2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
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 tops our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools in Pennsylvania. Located in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,930 in tuition and fees, 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 is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,646, with out-of-state students paying around $13,926. Students borrow a median of $13,068 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $37,711. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general engineering will find it at Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, which ranked #3. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,975, compared with $12,472 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,867 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg generally make around $41,382. Set against $20,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Community College Of Philadelphia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,632, with out-of-state students paying around $12,744. Students borrow a median of $16,059 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $37,988. That is a strong return on a $16,059 median debt.
Northampton County Area Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Northampton County Area Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Bethlehem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $15,270. Students borrow a median of $18,900 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $35,960. That is a strong return on a $18,900 median debt.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot for general engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,128, with out-of-state students paying around $22,952. Students borrow a median of $26,486 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $47,049 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,486 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Swarthmore College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,494. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Swarthmore College generally make around $66,971. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Robert Morris University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Moon Township, Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,770. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Robert Morris University earn a median of $61,163 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Robert Morris University admits about 90% of applicants.
Geneva College came in at #9 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Beaver Falls, Geneva College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,450. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Geneva College generally make around $62,486. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt.
Elizabethtown College earned the #10 position for value in general engineering this year. Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elizabethtown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,950. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Elizabethtown College earn a median of $73,003 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Elizabethtown College admits about 78% of applicants.
Temple University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Temple University earn a median of $54,642 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,259 median debt. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #12 position for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $72,825. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for general engineering. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $65,179. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Villanova University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,776. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $26,184. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $72,601. That is a strong return on a $26,184 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
More General Engineering Rankings
View All General Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
