2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/other-general-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for general engineering students.
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2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Engineering Schools
Delaware County Community College earned the #1 spot for value among general engineering schools in Pennsylvania. Delaware County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Media. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,930, compared with $15,540 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $14,866. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $40,102. Set against $14,866 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bucks County Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Bucks County Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Newtown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, compared with $13,926 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,068 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Bucks County Community College earn a median of $37,711 early in their careers. Set against $13,068 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg one of the best values for general engineering. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisburg. In-state tuition and fees average $6,975, compared with $12,472 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,867 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg generally make around $41,382. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Community College Of Philadelphia came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,632, compared with $12,744 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,059 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $37,988. Set against $16,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northampton County Area Community College earned it the #5 place for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,550, while out-of-state students pay about $15,270. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $18,900. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $35,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Swarthmore College placed #6 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,494 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Swarthmore College generally make around $66,971. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Robert Morris University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Moon Township, Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,770. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Robert Morris University earn a median of $61,163 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Geneva College earned the #8 position for value in general engineering this year. Geneva College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Beaver Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,450. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $62,486. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt.
Elizabethtown College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elizabethtown. In-state tuition and fees average $37,950. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $73,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Elizabethtown College admits about 78% of applicants.
Temple University placed #10 among the best values for general engineering. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $26,259. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $54,642. Set against $26,259 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #11 spot for general engineering value this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $19,500. General Engineering graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $72,825 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #12 for value in general engineering this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $27,000. General Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $65,179 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Villanova University landed the #13 spot for general engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,776. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $72,601. Set against $26,184 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Villanova University admits about 27% of applicants.
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
