2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid
19
Ranked Colleges
1,957
Degrees Awarded
$25,600
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
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.
For this year’s “Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 19 colleges that offer 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.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The compsci 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 CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid”.
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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Computer Science in Pennsylvania (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid. University of Pennsylvania is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 199 ’s compsci degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UPenn, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $25,046 for pennsylvania compsci students with aid per year to attend University of Pennsylvania.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. 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.
Read more about Computer Science at UPenn
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 Getting Aid. Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 340 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Carnegie Mellon not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $36,775 for pennsylvania compsci students with aid per year to attend Carnegie Mellon.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 more about Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Pitt is a public institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 258 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Pitt did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is $27,058 for Pennsylvania CompSci students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.
Full University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Computer Science Report
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Lehigh University landed the #4 spot on the list. Lehigh University is a medium-sized school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania that handed out 118 ’s compsci degrees in 2020-2021.
Lehigh also took the #3 spot in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lehigh is $34,384 for pennsylvania compsci students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Lehigh University Computer Science Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 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. It costs about $14,494 for pennsylvania compsci students with aid per year to attend Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.
Full Harrisburg University of Science and Technology Computer Science Report
With a ranking of #6, Harrisburg Area Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. HACC is located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 ’s compsci degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania compsci students with aid list, HACC has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $11,608 for Pennsylvania CompSci students with aid per year to attend HACC.
Full HACC Computer Science Report
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 22 ’s compsci degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bloomsburg, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $20,639 for pennsylvania compsci students with aid per year to attend Bloomsburg.
Read more about Computer Science at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania compsci students with aid list, Pitt Johnstown has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $17,457 for Pennsylvania CompSci students with aid per year to attend University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown.
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 full report on Computer Science at University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown
York College of Pennsylvania ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. York College of Pennsylvania is located in York, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s compsci degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania compsci students with aid list, YCP has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for YCP is $22,233 for Pennsylvania CompSci students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.
Full York College of Pennsylvania Computer Science Report
Central Penn College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Central Penn College is a private for-profit institution located in Summerdale, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Penn also made our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $19,065 for pennsylvania compsci students with aid per year to attend Central Penn College.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Central Penn Computer Science Report
La Salle University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 20 ’s compsci degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania compsci students with aid list, La Salle has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for La Salle University is $25,819 for Pennsylvania CompSci students with aid.
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 more about Computer Science at La Salle University
La Roche University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified ’s compsci students in 2020-2021.
La Roche also took the #14 spot in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for La Roche University is $21,892 for pennsylvania compsci students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.
Full La Roche University Computer Science Report
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is a public institution located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Kutztown University also made our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $23,227 for pennsylvania compsci students with aid per year to attend Kutztown University.
Full Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Computer Science Report
Villanova University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Villanova University is a fairly large school located in Villanova, Pennsylvania that handed out 91 ’s compsci degrees in 2020-2021.
Villanova did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Villanova is $43,577 for Pennsylvania CompSci students with aid.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Villanova University Computer Science Report
With a ranking of #15, Duquesne University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 22 diplomas to qualified ’s compsci students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Duquesne, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Duquesne University is $31,383 for Pennsylvania CompSci students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Duquesne Computer Science Report
Drexel University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Drexel University is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 195 ’s compsci degrees to qualified students.
Drexel not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Drexel University is $35,963 for pennsylvania compsci students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad 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%.
Full Drexel University Computer Science Report
Keystone College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Keystone College is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Plume, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Keystone College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $25,268 for pennsylvania compsci students with aid per year to attend Keystone College.
Read full report on Computer Science at Keystone College
Widener University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Chester, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 18 ’s compsci degrees in 2020-2021.
Widener not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Widener University is $31,792 for Pennsylvania CompSci students with aid.
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
South Hills School of Business & Technology came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. State College, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s compsci degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Hills School of Business & Technology, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Computer Science Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for South Hills School of Business & Technology is $18,366 for pennsylvania compsci students with aid.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full South Hills School of Business & Technology Computer Science Report
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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.
Credits
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