by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. This list may shock you as many typically expensive schools are very generous with need-based financial aid.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 116 schools in Pennsylvania, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania ranking is to look at the school's average net price - the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Pennsylvania to be the best value (with aid) school in Pennsylvania in this year’s ranking. 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. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $14,578.
A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania list means Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is ranked #24 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $10,092.
Read full value report on Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
Out of the 116 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Community College of Allegheny County landed the #3 spot on the list. CCAC is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Community College of Allegheny County has the honor of being ranked #59 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $8,297 a year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend West Chester University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania list. WCUPA is a public institution located in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, West Chester University of Pennsylvania is ranked #14 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $14,133 a year.
Learn More About Value at West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Out of the 116 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Montgomery County Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Blue Bell, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Montgomery County Community College has the honor of being ranked #90 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $7,093 a year.
Learn More About Value at Montgomery County Community College
Swarthmore College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania ranking. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Swarthmore College is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $19,733 a year.
With a ranking of #7, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania list. SRU is located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania has the honor of being ranked #34 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $12,364 a year.
Bucks County Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania ranking. Bucks County Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Newtown, Pennsylvania.
Not only is Bucks County Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #95 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $7,062.
Holy Family University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Holy Family University a great value, but it is also ranked #51 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $11,935 a year.
With a ranking of #10, Community College of Beaver County did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania list. CCBC is a public institution located in Monaca, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Community College of Beaver County is ranked #105 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,900 a year.
With a ranking of #11, Northampton County Area Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania list. Northampton Community College is a public institution located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Northampton County Area Community College has the honor of being ranked #101 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $7,574.
Read full value report on Northampton County Area Community College
Lehigh Carbon Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania ranking. Lehigh Carbon Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lehigh Carbon Community College is ranked #94 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $8,576.
Butler County Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania ranking. BC3 is a public institution located in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Not only is Butler County Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #109 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $5,572.
Delaware County Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania ranking. Delaware County Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Media, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Delaware County Community College is ranked #56 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $13,178 a year.
Luzerne County Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania list. Located in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Luzerne County Community College is ranked #104 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $7,942 a year.
Community College of Philadelphia landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania ranking. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Community College of Philadelphia has the honor of being ranked #76 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $12,612.
Clarion University of Pennsylvania ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania list. Clarion, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Clarion University of Pennsylvania is ranked #67 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $13,840 a year.
Read full value report on Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Harrisburg Area Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania ranking. Harrisburg Area Community College is a fairly large public school located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Harrisburg Area Community College has the honor of being ranked #88 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $12,147.
With a ranking of #19, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania list. This large public school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $22,996.
Full University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Value Report
Reading Area Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Reading, Pennsylvania, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Reading Area Community College is ranked #107 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $8,920.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania ranking. This small public school is located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Not only is Pennsylvania Highlands Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #110 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $7,236.
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania ranking. Bloomsburg is a public institution located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania has the honor of being ranked #50 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $16,738 a year.
Dickinson College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania list. Dickinson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Dickinson College is ranked #17 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $20,913 a year.
Temple University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania list. Temple is a public institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Not only is Temple University a great value, but it is also ranked #10 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $23,224 a year.
Lock Haven University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Pennsylvania ranking. LHU is located in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Lock Haven University a great value, but it is also ranked #72 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $15,947 a year.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.