2026 Best Value Applied Psychology Schools in Pennsylvania
[Applied Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/applied-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong applied psychology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for applied psychology students.
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2026 Best Value Applied Psychology Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in applied psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Applied Psychology Schools
Leading the list is Northampton County Area Community College, our #1 best value for applied psychology in Pennsylvania. Northampton County Area Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Bethlehem. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, while out-of-state students pay about $15,270. Students borrow a median of $18,900 to complete the applied psychology program here. Applied Psychology graduates of Northampton County Area Community College earn a median of $35,960 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Rosemont College one of the best values for applied psychology. Set in the suburb of Rosemont, Rosemont College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,854. Students borrow a median of $29,211 to complete the applied psychology program here. Applied Psychology graduates of Rosemont College earn a median of $48,735 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Keystone College earned it the #3 place for applied psychology. Keystone College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Plume. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,300. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Keystone College generally make around $25,974. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Albright College earned it the #4 place for applied psychology. 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. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $39,762 in student loans. Applied Psychology graduates of Albright College earn a median of $48,838 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $39,762 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania one of the best values for applied psychology. Set in the town of Shippensburg, Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,570, while out-of-state students pay about $15,824. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $26,307. Applied Psychology graduates of Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $46,912 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,307 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Gwynedd Mercy College came in at #6 for value in applied psychology this year. Gwynedd Mercy College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Gwynedd Valley. In-state tuition and fees average $40,838. Students borrow a median of $29,764 to complete the applied psychology program here. Applied Psychology graduates of Gwynedd Mercy College earn a median of $65,243 early in their careers. Set against $29,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gwynedd Mercy College admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #7 among the best values for applied psychology. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the applied psychology program here. Applied Psychology graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $43,495 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania placed #8 among the best values for applied psychology. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the applied psychology program here. Applied Psychology graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $52,641 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
