2023 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania
28
Ranked Colleges
1,014
Degrees Awarded
$17,800
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
General Education is the 41st most popular major in the country with 29,810 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,719 and had an average of $23,394 in loans still to pay off.
Across Pennsylvania, there were 1,014 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $51,017 and $23,518 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 28 colleges that offer a degree in general education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 134 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UPenn, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Pennsylvania is $580 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at University of Pennsylvania
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lehigh Carbon Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lehigh Carbon Community College is located in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $4,307 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend LCCC.
Read full report on General Education at LCCC
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 174 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pitt, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $15,084 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about General Education at Pitt
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Holy Family University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 34 students in 2020-2021.
Holy Family not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Holy Family University is $11,657 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Holy Family University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Temple University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Temple has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Temple is $18,173 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about General Education at Temple University
Westminster College Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. New Wilmington, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
Westminster New Wilmington also made our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Westminster College Pennsylvania is $15,692 for Pennsylvania Education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Westminster New Wilmington
Juniata College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Huntingdon, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.
Juniata not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Juniata College is $15,796 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Juniata
York College of Pennsylvania ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. YCP is a small private not-for-profit school situated in York, Pennsylvania. It awarded 36 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
YCP also made our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $17,617 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend York College of Pennsylvania.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at York College of Pennsylvania
With a ranking of #9, California University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in California, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 63 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cal U has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $15,854 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California University of Pennsylvania.
Read full report on General Education at California University of Pennsylvania
With a ranking of #10, Cabrini University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Radnor, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 46 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
Cabrini University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Cabrini University is $16,581 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on General Education at Cabrini University
Millersville University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 31 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
Millersville also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $17,224 for Pennsylvania Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Millersville.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Messiah University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
Messiah not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $18,751 for Pennsylvania Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Messiah.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Messiah General Education Report
With a ranking of #13, Wilson College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wilson College is a small school located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania that handed out 62 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Wilson not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $17,092 for Pennsylvania Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wilson.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Wilson
La Salle University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. La Salle University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 128 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
La Salle not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for La Salle University is $24,098 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at La Salle
With a ranking of #15, Susquehanna University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Susquehanna University is a small school located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania that handed out 7 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Susquehanna, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $17,040 for Pennsylvania Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Susquehanna.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Susquehanna University
Cedar Crest College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cedar Crest is a small school located in Allentown, Pennsylvania that handed out 22 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Cedar Crest did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $18,652 for Pennsylvania Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cedar Crest College.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Cedar Crest General Education Report
Duquesne University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Duquesne University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Duquesne not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $20,515 for Pennsylvania Education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Duquesne University.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Duquesne University General Education Report
Mercyhurst University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Erie, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.
Mercyhurst also took the #21 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mercyhurst is $23,922 for Pennsylvania Education students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Education at Mercyhurst
With a ranking of #19, Saint Francis University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Francis University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Loretto, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Saint Francis also made our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $21,230 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saint Francis.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Saint Francis University General Education Report
Gwynedd Mercy University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Gwynedd - Mercy has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Gwynedd - Mercy is $23,600 for Pennsylvania Education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Gwynedd - Mercy
Saint Joseph’s University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Joseph’s University is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Joe’s, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Joseph’s University is $24,313 for Pennsylvania Education students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about General Education at Saint Joseph’s University
With a ranking of #22, Neumann University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Neumann is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Aston, Pennsylvania. It awarded 10 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Neumann did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Neumann University is $24,094 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Neumann General Education Report
Arcadia University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Arcadia is a small school located in Glenside, Pennsylvania that handed out 8 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Arcadia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $23,979 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Arcadia University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Arcadia
With a ranking of #24, Rosemont College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Rosemont is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. It awarded 2 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $15,780 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Rosemont.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Rosemont College General Education Report
Drexel University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Drexel has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $24,508 for pennsylvania education students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Drexel University.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at Drexel
