by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/education-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general education schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Holy Family University tops our 2027 list of the best value general education schools in Pennsylvania. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,330. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $26,562. Early-career general education graduates make about $58,924. Set against $26,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lehigh Carbon Community College earned it the #2 place for general education. Located in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, 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. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Butler County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Butler, Butler County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,910, with out-of-state students paying around $12,000. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $10,836. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Butler County Community College generally make around $41,492. That is a strong return on a $10,836 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at York College Pennsylvania earned it the #4 place for general education. York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of York. In-state tuition and fees average $25,588. Students borrow a median of $26,537 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from York College Pennsylvania generally make around $63,072. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes La Salle University one of the best values for general education. 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. Early-career general education graduates make about $63,073. Set against $25,462 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. La Salle University admits about 97% of applicants.
Pennsylvania Western University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,436 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,054. Students borrow a median of $28,263 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Pennsylvania Western University earn a median of $53,403 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Cedar Crest College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Located in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,314. General Education graduates carry a median of $30,759 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Cedar Crest College generally make around $59,798. Set against $30,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Albright College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the city of Reading, Albright College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $29,082 in tuition and fees. 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. That is a strong return on a $28,958 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,128 in tuition and fees, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Wilson College earned the #10 position for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Chambersburg, Wilson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,100 in tuition and fees. 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. That is a strong return on a $34,814 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Francis University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Located in the rural area of Loretto, Saint Francis University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $26,388 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $30,729. Early-career general education graduates make about $63,097. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Messiah College landed the #12 spot for general education value this year. Located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,240. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,195 in student loans. General Education graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $54,508 early in their careers. Set against $26,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #13 for value in general education this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $80,997. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Temple University earned the #14 position for value in general education this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $26,259. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $83,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,500. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,857 in student loans. General Education graduates of Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary earn a median of $48,472 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,857 median debt. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Bucknell University landed the #16 spot for general education value this year. Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lewisburg. In-state tuition and fees average $67,812. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,951 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $64,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.