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 **55** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 55 graduate schools across over 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 graduate school in Pennsylvania. University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. University Of Pennsylvania graduates report median early-career earnings of $99,682. University Of Pennsylvania students take on a median of $16,155 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Carnegie Mellon University, which ranked #2 this year. Set in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,636. Graduates go on to earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,529.
Out of the 55 graduate schools in Pennsylvania in this year's ranking, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in University Park, PA. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students.
Out of the 55 graduate schools in Pennsylvania in this year's ranking, Villanova University landed the #4 spot. Based in Villanova, PA, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. Villanova University posts a six-year graduation rate of 92%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,776. Villanova University graduates report median early-career earnings of $72,601. Typical student debt is $26,184.
Lehigh University came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Pennsylvania. Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bethlehem, PA. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,321. Graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans.
Saint Josephs University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Saint Josephs University is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. Saint Josephs University graduates 79% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $53,260. Graduates go on to earn a median of $65,421 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,426 to complete a degree here.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public school based in Pittsburgh, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, 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.
Drexel University did well this year, earning the #8 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Drexel University graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,556. Drexel University students take on a median of $28,838 in debt.
Duquesne University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Pittsburgh, PA, Duquesne University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,986. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,826 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,297.
Thomas Jefferson University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Thomas Jefferson University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Students from in state pay about $47,355 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,243. The median student debt is $32,256.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public school based in West Chester, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,775, compared with $22,599 for out-of-state students.
University Of Scranton ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Scranton, PA. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,777. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,861 early in their careers. University Of Scranton students take on a median of $26,500 in debt.
Temple University landed the #13 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Median early-career earnings reach $54,642. The median student debt is $26,259.
Elizabethtown College did well this year, earning the #14 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Elizabethtown, PA. About 76% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,950. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,397. Graduates carry a median of $26,599 in student loans.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus did well this year, earning the #15 position. Set in University Park, PA, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a public institution. About 34% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,356.
Wilkes University placed #16 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Set in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Wilkes University is a private not-for-profit institution. Wilkes University posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. In-state tuition and fees average $43,496. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,004. The median student debt is $26,601.
Lake Erie College Of Osteopathic Medicine landed the #17 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Lake Erie College Of Osteopathic Medicine is a private not-for-profit school based in Erie, PA. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,790. Median early-career earnings reach $76,633.
Gettysburg College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Gettysburg College is a private not-for-profit school based in Gettysburg, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. In-state tuition and fees average $66,640. Gettysburg College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,376. Students borrow a median of $26,309 to complete a degree here.
Lebanon Valley College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Annville, PA. About 65% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,080. Median early-career earnings reach $49,801. Graduates carry a median of $26,767 in student loans.
Bucknell University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Lewisburg, PA, Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bucknell University posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. In-state tuition and fees average $67,812. Median early-career earnings reach $64,331. Typical student debt is $25,951.
Widener University Main Campus came in at #21 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chester, PA. About 68% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,730. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,864 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,561.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Great Valley landed the #22 spot in Pennsylvania this year. This public school is set in Malvern, PA.
Gannon University placed #23 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. This private not-for-profit school is set in Erie, PA. About 67% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,656. Gannon University graduates report median early-career earnings of $73,658. Students borrow a median of $26,934 to complete a degree here.
Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine landed the #24 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine is a private not-for-profit institution. Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine graduates report median early-career earnings of $70,065.
La Salle University landed the #25 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Located in Philadelphia, PA, La Salle University is a private not-for-profit institution. La Salle University graduates 58% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $37,800. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,618. Students borrow a median of $25,462 to complete a degree here.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.