficiency C: Average D: Low efficiency E: Very low efficiency

Full ranking

134 municipalities with at least 3 compulsory schools that have SALSA data. Municipalities with too few schools are excluded because individual school results would then have a disproportionate impact.

# Municipality Tier Score SALSA Cost/student z(SALSA) z(cost)
1 Nacka A 4.00 +14.9 116,520 SEK 1.81 -2.20
2 Landskrona A 3.13 +13.3 124,146 SEK 1.64 -1.49
3 Danderyd A 3.12 +18.7 130,392 SEK 2.20 -0.92
4 Lidingö A 2.98 +14.4 127,022 SEK 1.75 -1.23
5 Sundbyberg A 2.72 +12.0 127,193 SEK 1.51 -1.21
6 Täby A 2.43 +3.0 120,263 SEK 0.58 -1.85
7 Nynäshamn A 2.42 +9.3 127,381 SEK 1.23 -1.19
8 Vallentuna A 2.37 +6.0 124,283 SEK 0.89 -1.48
9 Botkyrka A 2.28 +18.9 139,751 SEK 2.22 -0.06
10 Tyresö A 2.19 +6.6 126,882 SEK 0.95 -1.24
11 Järfälla A 2.15 +3.0 123,245 SEK 0.58 -1.58
12 Ekerö A 2.10 +10.8 132,541 SEK 1.38 -0.72
13 Helsingborg A 2.01 +3.4 125,218 SEK 0.62 -1.39
14 Värmdö A 1.98 +12.0 135,200 SEK 1.51 -0.47
15 Vellinge A 1.98 +8.4 131,171 SEK 1.13 -0.85
16 Lomma A 1.93 +9.2 132,617 SEK 1.22 -0.71
17 Malmö A 1.90 +12.8 136,956 SEK 1.59 -0.31
18 Ystad A 1.74 +7.0 132,180 SEK 0.99 -0.75
19 Uppsala A 1.68 +6.0 131,687 SEK 0.89 -0.80
20 Kävlinge A 1.68 +7.0 132,905 SEK 0.99 -0.69
21 Upplands-Bro A 1.63 +13.6 140,761 SEK 1.67 0.04
22 Upplands Väsby A 1.62 +16.4 144,017 SEK 1.96 0.34
23 Huddinge A 1.62 +10.3 137,208 SEK 1.33 -0.29
24 Staffanstorp A 1.52 +6.0 133,478 SEK 0.89 -0.63
25 Sollentuna A 1.43 +18.4 148,409 SEK 2.17 0.74
26 Solna A 1.34 -5.9 122,099 SEK -0.35 -1.68
27 Södertälje A 1.33 +18.4 149,406 SEK 2.17 0.83
28 Norrköping B 1.29 +4.2 133,930 SEK 0.70 -0.59
29 Härryda B 1.25 -2.7 126,642 SEK -0.01 -1.26
30 Nyköping B 1.12 +0.3 131,391 SEK 0.30 -0.83
31 Partille B 0.97 -5.3 126,782 SEK -0.28 -1.25
32 Kalmar B 0.95 +1.0 134,049 SEK 0.37 -0.58
33 Enköping B 0.92 -5.4 127,150 SEK -0.29 -1.22
34 Eslöv B 0.91 -1.2 131,982 SEK 0.14 -0.77
35 Höganäs B 0.88 -0.9 132,634 SEK 0.17 -0.71
36 Söderhamn B 0.84 +5.0 139,760 SEK 0.78 -0.05
37 Sigtuna B 0.80 +9.5 145,191 SEK 1.25 0.45
38 Falkenberg B 0.80 -3.2 130,948 SEK -0.07 -0.87
39 Kungsbacka B 0.73 -3.0 131,979 SEK -0.05 -0.77
40 Karlskoga B 0.68 -0.7 135,111 SEK 0.19 -0.48
41 Salem B 0.67 +3.8 140,188 SEK 0.66 -0.02
42 Trelleborg B 0.66 +6.9 143,781 SEK 0.98 0.32
43 Hultsfred B 0.66 0.0 136,038 SEK 0.26 -0.40
44 Eskilstuna B 0.63 +4.5 141,414 SEK 0.73 0.10
45 Borås B 0.58 -2.6 134,039 SEK -0.00 -0.58
46 Varberg B 0.56 -5.1 131,476 SEK -0.26 -0.82
47 Falun B 0.53 -7.0 129,581 SEK -0.46 -0.99
48 Håbo B 0.52 +1.0 138,685 SEK 0.37 -0.15
49 Österåker B 0.51 -10.4 126,006 SEK -0.81 -1.32
50 Trollhättan B 0.51 +4.0 142,196 SEK 0.68 0.17
51 Svedala B 0.51 -3.0 134,338 SEK -0.05 -0.55
52 Mölndal B 0.51 -3.8 133,458 SEK -0.13 -0.64
53 Jönköping B 0.36 -10.9 127,050 SEK -0.86 -1.23
54 Västerås B 0.27 -4.9 134,767 SEK -0.24 -0.51
55 Kumla C 0.27 -8.3 130,989 SEK -0.59 -0.86
56 Kristianstad C 0.24 -1.2 139,258 SEK 0.14 -0.10
57 Strängnäs C 0.24 -0.7 139,855 SEK 0.19 -0.05
58 Kungälv C 0.21 -8.7 131,210 SEK -0.64 -0.84
59 Piteå C 0.20 -10.2 129,625 SEK -0.79 -0.99
60 Flen C 0.14 +19.3 163,424 SEK 2.26 2.12
61 Simrishamn C 0.12 +7.3 150,089 SEK 1.02 0.90
62 Lerum C 0.11 -14.2 126,064 SEK -1.20 -1.32
63 Värnamo C 0.10 +2.8 145,308 SEK 0.55 0.46
64 Örebro C 0.04 -3.3 139,106 SEK -0.08 -0.11
