Swarthmore College Tops National College Value List

Swarthmore College deserves a round of applause as it landed at number 1 on a new list of best college values.

According to Kiplinger's new list, Swarthmore is the best college in Pennsylvania and the county for a good education at a good price.

The list shows Swarthmore College has an annual cost of $64,840; $44,256 in need-based aid; debt of $18,262; a $48,500 salary yardstick.

Kiplinger said Swarthmore has a 12 percent admission rate and 87 percent four-year graduation rate.

Check out Kiplinger's full list and methodology online here.

Here is the list of Pennsylvania schools and what makes them affordable with the national ranking in parenthesis. And here is the order of the numbers: ANNUAL COST; NEED-BASED AID; DEBT; SALARY YARDSTICK:

• (1) Swarthmore College, Swarthmore; 64,840; 44,256; 18,262; 48,500
• (33) Haverford College, Haverford; 67,919; 45,390; 14,750; 56,600
• (40) University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; 67,280; 41,598; 26,157; 79,700
• (51) Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr; 65,160; 38,637; 22,914; 53,600
• (55) Lafayette College, Easton; 65,105; 37,495; 31,154; 68,800
• (70) Bucknell University, Lewisburg; 65,516; 25,000; 22,500; 69,100
• (78) Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster; 66,810; 41,659; 26,162; 52,700
• (87) Lehigh University, Bethlehem PA; 62,010; 34,878; 34,940; 76,700
• (97) Dickinson College, Carlisle; 65,129; 35,343; 28,108; 53,300
• (100) Muhlenberg College, Allentown; 60,700; 31,259; 30,527; 56,300
• (105) Villanova University, Villanova; 63,473; 30,020; 33,588; 73,900
• (106) Gettysburg College, Gettysburg; 63,500; 33,139; 30,544; 52,600
• (144) Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh; 67,980; 31,417; 31,444; 76,200
• (151) University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh; 41,388; 8,334; 38,045; 48,800
• (217) Penn State University Park, University Park; 46,082; 7,144; 35,972; 47,700
• (229) Geneva College, Beaver Falls; 36,350; 16,503; 32,943; 38,900
• (267) Temple University, Philadelphia; 39,564; 6,390; 37,372; 47,200
• (281) West Chester University of Pennsylvania, West Chester; 30,748; 5,425; 32,031; 46,100

Image via Swarthmore College Facebook