These Pennsylvania Colleges Have The Best Value In America - And The State

Pennsylvania has plenty of choices for advancing your education and getting the biggest return on your investment. But at least three colleges are among the best investments in America.

Three Pennsylvania universities scored among the highest on PayScale’s 2017 College ROI Report: Best Value Colleges list, which focuses on a 20-year net return on investment. We have the list of colleges in Pennsylvania that provide the best ROI (return on investment), in order (see list below).

Carnegie Mellon University topped the Pennsylvania list and came in tied at No. 29 overall in America, offering a 20-year net ROI of $678,000. The Pittsburgh university has a total four-year cost of approximately $251,000.

University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia was at No. 32 overall in America and No. 2 in Pennsylvania, offering a 20-year net ROI of $673,000. Lehigh University in Bethlehem was at No. 38 overall in America and No. 3 in Pennsylvania, offering a 20-year net ROI of $649,000.

The list factors in financial aid and in-state versus out-of-state tuition, graduation rates and ability to pay off loans.

Here is the list of 50 colleges in Pennsylvania in their return-on-investment order (the numbers following the college are: 20-year net ROI; total 4-year cost; graduation rate; typical years to graduate; and average loan amount):

1. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)(Private) $678,000 $251,000 88% 4 Years $31,500
2. University of Pennsylvania(Private) $673,000 $252,000 96% 4 Years $25,400
3. Lehigh University(Private) $649,000 $232,000 87% 4 Years $32,100
4. Villanova University(Private) $554,000 $239,000 89% 4 Years $32,400
5. Bucknell University(Private) $541,000 $248,000 89% 4 Years $30,500
6. Lafayette College(Private) $502,000 $243,000 90% 4 Years $29,100
7. Drexel University(Private) $483,000 $251,000 67% 5 Years $43,500
8. Swarthmore College(Private) $431,000 $246,000 94% 4 Years $28,300
9. Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) - Main Campus(In-State) $421,000 $135,000 86% 4 Years $36,200
10. Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) - Erie-Behrend College(In-State) $405,000 $124,000 69% 5 Years $33,900
11. Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) - Erie-Behrend College(Out-of-State) $376,000 $153,000 69% 5 Years $33,900
12. Grove City College(Private) $374,000 $101,000 83% 4 Years $42,500
13. Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) - Main Campus(Out-of-State) $370,000 $187,000 86% 4 Years $36,200
14. University of The Sciences in Philadelphia (USP)(Private) $363,000 $215,000 74% 4 Years $45,600
15. Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) - Harrisburg Campus(In-State) $361,000 $124,000 67% 5 Years $32,800
16. University of Pittsburgh - Main Campus(In-State) $358,000 $128,000 82% 4 Years $37,600
17. Haverford College(Private) $357,000 $252,000 94% 4 Years $23,400
18. La Salle University - Philadelphia, PA(Private) $339,000 $212,000 66% 4 Years $40,200
19. Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) - Harrisburg Campus(Out-of-State) $332,000 $153,000 67% 5 Years $32,800
20. University of Pittsburgh - Main Campus(Out-of-State) $317,000 $168,000 82% 4 Years $37,600
21. Immaculata University(Private) $314,000 $199,000 61% 4 Years $45,300
22. Gwynedd-Mercy University(Private) $311,000 $170,000 60% 5 Years $45,200
23. Gettysburg College(Private) $304,000 $237,000 84% 4 Years $19,200
24. University of Scranton(Private) $302,000 $223,000 80% 4 Years $38,600
25. Saint Joseph's University (SJU) - Philadelphia, PA(Private) $301,000 $224,000 73% 4 Years $40,000
26. Temple University(In-State) $300,000 $122,000 69% 5 Years $34,000
27. Holy Family University(Private) $285,000 $171,000 56% 4 Years $32,000
28. Rosemont College(Private) $282,000 $188,000 43% 4 Years $27,800
29. Widener University - Main Campus(Private) $280,000 $222,000 53% 4 Years $44,400
30. Duquesne University(Private) $279,000 $182,000 78% 4 Years $38,300
31. Franklin and Marshall College(Private) $272,000 $248,000 87% 4 Years $20,300
32. Elizabethtown College(Private) $260,000 $203,000 69% 4 Years $34,500
33. Pennsylvania College of Technology(In-State) $259,000 $121,000 46% 4 Years $40,500
34. Temple University(Out-of-State) $259,000 $162,000 69% 5 Years $34,000
35. York College - York, PA(Private) $257,000 $121,000 61% 5 Years $43,100
36. Muhlenberg College(Private) $251,000 $226,000 86% 4 Years $29,200
37. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania(In-State) $249,000 $96,100 55% 4 Years $34,500
38. Ursinus College(Private) $249,000 $240,000 80% 4 Years $32,800
39. West Chester University(In-State) $244,000 $103,000 67% 4 Years $33,500
40. (tie) Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania(In-State) $236,000 $89,100 65% 4 Years $29,100
41. (tie) Pennsylvania College of Technology(Out-of-State) $236,000 $144,000 46% 4 Years $40,500
42. University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown Campus(In-State) $224,000 $103,000 51% 5 Years $32,700
43. (tie) Cabrini College(Private) $221,000 $182,000 50% 4 Years $38,600
44. (tie) Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary(Private) $221,000 $202,000 69% 4 Years $35,700
45. Millersville University of Pennsylvania(In-State) $219,000 $92,900 64% 5 Years $31,400
46. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania(Out-of-State) $214,000 $131,000 55% 4 Years $34,500
47. (tie) DeSales University(Private) $209,000 $193,000 71% 4 Years $43,100
48. (tie) Morris University (RMU) - Moon Township, PA(Private) $209,000 $166,000 62% 4 Years $34,800
49. Neumann University(Private) $204,000 $161,000 55% 5 Years $38,100
50. Dickinson College - Carlisle, PA(Private) $203,000 $245,000 84% 4 Years $25,900

Read the whole national list here.

Patch file photo