by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Pennsylvania, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **89** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 89 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 graduate school in Pennsylvania. Set in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Graduates go on to earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #2 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the top graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $89,327. Graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
Out of the 89 graduate schools in Pennsylvania in this year's ranking, Villanova University landed the #3 spot. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit school based in Villanova, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. 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.
The strong outcomes at Lehigh University earned it the #4 place in Pennsylvania. Based in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. In-state tuition and fees average $64,980. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,321. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus one of the top graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Set in Pittsburgh, PA, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,926. Typical student debt is $24,958.
Saint Josephs University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Saint Josephs University is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. Saint Josephs University posts a six-year graduation rate of 79%. Students from in state pay about $53,260 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $65,421 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,426 in student loans.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a public school based in University Park, PA. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Median early-career earnings reach $60,523. Students borrow a median of $25,266 to complete a degree here.
Drexel University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete a degree here.
University Of Scranton placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. This private not-for-profit school is set in Scranton, PA. About 80% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $53,777. Median early-career earnings reach $56,861. Typical student debt is $26,476.
Thomas Jefferson University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Thomas Jefferson University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,355. Median early-career earnings reach $64,243. Graduates carry a median of $32,256 in student loans.
Duquesne University placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Duquesne University is a private not-for-profit school based in Pittsburgh, PA. About 77% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,986. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,826. The median student debt is $26,297.
Temple University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. 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, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,642. The median student debt is $26,259.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Based in West Chester, PA, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,775, while out-of-state students pay about $22,599.
Wilkes University landed the #14 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Set in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Wilkes University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,496. Wilkes University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,004. Typical student debt is $26,601.
Gannon University landed the #15 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Located in Erie, PA, Gannon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Gannon University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. In-state tuition and fees average $40,656. Gannon University graduates report median early-career earnings of $73,658. Graduates carry a median of $26,934 in student loans.
Gettysburg College placed #16 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Gettysburg College is a private not-for-profit school based in Gettysburg, PA. Gettysburg College posts a six-year graduation rate of 82%. Students from in state pay about $66,640 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,376. Students borrow a median of $26,309 to complete a degree here.
Elizabethtown College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in Elizabethtown, PA, Elizabethtown College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,950. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,397 early in their careers. Elizabethtown College students take on a median of $26,599 in debt.
Bucknell University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Lewisburg, PA, Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bucknell University posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. Students from in state pay about $67,812 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,331 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,951.
Lake Erie College Of Osteopathic Medicine ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Erie, PA, Lake Erie College Of Osteopathic Medicine is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,790. Lake Erie College Of Osteopathic Medicine graduates report median early-career earnings of $76,633.
Lebanon Valley College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Annville, PA, Lebanon Valley College is a private not-for-profit institution. Lebanon Valley College posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. Students from in state pay about $52,080 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,801 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,767 in student loans.
Robert Morris University did well this year, earning the #21 position. Robert Morris University is a private not-for-profit school based in Moon Township, PA. Robert Morris University posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,770. Robert Morris University graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,900. Robert Morris University students take on a median of $26,748 in debt.
Widener University Main Campus placed #22 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Widener University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit school based in Chester, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Students from in state pay about $55,730 in tuition and fees. Widener University Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,864. Students borrow a median of $26,561 to complete a degree here.
Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine did well this year, earning the #23 position. Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. Early-career graduates earn a median of $70,065.
Messiah College placed #24 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Messiah College is a private not-for-profit school based in Mechanicsburg, PA. About 75% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,240. Messiah College graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,957. Typical student debt is $26,195.
Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school based in Lancaster, PA. Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. In-state tuition and fees average $32,933. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,496. Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences students take on a median of $26,402 in debt.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs 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.