2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k
18
Ranked Colleges
10,191
Degrees Awarded
$18,200
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 198,468 engineering students received their degree, making the major the 7th most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $68,653 and had an average of $23,855 in loans still to pay off.
Across Pennsylvania, there were 10,191 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $70,080 and $26,180 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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 Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 18 Best Value Colleges for Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in Pennsylvania
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 610 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.
UPenn not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for UPenn is $1,938 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Engineering at UPenn
Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Carnegie Mellon University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 1,592 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.
Carnegie Mellon did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Carnegie Mellon is $13,608 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Carnegie Mellon University Engineering Report
Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this small public school handed out 39 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology also made our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $5,656 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
Full Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Engineering Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lehigh University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k. Lehigh is a medium-sized school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania that handed out 544 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Lehigh also took the #3 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $14,995 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lehigh.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Engineering at Lehigh
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lafayette College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Easton, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 162 students in 2020-2021.
Lafayette also took the #8 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $12,400 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lafayette.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Engineering at Lafayette
Geneva College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Geneva College is located in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 50 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.
Geneva also made our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $17,135 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Geneva.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Geneva College Engineering Report
With a ranking of #7, Villanova University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 431 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Villanova not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $26,460 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Villanova.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Villanova University Engineering Report
With a ranking of #8, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Pitt is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,025 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.
Pitt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is $17,691 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Pitt Engineering Report
Bucknell University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bucknell University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. It awarded 174 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bucknell, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $28,153 for pennsylvania engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bucknell.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Engineering at Bucknell
York College of Pennsylvania came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. York College of Pennsylvania is a small school located in York, Pennsylvania that handed out 87 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, YCP has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $18,893 for pennsylvania engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend York College of Pennsylvania.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Engineering at York College of Pennsylvania
Temple University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Temple University is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 336 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, Temple has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $19,355 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Temple University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Temple University Engineering Report
Gannon University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Erie, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 83 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Gannon, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $18,377 for pennsylvania engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Gannon.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Engineering at Gannon
University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Pitt Johnstown is located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 130 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.
Pitt Johnstown also made our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $11,073 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Pitt Johnstown.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Engineering at University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown
With a ranking of #14, Wilkes University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wilkes University is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 91 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.
Wilkes not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $25,051 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wilkes University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Wilkes Engineering Report
Messiah University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Messiah is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. It awarded 55 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Messiah not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $19,670 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Messiah.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Messiah University Engineering Report
Elizabethtown College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 43 students in 2020-2021.
Etown did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Elizabethtown College is $17,622 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Engineering at Elizabethtown College
Drexel University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Drexel is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 886 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Drexel also made our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $28,998 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Drexel University.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Drexel Engineering Report
Widener University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chester, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 119 students in 2020-2021.
Widener did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $31,220 for Pennsylvania Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Widener University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Engineering at Widener
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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
- *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.
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