2026 Best Value Value Schools in Pennsylvania
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Value Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Our analysis ranked Eastern University the best value for a degree in value in Pennsylvania. Set in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,400. Value graduates carry a median of $28,584 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Eastern University generally make around $50,474. Set against $28,584 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern University admits about 91% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the best values for value. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Dickinson College earned it the #3 place for value. Located in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,650. Students borrow a median of $19,014 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Dickinson College earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. Set against $19,014 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lehigh University earned it the #4 place for value. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,980. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,008. Early-career value graduates make about $70,321. Set against $23,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 26%.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
