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2026 Best Value Value Schools in Pennsylvania

[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/criminalistics-and-criminal-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Value Schools in Pennsylvania

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

1

Gannon University
Erie, PA

$40,656 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,934 Avg Student Debt

$58,845 Median Earnings (10yr)

Gannon University earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in Pennsylvania. Set in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,656. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,934. Early-career value graduates make about $73,658. Set against $26,934 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.

2

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Park, PA

$20,644 In-State Tuition & Fees

$63,435 Median Earnings (10yr)

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.

View All Value Rankings >

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 · 9 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.