2023 Best Schools in Pennsylvania
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also there are many trade schools and bpptcamp that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Schools in Pennsylvania to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 106 schools in Pennsylvania to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Schools in Pennsylvania
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Bucknell University the best school in Pennsylvania for students working on their degree.
Degree recipients from Bucknell accumulate an average of $20,110 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $741. During the early years of their career, Bucknell graduates make an average of $56,780 annually.
Out of the 106 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Carnegie Mellon University landed the # 2 spot on the list.
Once they receive their degree, Carnegie Mellon graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $77,372 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Schools in Pennsylvania list.
On average, students take out $17,262 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $547.After graduating from UPenn, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $81,207 during the early years of their career.
The excellent programs at Lafayette College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Pennsylvania.
Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $616 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Lafayette, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,246 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Swarthmore College is a great place for students.
On average, students take out $14,475 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Swarthmore graduates make an average of $60,066 annually.
Lehigh University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Pennsylvania ranking.
For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $621. During the early years of their career, Lehigh graduates make an average of $66,716 annually.
With a ranking of #7, Villanova University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,526 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $594, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Villanova graduates make an average of $62,813 annually.
Gettysburg College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Schools in Pennsylvania list.
Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $565 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Gettysburg graduates make an average of $35,869 annually.
Lebanon Valley College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Schools in Pennsylvania list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,080 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $330, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from LVC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,651 during the early years of their career.
Elizabethtown College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Schools in Pennsylvania list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,645 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $593 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Etown, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,198 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #11, Thomas Jefferson University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
On average, students take out $31,910 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $535. During the early years of their career, Thomas Jefferson University graduates make an average of $59,708 annually.
With a ranking of #12, Franklin and Marshall College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
Degree recipients from Franklin and Marshall accumulate an average of $20,591 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Franklin and Marshall graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,704 during the early year of their career.
Dickinson College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Pennsylvania ranking.
During the early years of their career, Dickinson graduates make an average of $39,656 annually.
Saint Joseph’s University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Pennsylvania ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,654 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $685 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, St. Joe’s graduates make an average of $54,956 annually.
Washington & Jefferson College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #15 on the list.
On average, students take out $24,875 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $417.After graduating from W&J, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,117 during the early years of their career.
Lycoming College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Pennsylvania ranking.
Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $374 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Lycoming graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $31,122 during the early year of their career.
University of Scranton came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Pennsylvania ranking.
On average, students take out $24,211 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $590.After graduating from University of Scranton, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,740 during the early years of their career.
Saint Vincent College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
Degree recipients from Saint Vincent accumulate an average of $26,112 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $392. Once they receive their degree, Saint Vincent graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,935 during the early year of their career.
Ursinus College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
Degree recipients from Ursinus accumulate an average of $25,906 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $506 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Ursinus, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $29,561 during the early years of their career.
Muhlenberg College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #20 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,583 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $513 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Muhlenberg graduates make an average of $34,545 annually.
With a ranking of #21, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,994 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $447.After graduating from Pitt, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,696 during the early years of their career.
Juniata College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #22 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,086 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Juniata graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $29,849 during the early year of their career.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania ranked #23 on this year’s Best Schools in Pennsylvania list.
Once they receive their degree, WCUPA graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,790 during the early year of their career.
King’s College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
Degree recipients from King’s College PA accumulate an average of $26,656 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $525, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, King’s College PA graduates make an average of $44,863 annually.
Duquesne University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,974 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $654 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Duquesne graduates make an average of $48,645 annually.
Best Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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