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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $48-$75k) in Pennsylvania

17 Ranked Colleges
873 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Liberal Arts is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 2nd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 365,980 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

Across Pennsylvania, there were 2,349 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 873 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 17 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the liberal arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The liberal studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 17 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $48-$75k) in Pennsylvania

#1

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Carnegie Mellon University landed the #1 spot on the list. Carnegie Mellon is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Carnegie Mellon also took the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $18,276 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Carnegie Mellon University.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Carnegie Mellon Liberal Arts Report

#2

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Mansfield, Pennsylvania
#14 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania landed the #2 spot on the list. This small school is located in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Mansfield University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is $20,302 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

#3

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, Pennsylvania
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend West Chester University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. WCUPA is a public institution located in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 161 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WCUPA, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend West Chester University of Pennsylvania is $21,156 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at WCUPA

#4

University of Pittsburgh - Bradford

Bradford, Pennsylvania
#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pittsburgh - Bradford. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k. Bradford, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Pitt Bradford also took the #10 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Pitt Bradford is $18,803 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low 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 Liberal Arts at Pitt Bradford

#5

California University of Pennsylvania

California, Pennsylvania
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k. Cal U is a public institution located in California, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 55 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal U also took the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California University of Pennsylvania is $18,494 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Cal U Liberal Arts Report

#6

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Edinboro, Pennsylvania
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania is a small public school situated in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. It awarded 47 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Edinboro, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Edinboro University of Pennsylvania is $17,079 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Liberal Arts Report

#7

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion, Pennsylvania
#9 in overall quality

Clarion University of Pennsylvania ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. Clarion University is a small school located in Clarion, Pennsylvania that handed out 146 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Clarion University has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Clarion University is $19,358 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Clarion University of Pennsylvania

#8

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

Cheyney, Pennsylvania
#15 in overall quality

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is a small public school situated in Cheyney, Pennsylvania. It awarded 6 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $6,210 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

#9

Villanova University

Villanova, Pennsylvania
#2 in overall quality

Villanova University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. This fairly large school is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Villanova did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $30,371 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Villanova University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Villanova University Liberal Arts Report

#10

Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#4 in overall quality

Saint Joseph’s University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

St. Joe’s did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend St. Joe’s is $30,172 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Liberal Arts at St. Joe’s

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Pitt has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Pitt is $25,110 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Liberal Arts Report

#12

Lock Haven University

Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
#12 in overall quality

Lock Haven University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Lock Haven, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

LHU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for LHU is $20,433 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Lock Haven University

#13

Manor College

Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Manor College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. Manor College is a small school located in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania that handed out 3 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Manor College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Manor College is $18,067 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Manor College

#14

University of Scranton

Scranton, Pennsylvania
#7 in overall quality

University of Scranton ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Scranton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Scranton is $29,068 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at University of Scranton

#15

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#3 in overall quality

Drexel University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Drexel University is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 76 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Drexel has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Drexel is $33,324 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Drexel

#16

Lackawanna College

Scranton, Pennsylvania
#17 in overall quality

Lackawanna College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Lackawanna College is a small school located in Scranton, Pennsylvania that handed out 4 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Lackawanna College has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lackawanna College is $20,151 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Lackawanna College

#17

Neumann University

Aston, Pennsylvania
#11 in overall quality

Neumann University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Aston, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 67 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Neumann has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Neumann University is $22,953 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Neumann

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

Footnotes

  • *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.

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