West Chester University Among PA's 'Best Values': Money Magazine

WEST CHESTER, PA — West Chester University has been named one of the best value schools in Pennsylvania in a new ranking.

The school was ranked 179th in the nation —tied with Villanova University — in Money magazine's annual rankings of the best colleges for your money. That puts them at ninth in the state.

The rankings for 2019-20 include more than 700 colleges from across the country. University of Pennsylvania led the way in the Keystone state, placing 32nd overall. The University of California-Irvine was ranked first in the nation.

Colleges included in Money's rankings had to meet a range of criteria, like having a graduation rate at or above the median, and having at least 500 students. The colleges were ranked based on 26 factors in three categories: quality of education, affordability, and outcomes.

Each category was weighted equally in calculating the rankings. (Read Money's full methodology)

Here’s how other Philadelphia area colleges were ranked on the list:

32nd: University of Pennsylvania
37th: Swarthmore College
67th: Lafayette College
111th: Lehigh University
126th: Haverford College
179th: West Chester University of Pennsylvania
179th (tie): Villanova University
211th: Temple University
223rd: La Salle University
230th: Saint Joseph's University
255th: University of the Sciences
261st: Ursinus College
273rd: Holy Family University
364th: Gwynedd Mercy University
370th: Bryn Mawr College
381st: Cabrini University
382nd: Drexel University
448th: Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University)
454th: Immaculata University
617th: Chestnut Hill College
672nd: Arcadia University
686th: Lock Haven University
722nd: Eastern University
744th: The University of the Arts

See the full rankings and read more about Money’s list here.