Most affordable colleges with strong academics in Pennsylvania
The lowest net prices among colleges with an Academic Excellence grade of B or better.
Most affordable colleges with strong academics in Pennsylvania60 schools
60 schools qualify, ranked by net price. 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 net price from federal data (the average yearly cost after grants, College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by net price, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Waynesburg University
Waynesburg, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $18,235 a year
- 66% graduate
- 2
York College of Pennsylvania
York, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $18,556 a year
- 64% graduate
- 3
Cedar Crest College
Allentown, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $18,659 a year
- 60% graduate
- 4
Lycoming College
Williamsport, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $19,140 a year
- 60% graduate
- 5
Mercyhurst University
Erie, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $19,444 a year
- 60% graduate
- 6
Westminster College
New Wilmington, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $19,859 a year
- 65% graduate
- 7
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
Bryn Athyn, PA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Net price $20,586 a year
- 68% graduate
- 8
Carlow University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $20,786 a year
- 60% graduate
- 9
Seton Hill University
Greensburg, PA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- Net price $22,204 a year
- 67% graduate
- 10
Gannon University
Erie, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $22,553 a year
- 66% graduate
- 11
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $22,940 a year
- 73% graduate
- 12
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- Net price $23,003 a year
- 66% graduate
- 13
King's College
Wilkes-Barre, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Net price $23,093 a year
- 60% graduate
- 14
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $23,149 a year
- 92% graduate
- 15
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, PA · PublicTop 20% for graduation
- Net price $23,331 a year
- 71% graduate
- 16
Marywood University
Scranton, PA · Private nonprofitTop 18% for graduation
- Net price $23,388 a year
- 72% graduate
- 17
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, PA · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- Net price $23,510 a year
- 69% graduate
- 18
Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- Net price $23,526 a year
- 74% graduate
- 19
Juniata College
Huntingdon, PA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for graduation
- Net price $23,988 a year
- 74% graduate
- 20
Immaculata University
Immaculata, PA · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- Net price $24,258 a year
- 71% graduate
- 21
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington, PA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- Net price $25,002 a year
- 70% graduate
- 22
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Williamsport, PA · PublicVery good: Compass grade B+
- Net price $25,110 a year
- 53% graduate
- 23
Haverford College
Haverford, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $25,314 a year
- 90% graduate
- 24
Widener University
Chester, PA · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Net price $25,759 a year
- 68% graduate
- 25
Geneva College
Beaver Falls, PA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Net price $25,890 a year
- 61% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waynesburg University | $18,235 | $27,000 | $58,537 | 66% |
| York College of Pennsylvania | $18,556 | $26,000 | $61,012 | 64% |
| Cedar Crest College | $18,659 | $27,000 | $59,460 | 60% |
| Lycoming College | $19,140 | $27,000 | $56,210 | 60% |
| Mercyhurst University | $19,444 | $25,305 | $47,452 | 60% |
| Westminster College | $19,859 | $26,060 | $53,861 | 65% |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | $20,586 | $22,250 | $40,457 | 68% |
| Carlow University | $20,786 | $25,500 | $51,051 | 60% |
| Seton Hill University | $22,204 | $27,000 | $51,748 | 67% |
| Gannon University | $22,553 | $27,000 | $58,845 | 66% |
| Allegheny College | $22,940 | $27,000 | $62,069 | 73% |
| Robert Morris University | $23,003 | $26,950 | $62,105 | 66% |
| King's College | $23,093 | $27,000 | $59,498 | 60% |
| Swarthmore College | $23,149 | $17,500 | $80,257 | 92% |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | $23,331 | $23,500 | $61,258 | 71% |
| Marywood University | $23,388 | $26,186 | $55,817 | 72% |
| Saint Vincent College | $23,510 | $27,000 | $59,982 | 69% |
| Saint Francis University | $23,526 | $27,000 | $62,101 | 74% |
| Juniata College | $23,988 | $27,000 | $56,918 | 74% |
| Immaculata University | $24,258 | $27,000 | $75,701 | 71% |
| Washington & Jefferson College | $25,002 | $27,000 | $67,918 | 70% |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | $25,110 | $23,961 | $52,567 | 53% |
| Haverford College | $25,314 | $13,621 | $79,966 | 90% |
| Widener University | $25,759 | $27,000 | $70,920 | 68% |
| Geneva College | $25,890 | $25,198 | $50,004 | 61% |
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 63
- 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 47
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15