by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Pennsylvania, it can be hard to know where to start. We have ranked **35** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 35 graduate schools using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Carnegie Mellon University tops our 2026 ranking of the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Set in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,636. Carnegie Mellon University graduates report median early-career earnings of $89,327. The median student debt is $23,529.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the top graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Based in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,686. Graduates go on to earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. The median student debt is $16,155.
The strong outcomes at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned it the #3 place in Pennsylvania. This public school is set in University Park, PA. About 86% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790.
You'll be in good company at Lehigh University, which ranked #4 this year. Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bethlehem, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $70,321. Graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans.
A rank of #5 makes Villanova University one of the top graduate schools in Pennsylvania. This private not-for-profit school is set in Villanova, PA. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $67,776. Villanova University graduates report median early-career earnings of $72,601. The median student debt is $26,184.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public school based in Pittsburgh, PA. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,926 early in their careers. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students take on a median of $24,958 in debt.
Duquesne University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pittsburgh, PA. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,986. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,826. Students borrow a median of $26,297 to complete a degree here.
Drexel University landed the #8 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Drexel University is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,412. Median early-career earnings reach $67,556. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete a degree here.
Saint Josephs University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Saint Josephs University is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Josephs University graduates 79% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,260. Early-career graduates earn a median of $65,421. Typical student debt is $26,426.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania did well this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in West Chester, PA. About 70% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,775, with out-of-state students paying around $22,599.
Thomas Jefferson University placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. In-state tuition and fees run about $47,355. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,243. Graduates carry a median of $32,256 in student loans.
Wilkes University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Wilkes University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Students from in state pay about $43,496 in tuition and fees. Wilkes University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,004. The median student debt is $26,601.
Temple University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,642. Temple University students take on a median of $26,259 in debt.
Widener University Main Campus came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Chester, PA, Widener University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Widener University Main Campus graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $55,730. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,864. Typical student debt is $26,561.
Gannon University landed the #15 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Gannon University is a private not-for-profit school based in Erie, PA. Gannon University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,656. Early-career graduates earn a median of $73,658. Students borrow a median of $26,934 to complete a degree here.
Immaculata University placed #16 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Immaculata University is a private not-for-profit school based in Immaculata, PA. Immaculata University graduates 71% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $28,980. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,223. Students borrow a median of $27,738 to complete a degree here.
Gwynedd Mercy College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set in Gwynedd Valley, PA, Gwynedd Mercy College is a private not-for-profit institution. Gwynedd Mercy College posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,838. Early-career graduates earn a median of $65,243. The median student debt is $29,764.
Holy Family University landed the #18 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Holy Family University is a private not-for-profit institution. Holy Family University posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. Students from in state pay about $35,330 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,355. Students borrow a median of $26,562 to complete a degree here.
Robert Morris University placed #19 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Located in Moon Township, PA, Robert Morris University is a private not-for-profit institution. Robert Morris University graduates 66% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,770. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,900 early in their careers. Robert Morris University students take on a median of $26,748 in debt.
Delaware Valley College placed #20 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Delaware Valley College is a private not-for-profit school based in Doylestown, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,850. Delaware Valley College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,012. Students borrow a median of $26,278 to complete a degree here.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus placed #21 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. This public school is set in Indiana, PA. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,380, while out-of-state students pay about $16,297. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,972 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,513.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a public school based in Slippery Rock, PA. About 66% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,568, compared with $14,676 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,294 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,330 in student loans.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Middletown, PA, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a public institution. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg graduates 26% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,972, compared with $26,958 for out-of-state students.
Arcadia University placed #24 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Set in Glenside, PA, Arcadia University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $49,610 in tuition and fees. Arcadia University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,764. Typical student debt is $26,921.
Lake Erie College Of Osteopathic Medicine landed the #25 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Based in Erie, PA, Lake Erie College Of Osteopathic Medicine is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,790. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $76,633.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.