2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in Pennsylvania
[General Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/economics-general/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 50 schools to find the best return on investment for general economics students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value General Economics Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Economics Schools
For return on investment in general economics, no school beat Swarthmore College this year. Located in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,494. General Economics graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. General Economics graduates of Swarthmore College earn a median of $76,944 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general economics will find it at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #2. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the town of Bloomsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,046, with out-of-state students paying around $22,870. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $52,416. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania admits about 93% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general economics schools. 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. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general economics schools. Located in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,380, while out-of-state students pay about $16,297. General Economics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus generally make around $46,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #5 place for general economics. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Millersville. In-state tuition and fees average $11,128, compared with $22,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,486 to complete the general economics program here. General Economics graduates of Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $51,960 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Allegheny College placed #6 among the best values for general economics. Set in the town of Meadville, Allegheny College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $56,550. General Economics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career general economics graduates make about $51,722. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Haverford College earned the #7 position for value in general economics this year. Set in the suburb of Haverford, Haverford College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,398 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $79,966 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Temple University placed #8 among the best values for general economics. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general economics graduates is $24,250. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $48,242. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general economics schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Students borrow a median of $25,782 to complete the general economics program here. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $50,529. Set against $25,782 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Gettysburg College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general economics schools. Set in the town of Gettysburg, Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $66,640 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general economics program here. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Gettysburg College generally make around $43,376. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary came in at #11 for value in general economics this year. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. In-state tuition and fees average $53,500. Students borrow a median of $26,848 to complete the general economics program here. Early-career general economics graduates make about $53,999. That is a strong return on a $26,848 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania placed #12 among the best values for general economics. 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. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the general economics program here. Early-career general economics graduates make about $99,682. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Ursinus College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value general economics schools. Ursinus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Collegeville. Students from in state pay about $61,061 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general economics program here. Early-career general economics graduates make about $52,496. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Dickinson College placed #14 among the best values for general economics. Located in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,650. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the general economics program here. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Dickinson College generally make around $53,990. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #15 spot for general economics value this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Drexel University placed #16 among the best values for general economics. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the general economics program here. Early-career general economics graduates make about $70,967. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Franklin And Marshall College came in at #17 for value in general economics this year. Set in the city of Lancaster, Franklin And Marshall College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,794 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general economics graduates is $23,048. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Franklin And Marshall College generally make around $52,801. Set against $23,048 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Franklin And Marshall College admits about 28% of applicants.
Bucknell University came in at #18 for value in general economics this year. Located in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,812 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,888 to complete the general economics program here. General Economics graduates of Bucknell University earn a median of $70,946 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.
More General Economics 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 · 50 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
