2023 Best Value Colleges for Computer Science (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania
19
Ranked Colleges
1,957
Degrees Awarded
$17,600
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 59,565 people earned their degree in computer science, making the major the 12th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, computer science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $67,538 and had an average of $23,620 in loans still to pay off.
Across Pennsylvania, there were 1,957 computer science graduates with average earnings and debt of $78,562 and $27,446 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 19 colleges that offered a degree in computer science. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality computer science 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 computer science program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Computer Science 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 CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.
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 when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Computer Science (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pennsylvania landed the #1 spot on the list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s compsci degrees to 199 students in 2020-2021.
UPenn not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $580 for Pennsylvania CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Pennsylvania.
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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. 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%.
Full UPenn Computer Science Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carnegie Mellon University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 340 ’s compsci degrees to qualified students.
Carnegie Mellon also made our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $16,456 for Pennsylvania CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Carnegie Mellon.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lehigh University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lehigh is a medium-sized school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania that handed out 118 ’s compsci degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Lehigh has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lehigh University is $15,561 for pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read more about Computer Science at Lehigh University
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this large public school awarded 258 diplomas to qualified ’s compsci students in 2020-2021.
Pitt did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $15,084 for pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Pitt.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Computer Science Report
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Villanova University landed the #5 spot on the list. Villanova is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It awarded 91 ’s compsci degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Villanova has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $24,907 for pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k 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 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%.
Read more about Computer Science at Villanova
Harrisburg Area Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s compsci degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.
HACC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Harrisburg Area Community College is $9,741 for Pennsylvania CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Computer Science at Harrisburg Area Community College
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 22 degrees to qualified ’s compsci students in 2020-2021.
Bloomsburg also took the #9 spot in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bloomsburg is $16,112 for Pennsylvania CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Bloomsburg Computer Science Report
With a ranking of #8, Drexel University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Drexel is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 195 ’s compsci degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Drexel, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Drexel is $24,508 for pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, 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 88%.
Read full report on Computer Science at Drexel University
University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown did quite well in the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Johnstown, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s compsci degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.
Pitt Johnstown did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Pitt Johnstown is $10,570 for Pennsylvania CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Read more about Computer Science at Pitt Johnstown
York College of Pennsylvania ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. YCP is a small private not-for-profit school situated in York, Pennsylvania. It awarded 24 ’s compsci degrees in 2020-2021.
YCP also made our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for York College of Pennsylvania is $17,617 for pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Computer Science at YCP
La Roche University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. La Roche University is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s compsci degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, La Roche has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $18,744 for pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend La Roche.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Computer Science at La Roche University
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 96 ’s compsci degrees in 2020-2021.
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is $13,939 for pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Harrisburg University of Science and Technology Computer Science Report
With a ranking of #13, Duquesne University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Duquesne is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Duquesne has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $20,515 for Pennsylvania CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Duquesne University.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad 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 full report on Computer Science at Duquesne
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified ’s compsci students in 2020-2021.
Kutztown University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is $18,732 for Pennsylvania CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Computer Science at Kutztown University
La Salle University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. La Salle is a small school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 20 ’s compsci degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, La Salle has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $24,098 for Pennsylvania CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend La Salle.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Computer Science at La Salle
Central Penn College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Summerdale, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 24 ’s compsci degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Penn not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $17,737 for pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central Penn.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 Computer Science at Central Penn
South Hills School of Business & Technology landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. South Hills School of Business & Technology is a small private for-profit school situated in State College, Pennsylvania. It awarded 18 ’s compsci degrees in 2020-2021.
South Hills School of Business & Technology also made our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for South Hills School of Business & Technology is $15,368 for Pennsylvania CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 Computer Science at South Hills School of Business & Technology
With a ranking of #18, Keystone College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in La Plume, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified ’s compsci students in 2020-2021.
Keystone College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Keystone College is $25,001 for Pennsylvania CompSci students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Computer Science at Keystone College
Widener University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Widener University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chester, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Widener has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Widener University is $29,378 for pennsylvania compsci students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 full report on Computer Science at Widener 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.
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