2026 Best Value General Education Schools in Pennsylvania
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/education-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 48 schools to find the best return on investment for general education students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value General Education Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Education Schools
Lehigh Carbon Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value general education schools in Pennsylvania. Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Schnecksville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $13,270. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $11,000. General Education graduates of Lehigh Carbon Community College earn a median of $39,957 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Holy Family University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,330. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,562 in student loans. General Education graduates of Holy Family University earn a median of $58,924 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,562 median debt. Holy Family University admits about 71% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Butler County Community College one of the best values for general education. Located in the town of Butler, Butler County Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,910, with out-of-state students paying around $12,000. Students borrow a median of $10,836 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Butler County Community College generally make around $41,492. Set against $10,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Pennsylvania Western University, which ranked #4. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. Students from in state pay about $11,436 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,054 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,295. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Johnstown, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,110, with out-of-state students paying around $13,350. Students borrow a median of $11,732 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $40,014. Set against $11,732 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Reading Area Community College earned the #6 position for value in general education this year. Set in the city of Reading, Reading Area Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,480, while out-of-state students pay about $12,510. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $13,979. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Reading Area Community College generally make around $49,248. Set against $13,979 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
York College Pennsylvania came in at #7 for value in general education this year. Located in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,588. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,537 in student loans. General Education graduates of York College Pennsylvania earn a median of $63,072 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. York College Pennsylvania admits about 74% of applicants.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania came in at #8 for value in general education this year. Located in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,128, compared with $22,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,486 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $47,049. That is a strong return on a $26,486 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Francis University placed #9 among the best values for general education. Located in the rural area of Loretto, Saint Francis University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,388. Students borrow a median of $30,729 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Saint Francis University earn a median of $63,097 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Francis University admits about 77% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus landed the #10 spot for general education value this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,356. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
La Salle University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $37,800 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,462 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from La Salle University generally make around $63,073. That is a strong return on a $25,462 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Wilson College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Wilson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chambersburg. In-state tuition and fees average $27,100. Students borrow a median of $34,814 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Wilson College earn a median of $58,020 early in their careers. Set against $34,814 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Albright College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Albright College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Reading. In-state tuition and fees average $29,082. Students borrow a median of $28,958 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Albright College generally make around $38,075. Set against $28,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Cedar Crest College came in at #14 for value in general education this year. Set in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $46,314 in tuition and fees. General Education graduates carry a median of $30,759 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $59,798. Set against $30,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cedar Crest College admits about 84% of applicants.
Messiah College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,240. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,195 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Messiah College generally make around $54,508. Set against $26,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary landed the #16 spot for general education value this year. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,500. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,857 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $48,472. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary admits about 54% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #17 position for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $59,841. That is a strong return on a $24,958 median debt. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #18 position for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. General Education graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $80,997. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Bucknell University placed #19 among the best values for general education. Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lewisburg. Students from in state pay about $67,812 in tuition and fees. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,951 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Bucknell University generally make around $64,331. That is a strong return on a $25,951 median debt. The acceptance rate is 29%.
More General Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 48 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
