by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Pennsylvania Schools For The Money For Those Making $0-$30k ranking - to help you make that decision. You may be surprised that some normally high-priced schools offer very generous financial aid packages to those who qualify.
In This Year's Value Report:
We analyzed 116 schools across Pennsylvania to determine which have the best value programs. Our ranking for the best value schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking, we first look at its average net price of a student coming from a family that makes $0-$30k a year. The net price is defined as the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that the student receives. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University of Pennsylvania tops this year’s ranking as the best value (income $0-$30k) school in Pennsylvania for overall quality. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Not only is University of Pennsylvania a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Pennsylvania for overall quality.
Out of the 116 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Dickinson College landed the #2 spot on the list. Dickinson is located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Dickinson College a great value, but it is also ranked #17 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $1,245.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carnegie Mellon University. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. Carnegie Mellon University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Carnegie Mellon University has the honor of being ranked #2 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $14,879.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Swarthmore College. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. Swarthmore is a private not-for-profit institution located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
Not only is Swarthmore College a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,638.
A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list means Haverford College is a great place for students working on their degree. Haverford is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Haverford, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Haverford College is ranked #13 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,923.
With a ranking of #6, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. This small public school is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Not only is Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology a great value, but it is also ranked #24 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,265.
Learn More About Value at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
West Chester University of Pennsylvania landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. This fairly large public school is located in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Not only is West Chester University of Pennsylvania a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,168.
Drexel University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Drexel University a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $11,843.
With a ranking of #9, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. SRU is located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania a great value, but it is also ranked #34 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,382.
Learn More About Value at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Lehigh University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. Lehigh is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Not only is Lehigh University a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $15,188.
Community College of Allegheny County came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. CCAC is a public institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Not only is Community College of Allegheny County a great value, but it is also ranked #59 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,339.
Learn More About Value at Community College of Allegheny County
Montgomery County Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #12. Montco is a medium-sized public school situated in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Montgomery County Community College is ranked #90 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,327.
Read full value report on Montgomery County Community College
University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #13. This large public school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Not only is University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $15,534.
Full University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Value Report
Gettysburg College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #14. Gettysburg is a private not-for-profit institution located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Gettysburg College is ranked #18 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,468.
With a ranking of #15, Holy Family University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Holy Family University a great value, but it is also ranked #51 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,155.
Bucks County Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. Bucks County Community College is located in Newtown, Pennsylvania and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Bucks County Community College is ranked #95 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,704.
Villanova University landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. Villanova is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania and has a fairly large student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Villanova University has the honor of being ranked #6 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $17,291.
With a ranking of #18, Muhlenberg College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. Muhlenberg is a private not-for-profit institution located in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Muhlenberg College has the honor of being ranked #23 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,756.
Northampton County Area Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. Northampton Community College is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Northampton County Area Community College has the honor of being ranked #101 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,370.
Delaware County Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. Delaware County Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Media, Pennsylvania.
Not only is Delaware County Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #56 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $10,559.
Clarion University of Pennsylvania ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. This small public school is located in Clarion, Pennsylvania.
Clarion University of Pennsylvania has the honor of being ranked #67 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,995.
Butler County Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. This small public school is located in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Butler County Community College has the honor of being ranked #109 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,935.
Community College of Beaver County came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. Monaca, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Community College of Beaver County a great value, but it is also ranked #105 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,462.
Learn More About Value at Community College of Beaver County
Harrisburg Area Community College landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. Harrisburg Area Community College is a fairly large public school located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Harrisburg Area Community College is ranked #88 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,584.
Lehigh Carbon Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. Lehigh Carbon Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
Lehigh Carbon Community College has the honor of being ranked #94 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,773.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.