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2026 Best Value Microbiology Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in microbiology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Microbiology Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus the best value for a degree in microbiology in Pennsylvania. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Typical student debt for microbiology graduates is $19,800. Soon after graduation, microbiology degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $46,093. That is a strong return on a $19,800 median debt. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in microbiology will find it at Drexel University, which ranked #2. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Microbiology graduates carry a median of $28,838 in student loans. Microbiology graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $72,281 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
ADBLOCK #116
[Microbiology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/microbiological-sciences-immunology/microbiology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong microbiology education at a price that pays off.
