2027 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in Pennsylvania
[General Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/general-social-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general social sciences students.
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2027 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general social sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Social Sciences Schools
Our analysis ranked Community College Of Allegheny County the best value for a degree in general social sciences in Pennsylvania. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,956, with out-of-state students paying around $12,583. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $15,263 in student loans. General Social Sciences graduates of Community College Of Allegheny County earn a median of $47,420 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earned it the #2 place for general social sciences. Set in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,975, while out-of-state students pay about $12,472. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. General Social Sciences graduates of Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earn a median of $27,600 early in their careers. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general social sciences will find it at Pennsylvania State University World Campus, which ranked #3. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. Students from in state pay about $15,356 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the general social sciences program here. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $40,584. Set against $29,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pennsylvania State University World Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the general social sciences program here. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $99,682. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
More General Social Sciences Rankings
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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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
