2026 Best Value General Public Health Schools in Pennsylvania

[General Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/public-health-general/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 28 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general public health schools.
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2026 Best Value General Public Health Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general public health degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Public Health Schools
Montgomery County Community College earned the #1 spot for value among general public health schools in Pennsylvania. Montgomery County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Bell. In-state tuition and fees average $6,690, with out-of-state students paying around $17,250. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $15,219. General Public Health graduates of Montgomery County Community College earn a median of $39,025 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,219 median debt.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general public health, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,568 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,676. Students borrow a median of $26,998 to complete the general public health program here. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $43,949. Set against $26,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general public health will find it at East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #3. Located in the town of East Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,236 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,202. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $27,250. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $35,380. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earned it the #4 place for general public health. Located in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,380 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,297. Students borrow a median of $26,513 to complete the general public health program here. General Public Health graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of $55,176 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,513 median debt. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
La Salle University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general public health schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,800 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general public health program here. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from La Salle University generally make around $39,400. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania placed #6 among the best values for general public health. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester. Students from in state pay about $10,775 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,599. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $61,258. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Arcadia University placed #7 among the best values for general public health. Located in the suburb of Glenside, Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $49,610 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $26,921. General Public Health graduates of Arcadia University earn a median of $46,764 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arcadia University admits about 80% of applicants.
Thomas Jefferson University earned the #8 position for value in general public health this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,355. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $32,256 in student loans. Early-career general public health graduates make about $61,081. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Temple University landed the #9 spot for general public health value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general public health graduates is $27,000. General Public Health graduates of Temple University earn a median of $54,642 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for general public health. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Muhlenberg College came in at #11 for value in general public health this year. Set in the city of Allentown, Muhlenberg College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,805 in tuition and fees. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $26,038 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from Muhlenberg College generally make around $20,900. Set against $26,038 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Duquesne University earned the #12 position for value in general public health this year. Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,986. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $26,297 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from Duquesne University generally make around $54,826. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value general public health schools. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Public Health graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $50,059 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Franklin And Marshall College placed #14 among the best values for general public health. Set in the city of Lancaster, Franklin And Marshall College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,794. General Public Health graduates carry a median of $20,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general public health degree recipients from Franklin And Marshall College generally make around $43,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Franklin And Marshall College admits about 28% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.