by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. This list may shock you as many typically expensive schools are very generous with need-based financial aid.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 86 schools in Pennsylvania, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value Bachelor's Degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University of Pennsylvania tops this year’s ranking as the best value (income $0-$30k) school for bachelor’s degrees in Pennsylvania for overall quality. UPenn is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Not only is University of Pennsylvania a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Pennsylvania for overall quality.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dickinson College. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. Carlisle, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Dickinson College is ranked #16 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,245.
Out of the 86 bachelor’s degree schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Carnegie Mellon University landed the #3 spot on the list. Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Carnegie Mellon University has the honor of being ranked #2 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $14,879.
Out of the 86 bachelor’s degree schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Swarthmore College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Swarthmore College is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,638.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Haverford College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. Haverford, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Haverford College a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,923.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #6. Located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the school is a fairly large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, West Chester University of Pennsylvania is ranked #14 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,168.
Drexel University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #7. Drexel is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has a large student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Drexel University a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $11,843.
Lehigh University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #8. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Lehigh University has the honor of being ranked #3 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $15,188.
With a ranking of #9, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized public school located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania has the honor of being ranked #26 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,382.
University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus has the honor of being ranked #7 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $15,534.
Full University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Value Report
Gettysburg College landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. Gettysburg College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Gettysburg College is ranked #17 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,468.
Villanova University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #12. Villanova is a private not-for-profit institution located in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
Not only is Villanova University a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $17,291.
Holy Family University landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. Holy Family is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Holy Family University has the honor of being ranked #49 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,155.
With a ranking of #14, Muhlenberg College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Muhlenberg College is ranked #20 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,756.
Temple University landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. Temple is a public institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Temple University is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $17,212.
With a ranking of #16, Franklin and Marshall College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Franklin and Marshall College is ranked #18 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $14,608.
Clarion University of Pennsylvania ranked #17 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. This small public school is located in Clarion, Pennsylvania.
Not only is Clarion University of Pennsylvania a great value, but it is also ranked #63 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,995.
With a ranking of #18, University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. Pitt Johnstown is located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown a great value, but it is also ranked #68 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,978.
Read full value report on University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown
Messiah University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #19. Messiah University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
Messiah University has the honor of being ranked #28 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,658.
Lycoming College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #20. Lycoming is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Not only is Lycoming College a great value, but it is also ranked #42 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,700.
Lock Haven University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lock Haven University is ranked #65 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,959.
University of Pittsburgh - Greensburg did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #22. University of Pittsburgh - Greensburg is a small public school located in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Not only is University of Pittsburgh - Greensburg a great value, but it is also ranked #69 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $10,765.
Learn More About Value at University of Pittsburgh - Greensburg
Thomas Jefferson University landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking. Thomas Jefferson University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Thomas Jefferson University has the honor of being ranked #12 in Pennsylvania for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $18,511.
With a ranking of #24, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania list. Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is a small public school located in Mansfield, Pennsylvania.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is ranked #83 for quality in the state of Pennsylvania. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,247.
Learn More About Value at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Millersville University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #25. Millersville, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Millersville University of Pennsylvania a great value, but it is also ranked #46 in Pennsylvania for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,667.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
