2026 Best Value General Studies Schools in Pennsylvania
[General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/general-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 43 schools to find the best return on investment for general studies students.
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2026 Best Value General Studies Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Butler County Community College the best value for a degree in general studies in Pennsylvania. Butler County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Butler. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,910, with out-of-state students paying around $12,000. Students borrow a median of $6,932 to complete the general studies program here. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Butler County Community College generally make around $28,138. That is a strong return on a $6,932 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general studies will find it at Delaware County Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,930, while out-of-state students pay about $15,540. General Studies graduates carry a median of $14,797 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Delaware County Community College generally make around $29,277. Set against $14,797 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bucks County Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general studies schools. Located in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,926. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $10,426. General Studies graduates of Bucks County Community College earn a median of $24,235 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,426 median debt.
Community College Of Allegheny County is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,956 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,583. General Studies graduates carry a median of $14,217 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Community College Of Allegheny County generally make around $25,898. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general studies schools. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Johnstown. Students from in state pay about $7,110 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,350 for out-of-state students. General Studies graduates carry a median of $11,488 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College generally make around $24,728. That is a strong return on a $11,488 median debt.
Reading Area Community College placed #6 among the best values for general studies. Reading Area Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Reading. In-state tuition and fees average $6,480, while out-of-state students pay about $12,510. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the general studies program here. Early-career general studies graduates make about $49,248. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lehigh Carbon Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general studies schools. Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Schnecksville. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, compared with $13,270 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the general studies program here. General Studies graduates of Lehigh Carbon Community College earn a median of $19,448 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Community College Of Beaver County landed the #8 spot for general studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Monaca, Community College Of Beaver County is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,500, while out-of-state students pay about $20,700. General Studies graduates carry a median of $14,551 in student loans. General Studies graduates of Community College Of Beaver County earn a median of $26,455 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earned the #9 position for value in general studies this year. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a large public school located in the city of Harrisburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,975, compared with $12,472 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,643 to complete the general studies program here. Early-career general studies graduates make about $30,455. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Peirce College placed #10 among the best values for general studies. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Peirce College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,060. Students borrow a median of $44,247 to complete the general studies program here. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Peirce College generally make around $53,071. Set against $44,247 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northampton County Area Community College landed the #11 spot for general studies value this year. Northampton County Area Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Bethlehem. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, compared with $15,270 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete the general studies program here. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $23,879. Set against $15,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carlow University landed the #12 spot for general studies value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,874. Students borrow a median of $30,222 to complete the general studies program here. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Carlow University generally make around $66,938. Set against $30,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
La Salle University landed the #13 spot for general studies value this year. La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,800. General Studies graduates carry a median of $4,004 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from La Salle University generally make around $54,618. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Vincent College placed #14 among the best values for general studies. Saint Vincent College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Latrobe. Students from in state pay about $42,396 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $26,986. Early-career general studies graduates make about $54,916. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University landed the #15 spot for general studies value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Students borrow a median of $34,372 to complete the general studies program here. General Studies graduates of Temple University earn a median of $35,205 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #16 for value in general studies this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. General Studies graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #17 among the best values for general studies. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $25,515. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Set against $25,515 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University earned the #18 position for value in general studies this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. General Studies graduates carry a median of $27,154 in student loans. General Studies graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,154 median debt. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Villanova University placed #19 among the best values for general studies. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,776. General Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $52,183. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 43 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