65 Skövde C 0.03 -15.8 125,132 SEK -1.37 -1.40
66 Alingsås C 0.02 -13.8 127,517 SEK -1.16 -1.18
67 Halmstad C -0.01 -6.7 135,793 SEK -0.43 -0.42
68 Gislaved C -0.04 +0.8 144,536 SEK 0.35 0.39
69 Linköping C -0.05 -4.2 139,090 SEK -0.17 -0.12
70 Uddevalla C -0.05 -2.1 141,454 SEK 0.05 0.10
71 Ale C -0.08 -5.2 138,273 SEK -0.27 -0.19
72 Stockholm C -0.10 +11.8 157,536 SEK 1.49 1.58
73 Karlstad C -0.12 -3.5 140,574 SEK -0.10 0.02
74 Boden C -0.13 -9.2 134,274 SEK -0.69 -0.56
75 Haninge C -0.13 -0.8 143,757 SEK 0.18 0.31
76 Lund C -0.13 -1.2 143,315 SEK 0.14 0.27
77 Höör C -0.21 -10.7 133,457 SEK -0.84 -0.64
78 Gävle C -0.29 -4.5 141,361 SEK -0.20 0.09
79 Norrtälje C -0.37 +1.1 148,446 SEK 0.38 0.75
80 Hörby C -0.41 -10.7 135,618 SEK -0.84 -0.44
81 Lidköping D -0.42 -9.8 136,772 SEK -0.75 -0.33
82 Hudiksvall D -0.43 -8.2 138,735 SEK -0.58 -0.15
83 Sundsvall D -0.50 -8.2 139,452 SEK -0.58 -0.08
84 Köping D -0.53 -3.0 145,581 SEK -0.05 0.48
85 Växjö D -0.59 -2.3 147,090 SEK 0.03 0.62
86 Alvesta D -0.65 -10.7 138,230 SEK -0.84 -0.20
87 Tierp D -0.67 -4.7 145,216 SEK -0.22 0.45
88 Östersund D -0.68 -6.2 143,615 SEK -0.38 0.30
89 Oskarshamn D -0.69 -11.7 137,561 SEK -0.95 -0.26
90 Umeå D -0.69 -18.8 129,610 SEK -1.68 -0.99
91 Örnsköldsvik D -0.72 -14.0 135,313 SEK -1.18 -0.46
92 Karlshamn D -0.74 -6.2 144,327 SEK -0.38 0.37
93 Borlänge D -0.75 -5.5 145,165 SEK -0.30 0.44
94 Ängelholm D -0.77 -13.1 136,833 SEK -1.09 -0.32
95 Göteborg D -0.82 +1.7 154,061 SEK 0.44 1.26
96 Motala D -0.86 -14.5 136,271 SEK -1.24 -0.38
97 Karlskrona D -0.92 -11.9 139,871 SEK -0.97 -0.04
98 Mjölby D -0.95 -15.5 136,098 SEK -1.34 -0.39
99 Falköping D -1.07 -9.0 144,707 SEK -0.67 0.40
100 Bollnäs D -1.09 -7.5 146,677 SEK -0.51 0.58
101 Skellefteå D -1.10 -5.3 149,186 SEK -0.28 0.81
102 Mörbylånga D -1.12 -5.5 149,255 SEK -0.30 0.82
103 Luleå D -1.19 -12.3 142,338 SEK -1.01 0.18
104 Öckerö D -1.23 -11.3 143,898 SEK -0.90 0.33
105 Gällivare D -1.30 +8.3 166,697 SEK 1.12 2.43
106 Nybro D -1.34 -11.7 144,585 SEK -0.95 0.39
107 Laholm D -1.36 -4.7 152,735 SEK -0.22 1.14
108 Vetlanda E -1.37 -12.0 144,674 SEK -0.98 0.40
109 Knivsta E -1.39 -10.0 147,098 SEK -0.77 0.62
110 Västervik E -1.39 -11.8 145,115 SEK -0.96 0.44
111 Sandviken E -1.47 -5.2 153,355 SEK -0.27 1.20
112 Nässjö E -1.48 -3.0 155,962 SEK -0.05 1.44
113 Östhammar E -1.50 -5.2 153,690 SEK -0.27 1.23
114 Stenungsund E -1.56 -14.5 143,911 SEK -1.24 0.33
115 Vänersborg E -1.59 -10.0 149,227 SEK -0.77 0.82
116 Hässleholm E -1.61 -4.4 155,821 SEK -0.19 1.42
117 Ljungby E -1.66 -8.3 151,979 SEK -0.59 1.07
118 Gotland E -1.74 -13.6 146,885 SEK -1.14 0.60
119 Eksjö E -1.81 -10.0 151,682 SEK -0.77 1.04
120 Krokom E -1.83 -10.5 151,264 SEK -0.82 1.00
121 Mariestad E -1.86 -18.0 143,176 SEK -1.60 0.26
122 Härjedalen E -1.90 +8.3 173,212 SEK 1.12 3.03
123 Hammarö E -1.97 -18.7 143,611 SEK -1.67 0.30
124 Kristinehamn E -2.00 -19.7 142,811 SEK -1.77 0.23
125 Ljusdal E -2.02 -10.0 153,899 SEK -0.77 1.25
126 Avesta E -2.02 -4.7 159,885 SEK -0.22 1.80
127 Kiruna E -2.03 +5.8 171,792 SEK 0.86 2.90
128 Mark E -2.06 -16.5 147,096 SEK -1.44 0.62
129 Bjuv E -2.09 -13.3 151,037 SEK -1.11 0.98
130 Härnösand E -2.29 -8.3 158,821 SEK -0.59 1.70
131 Åre E -2.43 +2.0 171,904 SEK 0.47 2.91
132 Sollefteå E -2.77 -10.7 161,247 SEK -0.84 1.92
133 Ronneby E -3.58 -24.7 154,391 SEK -2.29 1.29
134 Lindesberg E -3.88 -26.7 155,419 SEK -2.50 1.39

