Best value colleges in Pennsylvania
Colleges with an Academic Excellence grade of B+ or better, ranked by Value: net price, graduation rate, earnings, and debt from federal data.
Best value colleges in Pennsylvania60 schools
60 schools qualify, ranked by Value. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Pennsylvania.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has a Value score from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Value, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Haverford College
Haverford, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A- · Top 13%
- Net price $25,314 a year
- 2
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A- · Top 15%
- Net price $23,149 a year
- 3
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- Net price $28,928 a year
- 4
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- Net price $28,699 a year
- 5
York College of Pennsylvania
York, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- Net price $18,556 a year
- 6
Immaculata University
Immaculata, PA · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- Value grade B · Top 41%
- Net price $24,258 a year
- 7Tie
Waynesburg University
Waynesburg, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- Net price $18,235 a year
- 7Tie
Cedar Crest College
Allentown, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- Net price $18,659 a year
- 9
Lafayette College
Easton, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Value grade B · Top 47%
- Net price $34,433 a year
- 10
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, PA · PublicTop 20% for graduation
- Value grade B · Top 48%
- Net price $23,331 a year
- 11
Widener University
Chester, PA · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Value grade B
- Net price $25,759 a year
- 12
Lycoming College
Williamsport, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B
- Net price $19,140 a year
- 13
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington, PA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- Value grade B
- Net price $25,002 a year
- 14
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Value grade B
- Net price $31,944 a year
- 15Tie
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade B
- Net price $22,940 a year
- 15Tie
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- Value grade B
- Net price $23,003 a year
- 17
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- Value grade B
- Net price $29,689 a year
- 18
Westminster College
New Wilmington, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B-
- Net price $19,859 a year
- 19
Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- Value grade B-
- Net price $23,526 a year
- 20
Gannon University
Erie, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B-
- Net price $22,553 a year
- 21
King's College
Wilkes-Barre, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B-
- Net price $23,093 a year
- 22
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, PA · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- Value grade B-
- Net price $23,510 a year
- 23
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for graduation
- Value grade B-
- Net price $28,905 a year
- 24
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade B-
- Net price $31,759 a year
- 25
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade B-
- Net price $36,425 a year
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haverford College | $25,314 | $13,621 | $79,966 | 90% |
| Swarthmore College | $23,149 | $17,500 | $80,257 | 92% |
| Thomas Jefferson University | $28,928 | $14,744 | $77,449 | 69% |
| University of Pennsylvania | $28,699 | $15,715 | $111,371 | 97% |
| York College of Pennsylvania | $18,556 | $26,000 | $61,012 | 64% |
| Immaculata University | $24,258 | $27,000 | $75,701 | 71% |
| Waynesburg University | $18,235 | $27,000 | $58,537 | 66% |
| Cedar Crest College | $18,659 | $27,000 | $59,460 | 60% |
| Lafayette College | $34,433 | $16,000 | $91,410 | 88% |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | $23,331 | $23,500 | $61,258 | 71% |
| Widener University | $25,759 | $27,000 | $70,920 | 68% |
| Lycoming College | $19,140 | $27,000 | $56,210 | 60% |
| Washington & Jefferson College | $25,002 | $27,000 | $67,918 | 70% |
| Carnegie Mellon University | $31,944 | $21,750 | $114,862 | 94% |
| Allegheny College | $22,940 | $27,000 | $62,069 | 73% |
| Robert Morris University | $23,003 | $26,950 | $62,105 | 66% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | $29,689 | $25,500 | $86,881 | 79% |
| Westminster College | $19,859 | $26,060 | $53,861 | 65% |
| Saint Francis University | $23,526 | $27,000 | $62,101 | 74% |
| Gannon University | $22,553 | $27,000 | $58,845 | 66% |
| King's College | $23,093 | $27,000 | $59,498 | 60% |
| Saint Vincent College | $23,510 | $27,000 | $59,982 | 69% |
| Muhlenberg College | $28,905 | $25,455 | $69,107 | 82% |
| Bryn Mawr College | $31,759 | $25,000 | $75,217 | 82% |
| Franklin and Marshall College | $36,425 | $19,000 | $76,124 | 84% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 59
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 17
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 75
- North Carolina 16
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 10
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15