Best Value Colleges And Universities In Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State University is one of the biggest names in public education, offering its graduates the benefit of more than 500,000 connections worldwide. In fact, the school's alumni network claims to be the largest in the United States. Every year, Penn State welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Its undergraduate programs include such unique options as Russian Translation and Turfgrass Science, in additional to all the traditional areas of study. Plus, the school dedicates $805 million every year to research in more than 20 fields and encourages students to get involved. When you consider the facts—including an average $446,900 return on your money over 20 years—Penn State makes a lot of sense…and cents!

West Chester University, one of the top universities in Pennsylvania, is the largest in the school's State System of Higher Education with a student body of approximately 16,000. With a multitude of disciplines from which to choose, a competitive price tag, and a solid 20-year ROI ($256,300), WCU is a smart choice no matter who you are. But there's more! WCU offers 225 student organizations, 24 NCAA Division II intercollegiate teams—of which field hockey, lacrosse, and baseball have all recently claimed titles—and numerous service opportunities. Want proof? WCU students logged an astounding 600,000 hours of community service from West Chester to South Africa in the span of one school year.

Cedar Crest College—located in Allentown, a mid-size city of over 100,000—is the second women's college on our list and one of the most affordable colleges in Pennsylvania. As you get to know the school during your freshman year, First Year Fridays will help you get plugged in with film showings, speakers, and trips around the region. Another great resource for students is the Women's Leadership Office (WLO). With the vision of developing women to become leaders with integrity and confidence, the WLO allows students to network and become active in the region.

Since its founding in 1787, York College has developed a strong reputation as one of the top colleges in Pennsylvania. A relatively recent development on campus is WVYC, the school's award-winning radio station, which is a main attraction for students interested in journalism and media. Interested in technology? The brand new J.D. Brown Center at York College is providing new opportunities for students to devise creative solutions for software problems. Some of the majors popular among the school's 4,600 students include nursing, biology, sport management, criminal justice, and education. When you're not in class, you can see what the Campus Activities Board has planned or get involved in one of the school's 22 intercollegiate sports or 20 intramural programs.

Millersville University is located just outside Lancaster, a scenic corner of Pennsylvania known for its charming shops, plentiful dining options, buggy rides, breweries and more. Millersville, with about 7,000 undergraduates, is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 10 public universities in the region. MU offers more than 100 undergraduate programs including Water Resources; Sports Journalism; Ocean & Coastal Studies; Nanotechnology; and Meteorology. Among the faculty, 98% have a terminal degree. Millersville—with a price tag just of $14,418 and a $212,800 ROI over 20 years—is a competitive choice as you weigh cheap colleges in Pennsylvania.

On the other side of the Keystone State, the University of Pittsburgh is another one of Pennsylvania's best research universities. In fact, the Academic Performance Research Laboratory ranked Pitt 16th nationally and 7th among public universities. Still, Pitt is more than a research school. As one example, the school sponsors a yearly Studio Arts Field Study in the Wyoming wilderness where participants can explore nature and take the inspiration from the encounter to produce prints, photos, drawings, sculpture, and other artistic works. It's also worth noting that Pitt boasts an 82% graduation rate and, for military students, Victory Media recognizes the university as among the top military-friendly schools in America.

Do you like stats? Even if you don't, Villanova University might have a few that you'll like: 89% graduation rate. 97% of graduates find employment or start a grad program within six months of graduation. The average starting salary for a Villanova grad is $54, 345. Over time, that translates to a 20-year ROI of $440,100. This school offers a lot of bang for your buck. That's probably why people come from nearly all 50 states and just as many foreign countries choose to attend one of the best universities in Pennsylvania. This university is an especially good choice for aspiring business leaders and engineering professionals; both the School of Business and College of Engineering have been recognized nationally. Villanova's campus is located just outside of Philadelphia, providing a comforting balance between quiet suburban life and the hustle and bustle of the city.

As one of the top universities in Pennsylvania, Temple has so much to offer: Nearly 150 majors to choose from; state-of-the art "smart" classrooms; study abroad opportunities in Ghana, the United Kingdom, India, Jamaica, Spain, and elsewhere; 300 students organizations; 31 fraternities and sororities on campus; collaboration with world-class faculty on ground-breaking research; and much more. Temple also offers a competitive ROI of $325,000 over 20 years. When you're not in the classroom, Free Food and Fun Fridays brings entertainment to you. But then again, in the heart of Philadelphia, who can get bored?

Slippery Rock University has a wealth of 150 majors and minors for you to choose from—including Adventure Fitness, Literary, Film, and Cultural Studies; Adapted Physical Activity; and Environmental Geosciences. You can also find a wealth of opportunities to distinguish yourself and gain valuable experience working with faculty in various research areas. The Center for Student Research is your go-to resource for such activities, and it also hosts an annual Student Symposium for Research. If it's an international experience you're after, consider one of more than 20 semester-long programs sponsored by SRU in 17 countries.

Bryn Athyn offers one of the lowest student/faculty ratios on the list, coming in at 8-to-1. The campus, a mere 14 miles to the north of Philadelphia, prides itself on mutual respect and the diversity and uniqueness of its student body. Students today build on the school's long tradition in the performing arts through Dance Ensemble, BAC A Cappella, musicals, plays, and Bryn Athyn ROCKS!, a collaborative rock group composed of both students and faculty. The college, affiliated with the New Church, does not require students to be part of this Christian denomination but does emphasize the importance of "charity toward the neighbor" and encourage students to lead spiritually attuned lives.

