2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid
18
Ranked Colleges
10,191
Degrees Awarded
$28,200
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 198,468 engineering students received their degree, making the major the 7th most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $68,653 and had an average of $23,855 in loans still to pay off.
Across Pennsylvania, there were 10,191 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $70,080 and $26,180 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 18 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality engineering 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 engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Engineering Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid.
Top 18 Best Value Colleges for Engineering in Pennsylvania (With Aid)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a small public school situated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It awarded 39 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology also made our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is $9,421 for pennsylvania engineering students with aid.
Full Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Engineering Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 610 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.
UPenn did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $25,046 for Pennsylvania Engineering students with aid per year to attend UPenn.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Engineering at University of Pennsylvania
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 Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid. Pitt is a large public school situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It awarded 1,025 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Pitt also took the #5 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is $27,058 for Pennsylvania Engineering students with aid.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read full report on Engineering at University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus
Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Lehigh University landed the #4 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 544 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania engineering students with aid list, Lehigh has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lehigh is $34,384 for Pennsylvania Engineering students with aid.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Engineering at Lehigh University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carnegie Mellon University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,592 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carnegie Mellon, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Carnegie Mellon is $36,775 for pennsylvania engineering students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Engineering at Carnegie Mellon
Geneva College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 50 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Geneva, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Geneva is $19,179 for pennsylvania engineering students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Geneva Engineering Report
With a ranking of #7, Temple University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 336 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania engineering students with aid list, Temple has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Temple University is $23,888 for pennsylvania engineering students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read full report on Engineering at Temple University
Lafayette College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Easton, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 162 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Lafayette not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Lafayette College is $32,926 for Pennsylvania Engineering students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Engineering at Lafayette
University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 130 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Pitt Johnstown also made our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $17,457 for pennsylvania engineering students with aid per year to attend University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown.
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%.
Full University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown Engineering Report
York College of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. York, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 87 students in 2020-2021.
YCP did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $22,233 for Pennsylvania Engineering students with aid per year to attend YCP.
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%.
Full YCP Engineering Report
Gannon University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. This small school is located in Erie, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 83 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Gannon also made our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $22,473 for pennsylvania engineering students with aid per year to attend Gannon University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read more about Engineering at Gannon University
Villanova University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 431 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania engineering students with aid list, Villanova has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Villanova is $43,577 for pennsylvania engineering students with aid.
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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Engineering at Villanova University
Wilkes University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Wilkes University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 91 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Wilkes also made our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Wilkes is $29,618 for Pennsylvania Engineering students with aid.
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%.
Read full report on Engineering at Wilkes
With a ranking of #14, Messiah University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Messiah is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 55 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania engineering students with aid list, Messiah has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Messiah University is $26,864 for Pennsylvania Engineering students with aid.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read more about Engineering at Messiah
With a ranking of #15, Elizabethtown College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Etown is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 43 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Etown not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Elizabethtown College is $25,069 for Pennsylvania Engineering students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Engineering at Etown
Widener University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Chester, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 119 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania engineering students with aid list, Widener has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $31,792 for Pennsylvania Engineering students with aid per year to attend Widener University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Widener University Engineering Report
Drexel University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 886 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.
Drexel also made our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $35,963 for Pennsylvania Engineering students with aid per year to attend Drexel.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Engineering at Drexel University
Bucknell University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 174 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Bucknell not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bucknell is $43,895 for pennsylvania engineering students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Engineering at Bucknell University
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits