2026 Best Value General Education Schools in Pennsylvania
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 48 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general education schools.
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2026 Best Value General Education Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Education Schools
Lehigh Carbon Community College earned the #1 spot for value among general education schools in Pennsylvania. Set in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $13,270. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Lehigh Carbon Community College earn a median of $39,957 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Holy Family University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,330. Students borrow a median of $26,562 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Holy Family University earn a median of $58,924 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Butler County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #3 spot this year. Butler County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Butler. Students from in state pay about $5,910 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,000. Students borrow a median of $10,836 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Butler County Community College earn a median of $41,492 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,836 median debt.
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,436, compared with $16,054 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,295. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, which ranked #5. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Johnstown. In-state tuition and fees average $7,110, compared with $13,350 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $11,732 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $40,014. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Reading Area Community College earned the #6 position for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Reading, Reading Area Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,480, while out-of-state students pay about $12,510. Students borrow a median of $13,979 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $49,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
York College Pennsylvania earned the #7 position for value in general education this year. Located in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,588. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $26,537. General Education graduates of York College Pennsylvania earn a median of $63,072 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,537 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earned the #8 position for value in general education this year. Set in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,128, while out-of-state students pay about $22,952. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,486 in student loans. General Education graduates of Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $47,049 early in their careers. Set against $26,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Francis University placed #9 among the best values for general education. Saint Francis University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Loretto. Students from in state pay about $26,388 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,729 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Saint Francis University generally make around $63,097. Set against $30,729 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Francis University admits about 77% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #10 for value in general education this year. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $15,356. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
La Salle University landed the #11 spot for general education value this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,800. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,462 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from La Salle University generally make around $63,073. Set against $25,462 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. La Salle University admits about 97% of applicants.
Wilson College earned the #12 position for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Chambersburg, Wilson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,100. General Education graduates carry a median of $34,814 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Wilson College generally make around $58,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Albright College came in at #13 for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Reading, Albright College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,082 in tuition and fees. General Education graduates carry a median of $28,958 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $38,075. Set against $28,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Cedar Crest College landed the #14 spot for general education value this year. Located in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,314. General Education graduates carry a median of $30,759 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Cedar Crest College generally make around $59,798. Set against $30,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Messiah College placed #15 among the best values for general education. Located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,240. Students borrow a median of $26,195 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $54,508 early in their careers. Set against $26,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Messiah College admits about 79% of applicants.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary came in at #16 for value in general education this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,500. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,857 in student loans. General Education graduates of Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary earn a median of $48,472 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary admits about 54% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #17 position for value in general education this year. 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, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $59,841. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Pennsylvania placed #18 among the best values for general education. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $16,155. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $80,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Bucknell University placed #19 among the best values for general education. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,812. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,951 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $64,331. That is a strong return on a $25,951 median debt. The acceptance rate is 29%.
More General Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 48 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