Recognized by Forbes for its role in the greening of Pittsburgh, Chatham went a step further in 2008 by designing an emissions-free campus situated on a 388-acre parcel of land 20 miles north of its primary campus. In addition to emitting zero carbon waste, the new campus also manages storm water on site and generates its own electricity. Although the school is fully co-ed today, its roots as a women's college are still apparent with programs such as the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship, the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics, and the Chatham University Women's Institute. Today—for men and women alike—this innovative, forward-thinking school has earned a place among the best universities in Pennsylvania.

If you love horses, you may find the perfect fit in Wilson College. The school, set on 300 acres of land in rural Pennsylvania, is a horse-lover's dream. Not content to have six equestrian teams, you can also pursue equine-related programs including Equine Studies, Equine Facilitated Therapies, Equine Journalism, and Veterinary Medical Technology. Additionally, Wilson provides a unique program for single mothers who want to attend school full-time. Women with children over 20 months old can stay on campus year-round and the school provides daycare for children from 20 months to five years in age. A 9-to-1 student/faculty ratio and USDA-certified organic farm are two more highlights that make Wilson stand out as one of the best Pennsylvania colleges around.

Want to get your degree done sooner? And get a good return on your investment? Rosemont may be a good option for you. This Catholic college, located in greater Philadelphia, offers you a chance to finish your program in three years, saving you time and a full year of tuition. Students accepted in the program not only graduate early, they also benefit from faculty mentorship and enhanced advising to help keep them on track in their studies. Even if you don't picture yourself graduating in three years, there's good news on the financial front for just about everyone: Not only do nearly 100% of students receive financial aid, the average 20-year return on your tuition is a respectable $366,400.

Lancaster Bible College, a great option among cheap Pennsylvania colleges, is serious about its commitment to educating students in and out of the classroom. Students travel to countries such as South Africa, Ireland, the Dominican Republic, and India to learn and serve alongside missionaries in the field. Accordingly, the school seeks to imbibe students with an "understanding and appreciation of and compassion toward cultures of the world." With the mission of educating students "to think and live a biblical worldview" in Church and in society, many of the academic tracks offered include areas explicitly related to the school's Christian identity—such as Worship Arts and Pre-Seminary. LBC's Worship & Performing Arts program offers many opportunities for students to get involved.

Seton Hill University was founded by the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill with the mission "to fit you for that world in which you are destined to live." At Seton Hill, you can take advantage of numerous outdoor activities such as kayaking, camping, skiing, and white water rafting. If the outdoors isn't your thing, the school is conveniently located next to a train station for a big city weekend getaway. The school boasts a 95% career/graduate school placement rate, making it a standout among the top colleges in Pennsylvania. Seton Hill also boasts an appealing 20-year ROI of $467,000—talk about a solid investment.

Next on the list is Washington and Jefferson College, another small school with a similarly sized student body (1300 students) and a nearly identical student/faculty ratio (10-to-1). In terms of cost, 98% of students receive financial assistance and the annual average financial aid package for freshmen was $30,100. Nestled in southwest Pennsylvania, Washington and Jefferson offers students a tight-knit, inclusive campus just a 40-minute drive from Pittsburgh. Even though the school is small, don't worry about limiting yourself in terms of your major; the school offers unusual degrees in areas like Arabic, Professional Writing, Conflict and Resolution Studies, Chinese, and Russian Area Studies. And, among the faculty, 97% of tenure/tenure-track faculty members have terminal degrees in their field.

Bryn Mawr, the first women's college to award degrees at the doctoral level, continues to build on this legacy of opening doors for women in academia—and as one of the best colleges in Pennsylvania. Bryn Mawr is notable for another first dating back to 1892: The Self-Government Association (SGA). The student-run SGA is responsible for devising and enforcing rules on campus. One thing's for sure: You won't find this sort of unique community just anywhere. And you won't find an 82% graduation rate just anywhere, either. Bryn Mawr's one-of-a-kind campus and stand-out academic programs—including the new multi-disciplinary 360 º approach—merit some serious consideration.

If you choose to attend Albright College, one of the more affordable colleges in Pennsylvania, you can expect to be in the company of some high achievers. Approximately two-thirds of students at Albright graduate with a double or, yes, even a triple major. In the classroom, the school offers an array of interesting disciplines to pursue such as Digital Video and Studio Arts; Fashion; Holocaust Studies; and Music Industry Studies. Outside the classroom, students get an opportunity to attend lectures, concerts, theater, and various exhibits as well as participate in the 70 student organizations on campus. Although the school maintains an affiliation with the United Methodist Church, today the school is a vibrant, multi-faith community that welcomes students from all backgrounds.

Gettysburg College is another small liberal arts school with a lot of character and a sky-high graduation rate, again clocking in at 84%. Before you dismiss the idea of attending a small-town college, you may want to think twice. First, the college is notable for its Civil War Institute & Civil War Era Studies program—including a one-of-a-kind "immersion" semester. Not a history buff? Gettysburg offers small class (average size: 18), 24 varsity sports, an organic garden known as the Painted Turtle Farm, and the Gettysburg Recreation Adventure Board, which sends students on trips across the country (and the world). Among top Pennsylvania colleges, you'll be hard pressed to find one with quite so much personality as Gettysburg.

A commitment to "informed empathy" makes Dickinson College a good contender for students looking to "engage the world"—the school motto. Fittingly, more than 60% of each graduating class studies abroad during their time at Dickinson and the school ranks eighth among small schools that send graduates to the Peace Corps. The student/faculty ratio is an astounding 9-to-1. Perhaps this intimate atmosphere is a reason for Dickinson's graduation rate: An incredible 84% —one of the highest in the state. Concerned about the price tag of your investment? While Dickinson may not be front of the line for cheap colleges in Pennsylvania, Bloomberg Businessweek calls it one of its "Holy Grail" schools noted for its high return on investment.