These Are PA's Best Value Colleges: Study

Pittsburgh PA

29 March, 2022

11:49 AM

Description

PENNSYLVANIA — Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh offers students the most bang for their buck among state colleges and universities, a new study has determined. SmartAsset, which provides consumers with online financial information and advice, recently released its eighth annual ranking of the nation's best value institutions of higher education. The study compares schools based on a variety of financial factors and data sets, including starting salary, tuition, living expenses, student retention rate and scholarships awarded. Here are the best values among Pennsylvania colleges and universities, according to the study: 1. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh Scholarships and grant average: $36,928 Starting salary: $84,000 College Tuition: $55,465 Student living costs: $16,818 Student retention: 96 percent Education value: 76.67 2. Lehigh University, Bethlehem Scholarships and grant average: $43,288 Starting salary: $74,600 College Tuition: $52,930 Student living costs: $15,665 Student retention: 91 percent Education value: 70.61 3. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Scholarships and grant average: $44,232 Starting salary: $78,300 College Tuition: $55,584 Student living costs: $18,224 Student retention: 95 percent Education value: 67.72 4. Lafayette College, Easton Scholarships and grant average: $42,748 Starting salary: $72,600 College Tuition: $53,630 Student living costs: $17,640 Student retention: 87 percent Education value: 76.67 5. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Campus Scholarships and grant average: $12,750 Starting salary: $62,300 College Tuition: $19,080 Student living costs: $14,423 Student retention: 93 percent Education value: 59.41 6. Grove City College, Grove City Scholarships and grant average: $7,220 Starting salary: $58,900 College Tuition: $17,930 Student living costs: $11,620 Student retention: 87 percent Education value: 56.49 7. Bucknell University, Lewisburg Scholarships and grant average: $33,809 Starting salary: $72,000 College Tuition: $56,092 Student living costs: $16,658 Student retention: 92 percent Education value: 55.24 8. Villanova University, Villanova Scholarships and grant average: $32,435 Starting salary: $7o,700 College Tuition: $53,308 Student living costs: $17,420 Student retention: 96 percent Education value: 54 9. Gettysburg College, Gettysburg Scholarships and grant average: $35,431 Starting salary: $61,800 College Tuition: $54,480 Student living costs: $14,510 Student retention: 90 percent Education value: 47.99 10. Temple University, Philadelphia Scholarships and grant average: $9,721 Starting salary: $57,300 College Tuition: $16,970 Student living costs: $16,034 Student retention: 87 percent Education value: 44.33 Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe.