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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value General Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania

6 Colleges in the United States
$20,875 Avg Student Debt
$66,930 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value General Engineering Badge [General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/other-general-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools to find the best return on investment for general engineering students.

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2026 Best Value General Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value General Engineering Schools

1

Leading the list is Delaware County Community College, our #1 best value for general engineering in Pennsylvania. Set in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,930, compared with $15,540 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,866 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Delaware County Community College generally make around $40,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bucks County Community College earned it the #2 place for general engineering. Bucks County Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Newtown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, while out-of-state students pay about $13,926. Students borrow a median of $13,068 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Bucks County Community College generally make around $37,711. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

3

Students looking for strong value in general engineering will find it at Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, which ranked #3. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a large public school located in the city of Harrisburg. Students from in state pay about $6,975 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,472. Students borrow a median of $20,867 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earn a median of $41,382 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

4
Swarthmore College crest
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,494. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Swarthmore College generally make around $66,971. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.

5

Students looking for strong value in general engineering will find it at Community College Of Philadelphia, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,632 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,744. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,059 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Community College Of Philadelphia earn a median of $37,988 early in their careers. Set against $16,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

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6
Geneva College crest
Geneva College
Beaver Falls, PA

Geneva College placed #6 among the best values for general engineering. Geneva College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Beaver Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,450. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $27,000. General Engineering graduates of Geneva College earn a median of $62,486 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

7
Elizabethtown College crest
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA

Elizabethtown College landed the #7 spot for general engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,950. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Elizabethtown College earn a median of $73,003 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.

8
Robert Morris University crest
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA

Robert Morris University came in at #8 for value in general engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Moon Township, Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,770. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Robert Morris University generally make around $61,163. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.

9

University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #9 spot for general engineering value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $72,825 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.

10

Carnegie Mellon University earned the #10 position for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $89,327. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 12%.

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11
Lafayette College crest
Lafayette College
Easton, PA

Lafayette College landed the #11 spot for general engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,648 in tuition and fees. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,931 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $76,507. Set against $16,931 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 31%.

12
Villanova University crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA

Villanova University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,776. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $72,601 early in their careers. Set against $26,184 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Villanova University admits about 27% of applicants.

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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 · 33 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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