2027 Best Value Science Education Schools in Pennsylvania

[Science Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/science-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for science education students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Science Education Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in science education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Science Education Schools
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus tops our 2027 list of the best value science education schools in Pennsylvania. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,380, compared with $16,297 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $26,513. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus generally make around $53,627. That is a strong return on a $26,513 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in science education will find it at Pennsylvania Western University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,436, while out-of-state students pay about $16,054. Students borrow a median of $28,263 to complete the science education program here. Early-career science education graduates make about $45,448. Set against $28,263 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes York College Pennsylvania one of the best values for science education. Set in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,588. Science Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career science education graduates make about $53,667. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #4 place for science education. Set in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,568, compared with $14,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $26,330. Early-career science education graduates make about $54,994. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #5 place for science education. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Shippensburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,570, with out-of-state students paying around $15,824. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $26,307. Early-career science education graduates make about $46,912. That is a strong return on a $26,307 median debt. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania admits about 86% of applicants.
Wilkes University landed the #6 spot for science education value this year. Located in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $43,496. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $26,601. Early-career science education graduates make about $59,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wilkes University admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #7 position for value in science education this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Science Education graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Early-career science education graduates make about $54,350. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Arcadia University earned the #8 position for value in science education this year. Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glenside. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,610. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $26,921. Soon after graduation, science education degree recipients from Arcadia University generally make around $46,764. Set against $26,921 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #9 spot for science education value 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. Typical student debt for science education graduates is $26,176. Early-career science education graduates make about $41,795. Set against $26,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
More Science Education Rankings
View All Science Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.