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2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania

18 Ranked Colleges
878 Degrees Awarded
$19,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Education Schools for a Master's in Pennsylvania

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 Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania” ranking is part of that endeavor.

General Education is the 35th most popular major in the country with 29,936 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,138 and had an average of $29,674 in loans still to pay off.

Across Pennsylvania, there were 1,064 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $43,409 and $27,324 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 878 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in general education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general education programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general education program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania.

Top 18 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education in Pennsylvania

#1

Cabrini University

Radnor, Pennsylvania

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Cabrini University landed the #1 spot on the list. Cabrini University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Radnor, Pennsylvania. It awarded 50 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania master’s degree education students list, Cabrini University has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cabrini University are $2,250, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cabrini University General Education Report

#2

Messiah University

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Messiah University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania master’s degree education students list, Messiah has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Messiah University are $12,780.

Read more about General Education at Messiah University

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this large public school handed out 168 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania master’s degree education students list, Pitt has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pitt are $40,836, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus

#4

York College of Pennsylvania

York, Pennsylvania
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend York College of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania. York College of Pennsylvania is a small private not-for-profit school situated in York, Pennsylvania. It awarded 21 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at YCP, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at YCP are $12,870.

Read more about General Education at YCP

#5

Wilson College

Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
#11 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Wilson College landed the #5 spot on the list. Wilson is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. It awarded 43 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wilson, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wilson are $9,990.

Read more about General Education at Wilson College

#6

Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Saint Joseph’s University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania list. St. Joe’s is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Joe’s also took the #4 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Joseph’s University are $17,802.

Read full report on General Education at Saint Joseph’s University

#7

Westminster College Pennsylvania

New Wilmington, Pennsylvania
#10 in overall quality

Westminster College Pennsylvania came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 3 degrees to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

Westminster New Wilmington also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Westminster College Pennsylvania are $13,170.

Read full report on General Education at Westminster New Wilmington

#8

California University of Pennsylvania

California, Pennsylvania

California University of Pennsylvania landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in California, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 61 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania master’s degree education students list, Cal U has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California University of Pennsylvania are $18,508.

Full Cal U General Education Report

#9

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville, Pennsylvania
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Millersville University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania list. Millersville is a medium-sized school located in Millersville, Pennsylvania that handed out 19 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Millersville not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Millersville are $16,350.

Read more about General Education at Millersville University of Pennsylvania

#10

Holy Family University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#14 in overall quality

Holy Family University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania ranking. Holy Family is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

Holy Family also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at Holy Family are $10,847, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Holy Family University General Education Report

#11

Cedar Crest College

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Cedar Crest College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #11. Cedar Crest is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 29 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Cedar Crest also took the #17 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cedar Crest are $15,092, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Cedar Crest General Education Report

#12

Alvernia University

Reading, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #12, Alvernia University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania list. Located in Reading, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

Alvernia also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at Alvernia University are $15,666, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at Alvernia University

#13

La Salle University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #13, La Salle University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania list. This small school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 147 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania master’s degree education students list, La Salle has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at La Salle are $26,250.

Read full report on General Education at La Salle University

#14

Chestnut Hill College

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#18 in overall quality

Chestnut Hill College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania list. CHC is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 3 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CHC, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chestnut Hill College are $17,625, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at CHC

#15

Saint Francis University

Loretto, Pennsylvania

Saint Francis University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania ranking. This small school is located in Loretto, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 20 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Saint Francis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Francis are $25,500, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at Saint Francis University

#16

Widener University

Chester, Pennsylvania
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Widener University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania list. Chester, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania master’s degree education students list, Widener has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Widener are $24,810.

Read more about General Education at Widener

#17

Arcadia University

Glenside, Pennsylvania
#12 in overall quality

Arcadia University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #17. Arcadia is located in Glenside, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Arcadia, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Arcadia University are $28,120.

Read full report on General Education at Arcadia

#18

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in Pennsylvania list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s education degrees to 157 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UPenn, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Pennsylvania are $41,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at UPenn

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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

Footnotes

  • *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

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO.

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