2027 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania

[Electrical Engineering](/majors/engineering/ee-electrical-engineering/) 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 electrical engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in electrical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Montgomery County Community College, our #1 best value for electrical engineering in Pennsylvania. Located in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,690, compared with $17,250 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,219 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $39,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
York College Pennsylvania is a great value for students pursuing a degree in electrical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $25,588 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,537 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $53,667. That is a strong return on a $26,537 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in electrical engineering will find it at Pennsylvania State University World Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,356. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,062 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University World Campus earn a median of $61,674 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,062 median debt. Pennsylvania State University World Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a great value for students pursuing a degree in electrical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,972 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,958. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $74,958. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Widener University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in electrical engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $55,730. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Widener University Main Campus generally make around $82,611. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College landed the #6 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Erie, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,972 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,958. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College earn a median of $74,958 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Messiah College came in at #7 for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,240. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,195 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $48,957 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,195 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #8 spot for electrical engineering value 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. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $16,155. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #9 among the best values for electrical engineering. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $149,837 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. 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, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $76,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #11 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $27,000. Electrical Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $74,958 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Lafayette College landed the #12 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. Students from in state pay about $64,648 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,931 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Lafayette College generally make around $59,513. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
Lehigh University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,754 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $79,119. Set against $22,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University placed #14 among the best values for electrical engineering. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $29,986 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $93,959 early in their careers. Set against $29,986 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Bucknell University earned the #15 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,812. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,951 in student loans. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $64,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Villanova University placed #16 among the best values for electrical engineering. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,776. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $90,302 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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.
- 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.