2023 Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
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. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
The Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 37 schools in Pennsylvania to see which undergraduate certificate programs offered the best value experiences for students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Butler County Community College to be the best value school for students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in Pennsylvania. Butler, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 40 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at BC3 are $11,400 a year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $13,339 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since BC3 does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 37% took at least some of their classes online.
BC3 also claimed a spot on our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in Pennsylvania. IUP is a medium-sized public school situated in Indiana, Pennsylvania. It awarded 59 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
IUP undergraduate students pay an average of $18,897 in tuition and fees each year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at IUP. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 59% took at least some of their classes online.
IUP also took the #1 spot in our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania rankings.
Full Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus Report
Out of the 37 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s value ranking, Harrisburg Area Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 259 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
HACC undergraduate students pay an average of $9,818 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,555 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at HACC. In fact, around 50% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Community College of Allegheny County. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. CCAC is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 504 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
CCAC undergraduate students pay an average of $11,863 in tuition and fees each year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $17,933 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that CCAC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 48% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Lehigh Carbon Community College is a great place for students working on their undergraduate certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. Located in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized public school handed out 108 undergraduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LCCC are $12,060 per year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,130 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at LCCC. In 2019-2020 about 87% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #6, Community College of Philadelphia did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the fairly large public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Community College of Philadelphia undergraduate students pay an average of $12,744 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,282 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Community College of Philadelphia. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. This small public school is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 24 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology are $8,450 per year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,774 in student loans.
Since Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
Laurel Business Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #8 on the list. Laurel Business Institute is a very small private for-profit school located in Uniontown, Pennsylvania that handed out 63 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LBI are $10,970 per year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $13,121 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at LBI. In fact, around 54% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Montgomery County Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. Montco is located in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 86 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
Montco undergraduate students pay an average of $14,970 in tuition and fees each year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,097 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Montco, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 91% took at least some of their classes online.
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 9 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Bloomsburg are $22,806 per year.
Bloomsburg does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 97% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Delaware County Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in Media, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized public school awarded 243 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Delaware County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $13,740 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,230 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Delaware County Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 94% took at least some of their classes online.
Bucks County Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. Bucks County Community College is a public institution located in Newtown, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 55 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Bucks County Community College are $13,298 a year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $19,268 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Bucks County Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #13, Northampton County Area Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate. Northampton Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It awarded 113 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Northampton Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $15,270 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,960 in student loans.
Northampton Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 73% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Read full report on Northampton County Area Community College
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a small public school located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that handed out 21 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Pennsylvania Highlands undergraduate students pay an average of $12,330 in tuition and fees each year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Pennsylvania Highlands. In 2019-2020 about 36% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Penn Commercial Business/Technical School did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in Washington, Pennsylvania, the very small private for-profit school awarded 101 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Penn Commercial are $12,075 a year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,218 in student loans.
Read full report on Penn Commercial Business/Technical School
Luzerne County Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. Luzerne County Community College is a public institution located in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 45 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Luzerne County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $14,370 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,034 in student loans.
Luzerne County Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 92% took at least some of their classes online.
Lackawanna College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #17 on the list. Lackawanna College is located in Scranton, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Lackawanna College are $16,130 a year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,013 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Lackawanna College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 69% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Lackawanna College also did well on our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Laurel Technical Institute came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. LTI Sharon is a private for-profit institution located in Sharon, Pennsylvania. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 27 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LTI Sharon are $11,028 per year.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since LTI Sharon does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 61% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Laurel Technical Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #19 on the list. LTI - Meadville is located in MEADVILLE, Pennsylvania and has a very small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LTI - Meadville are $10,582 a year.
LTI - Meadville does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 53% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #20, Pittsburgh Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate. Pittsburgh Technical College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Oakdale, Pennsylvania. It awarded 102 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Pittsburgh Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $16,699 in tuition and fees each year. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $17,046 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Pittsburgh Technical College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 27% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Johnson College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #21 on the list. Johnson College is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It awarded 20 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Johnson College are $20,025 a year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,526 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Johnson College is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Johnson College also is in the top 20% of our Best Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking.
Reading Area Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate programs. Located in Reading, Pennsylvania, the small public school handed out 24 undergraduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at RACC are $11,220 per year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $19,903 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since RACC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 77% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
South Hills School of Business & Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #23 on the list. This very small private for-profit school is located in State College, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 22 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
South Hills School of Business & Technology undergraduate students pay an average of $18,878 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,000 in student loans.
Read full report on South Hills School of Business & Technology
Pennsylvania College of Technology ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. This small public school is located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 18 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Penn College are $25,170 per year.
Penn College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 48% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Community College of Beaver County did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #25 on the list. Monaca, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out undergraduate certificates to 10 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CCBC are $18,660 per year. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from this school accumulate an average of $29,846 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at CCBC. In fact, around 67% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Best Value Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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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