Colleges with the lowest student debt in Pennsylvania
Colleges whose graduates leave with the least federal student debt.
Colleges with the lowest student debt in Pennsylvania60 schools
60 schools qualify, ranked by median debt. 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 the median federal loan debt of graduates from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by median debt, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Haverford College
Haverford, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $13,621
- 90% graduate
- 2
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for earnings
- Median debt $14,744
- 69% graduate
- 3
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Median debt $15,715
- 97% graduate
- 4
Lafayette College
Easton, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Median debt $16,000
- 88% graduate
- 5
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $17,500
- 92% graduate
- 6
Walnut Hill College
Philadelphia, PA · Private for-profitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Median debt $18,765
- 58% graduate
- 7Tie
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $19,000
- 84% graduate
- 7Tie
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $19,000
- 80% graduate
- 9
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Median debt $21,750
- 94% graduate
- 10
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Median debt $21,960
- 88% graduate
- 11
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
Bryn Athyn, PA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Median debt $22,250
- 68% graduate
- 12
Chatham University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Median debt $23,250
- 63% graduate
- 13
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, PA · PublicTop 20% for graduation
- Median debt $23,500
- 71% graduate
- 14
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Williamsport, PA · PublicVery good: Compass grade B+
- Median debt $23,961
- 53% graduate
- 15
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- Median debt $24,250
- 86% graduate
- 16
- 17Tie
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $25,000
- 82% graduate
- 17Tie
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- Median debt $25,000
- 86% graduate
- 19
Geneva College
Beaver Falls, PA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Median debt $25,198
- 61% graduate
- 20
Mercyhurst University
Erie, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Median debt $25,305
- 60% graduate
- 21
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- Median debt $25,325
- 78% graduate
- 22
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for graduation
- Median debt $25,455
- 82% graduate
- 23Tie
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- Median debt $25,500
- 79% graduate
- 23Tie
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster
Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- Median debt $25,500
- 69% graduate
- 23Tie
Carlow University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Median debt $25,500
- 60% graduate
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% |
| Thomas Jefferson University | $28,928 | $14,744 | $77,449 | 69% |
| University of Pennsylvania | $28,699 | $15,715 | $111,371 | 97% |
| Lafayette College | $34,433 | $16,000 | $91,410 | 88% |
| Swarthmore College | $23,149 | $17,500 | $80,257 | 92% |
| Walnut Hill College | $32,351 | $18,765 | $36,689 | 58% |
| Franklin and Marshall College | $36,425 | $19,000 | $76,124 | 84% |
| Dickinson College | $37,607 | $19,000 | $70,204 | 80% |
| Carnegie Mellon University | $31,944 | $21,750 | $114,862 | 94% |
| Lehigh University | $36,931 | $21,960 | $105,584 | 88% |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | $20,586 | $22,250 | $40,457 | 68% |
| Chatham University | $29,954 | $23,250 | $52,410 | 63% |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | $23,331 | $23,500 | $61,258 | 71% |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | $25,110 | $23,961 | $52,567 | 53% |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | $30,434 | $24,250 | $66,125 | 86% |
| Temple University | $28,198 | $24,395 | $63,727 | 75% |
| Bryn Mawr College | $31,759 | $25,000 | $75,217 | 82% |
| Pennsylvania State University | $32,875 | $25,000 | $63,435 | 86% |
| Geneva College | $25,890 | $25,198 | $50,004 | 61% |
| Mercyhurst University | $19,444 | $25,305 | $47,452 | 60% |
| Drexel University | $38,509 | $25,325 | $84,648 | 78% |
| Muhlenberg College | $28,905 | $25,455 | $69,107 | 82% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | $29,689 | $25,500 | $86,881 | 79% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster | $42,478 | $25,500 | $86,881 | 69% |
| Carlow University | $20,786 | $25,500 | $51,051 | 60% |
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 61
- 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 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 75
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 21
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15