Average by county

County averages of the cost-effectiveness index:

# County Avg score Municipalities
1 Stockholm county 1.71 24
2 Skåne county 0.70 20
3 Södermanland county 0.53 4
4 Halland county 0.14 5
5 Uppsala county -0.07 6
6 Västmanland county -0.13 2
7 Östergötland county -0.14 4
8 Västra Götaland county -0.35 19
9 Kalmar county -0.49 6
10 Jönköping county -0.71 6
11 Örebro county -0.73 4
12 Dalarna county -0.74 3
13 Gävleborg county -0.75 6
14 Norrbotten county -0.89 5
15 Västerbotten county -0.89 2
16 Kronoberg county -0.97 3
17 Värmland county -1.36 3
18 Västernorrland county -1.57 4
19 Jämtland county -1.71 4
20 Gotland county -1.74 1
21 Blekinge county -1.75 3

Method and normalisation

Step by step:

  1. Data collection: Cost per student is sourced from Kolada (KPI N15006, year 2024). SALSA score is sourced from the Swedish National Agency for Education's SALSA (2024/25). Only compulsory school is included.
  2. Filter: Municipalities with fewer than 3 compulsory schools with SALSA data are excluded. This yields 134 municipalities.
  3. Z-normalisation: Each dimension is transformed to a z-score: z = (x − μ) / σ.
    • Cost: μ = 140,354 SEK, σ = 10,857 SEK
    • SALSA: μ = -2.6, σ = 9.7
  4. Index: score = z(SALSA) − z(cost). Positive SALSA-z contributes positively, high cost-z contributes negatively. Both dimensions are weighted equally.
  5. Tier: Percentile-based quintiles (every 20th percentile).

Difference from the quadrant page

The quadrant page divides municipalities into four groups based on the median, without providing an exact ranking. This index instead provides a continuous score that makes it possible to compare municipalities directly. The methods complement each other:

  • Quadrant page → quick overview of four categories
  • Index → exact ranking and comparability

Important caveats

  • The index is based on the municipality's total cost per student, which includes structural factors (rurality, size, demographics). A small rural municipality naturally has higher costs per student without necessarily being inefficient.
  • The SALSA deviation refers to a single school year. Individual strong or weak cohorts can cause temporary fluctuations, particularly in small municipalities.
  • The index weights SALSA and cost equally. Whether this is reasonable depends on perspective — a municipality with extremely low costs and average results may rank highly in the index.
  • Municipalities with fewer than 3 compulsory schools are excluded entirely. With only 1–2 schools, individual deviations become too dominant.

Source: Kolada (KPI N15006) · Swedish National Agency for Education SALSA. See also: Cost-effectiveness (quadrant chart) · All statistics pages