2026 Best Value Molecular Biology Schools in Pennsylvania
[Molecular Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/biochemistry-biophysics-molecular-biology/molecular-biology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for molecular biology students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Molecular Biology Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the molecular biology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Molecular Biology Schools
Our analysis ranked Westminster College Pa the best value for a degree in molecular biology in Pennsylvania. Located in the rural area of New Wilmington, Westminster College Pa is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,290. Molecular Biology graduates carry a median of $26,528 in student loans. Early-career molecular biology graduates make about $41,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Students looking for strong value in molecular biology will find it at Messiah College, which ranked #2. Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $42,240. Students borrow a median of $26,195 to complete the molecular biology program here. Molecular Biology graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $48,957 early in their careers. Set against $26,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Messiah College admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in molecular biology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Molecular Biology graduates carry a median of $26,558 in student loans. Early-career molecular biology graduates make about $33,554. Set against $26,558 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lehigh University earned it the #4 place for molecular biology. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,980. Typical student debt for molecular biology graduates is $20,710. Early-career molecular biology graduates make about $70,321. That is a strong return on a $20,710 median debt. The acceptance rate is 26%.
Drexel University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value molecular biology schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for molecular biology graduates is $28,838. Molecular Biology graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
