Most Affordable Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024

Published: Mar 23, 2021
Updated: Oct 26, 2023

Here are the most affordable colleges and universities in Pennsylvania. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you, at a price you can afford.

10 Most Affordable Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024

Temple University
Lincoln University, Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
West Chester University
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

PennWest Clarion 99%
PennWest California 97%
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania 97%
Millersville University of Pennsylvania 96%
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania 95%
Indiana University of Pennsylvania 94%
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania 94%
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 93%
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania 93%
PennWest Edinboro 92%

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania 22 to 1
Slippery Rock University 21 to 1
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 20 to 1
West Chester University 20 to 1
Lackawanna College 19 to 1
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania 19 to 1
Millersville University of Pennsylvania 19 to 1
PennWest California 19 to 1
Pittsburgh Technical College 19 to 1
Indiana University of Pennsylvania 18 to 1

Keystone College $17,300
Pittsburgh Technical College $16,699
Temple University $16,488
Lackawanna College $16,130
Peirce College $15,060
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford $13,394
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg $13,394
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown $13,394
Indiana University of Pennsylvania $9,570
Millersville University of Pennsylvania $9,570

Temple University $17,388
Keystone College $15,600
Peirce College $13,896
Lincoln University, Pennsylvania $10,106
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania $10,062
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania $9,288
West Chester University $9,288
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania $9,288
Indiana University of Pennsylvania $9,288
PennWest Edinboro $9,288

PennWest Clarion
PennWest Edinboro
Pittsburgh Technical College
PennWest California
Slippery Rock University
Keystone College
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
Lackawanna College
Peirce College
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Temple University 72%
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford 73%
Slippery Rock University 79%
Lincoln University, Pennsylvania 80%
Keystone College 82%
West Chester University 89%
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 90%
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg 91%
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown 92%
PennWest Edinboro 92%

Peirce College 13 to 1
Temple University 13 to 1
Keystone College 14 to 1
Lincoln University, Pennsylvania 14 to 1
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania 15 to 1
PennWest Edinboro 15 to 1
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania 15 to 1
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg 16 to 1
PennWest Clarion 17 to 1
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania 17 to 1

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania $7,716
West Chester University $7,716
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania $7,716
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania $7,716
PennWest Edinboro $7,716
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania $7,716
Slippery Rock University $7,716
PennWest Clarion $7,716
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania $7,716
PennWest California $7,716

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania $9,288
West Chester University $9,288
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania $9,288
Indiana University of Pennsylvania $9,288
PennWest Edinboro $9,288
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania $9,288
Slippery Rock University $9,288
Millersville University of Pennsylvania $9,288
PennWest Clarion $9,288
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania $9,288

Key Takeaways

The most affordable colleges in Pennsylvania are the public colleges and universities within Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education and the Commonwealth System of Higher Education.
College-bound students must consider the total cost of education even in the most affordable colleges in the state of Pennsylvania. Setting realistic expectations regarding costs, from tuition and other fees to room and board, is vital in completing your higher education without overwhelming student debt.
Look into the financial aid options offered by any small liberal arts college you’re planning on attending. The typical financial aid package won’t cover the total cost of education, but can result in significant reductions in the cost of higher education.

Table of Contents

Colleges and Universities in Pennsylvania

Prospective students hoping to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree have over 100 higher learning institutions to choose from. The largest public university is Pennsylvania State University, or Penn State, with a tuition of $18,000, and a student population of over 95,000 across its campuses. As a private institution, the University of Pennsylvania, or simply Penn, is known for its medical, nursing, social work, and business fields. Tuition is $56,000, and the school boasts a 95% graduation rate.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Students can also attend one of the more than 60 religiously affiliated schools, such as Villanova University or Lafayette College, each with a tuition of about $53,000. Some of the most affordable colleges in the state include the Curtis Institute of Music and the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, with tuitions set at $3,000 and $9,000, respectively. Though the average tuition for college in Pennsylvania comes in above the national average, those who practice medicine in underserved areas may qualify for up to $100,000 in loan forgiveness through the Pennsylvania Primary Care Loan Repayment Program.

As the nation’s second state, Pennsylvania’s history runs deep. It’s here where Betsy Ross made the first American flag and where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Keystone State is also home to some culinary delights, including whoopie pies, soft pretzels, and the famous Philly cheesesteak. Students looking to earn their degree in Pennsylvania will undoubtedly enjoy what the state has to offer.

Check out the state’s top programs and learn more about earning your degree in Pennsylvania.

What are Pennsylvania’s Colleges & Universities?

Pennsylvania’s Best Overall

Pennsylvania and Its Affordable Colleges

Did you know that one of the country’s oldest universities is in Pennsylvania? A private Ivy League school, the University of Pennsylvania, was founded in 1740. But if you’re looking for the state’s most affordable colleges, know first that the average tuition is $63,452 or higher than the $41,568 national average.

College-bound students who want to enjoy the benefits of higher education without crippling student debt can look into colleges and universities in the Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and the Commonwealth System of Higher Education. Both of these systems not only offer affordable tuition and other fees but also have a wide range of financial aid options.

Furthermore, the colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs that prepare students for successful careers and productive lives. Many also have job training programs that prepare students for competitive industries like health science, business administration, and criminal justice.

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education

Founded on July 1, 1983, the Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is the state agency responsible for overseeing state-owned universities.

As a group, these universities are the largest providers of higher education in Pennsylvania with more than 90,000 students in their degree programs alone. Students and alumni contribute to the socio-economic progress of their local communities, the commonwealth, and the country.

Every member university in the PASSHE is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusivity in higher education. Affordable cost of college education is among the universities’ primary means of enabling students to achieve personal and professional advancement.

The PASSHE is also committed to ideal student to faculty ratio in their member schools, which allows students a higher rate of success in their studies.

The 10 state-owned universities within PASSHE are:

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Western University
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Note that starting in the 2022-2023 academic year, consolidations were made between several universities. Pennsylvania Western University is composed of the former Clarion University, California University, and Edinboro University. Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania consists of the former Mansfield University, Bloomsburg University, and Lock Haven University.

Nearly 80% of students enrolled in PASSHE universities receive financial aid with the typical financial assistance package consisting of scholarships, loans, and work-study employment. The Board of Governors has also voted for a tuition freeze—the fourth in a row—for the 2022-2023 academic year.

While each university has its in-state and out-of-state tuition structure, housing and board packages, and other mandatory fees, the typical undergraduate tuition and other costs for students are:

In-state tuition: $7,716
In-state technology fee: $478
Out-of-state tuition: $9,660-$19,290
Mandatory fees: $2,214-$3,496

Students must also consider on-campus housing and other incidental expenses. Housing plans are between $3,488 and $11,884, while board plans are in the $1,640-$4,924 range.

Commonwealth System of Higher Education

The Commonwealth System of Higher Education designates state-related status on four universities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, namely:

Lincoln University, a public state-related historically black university in Oxford, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State University, a multi-campus public state-related land-grant research university
Temple University, a public state-related research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania known for its world-class professional education programs such as law, medicine, and engineering
University of Pittsburgh, a public state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The unique public-private hybrid university system allows Pennsylvania residents/students to benefit from tuition discounts, thanks to annual financial appropriations from the state. Note, however, that PASSHE universities still have more affordable tuition than universities in the Commonwealth System of Higher Education.

How do we determine Pennsylvania's best affordable colleges and universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

There are 27 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania with stated tuitions and fees under $20,000/year. The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in Pennsylvania is composed entirely of schools offering bachelor’s degree programs, have stated tuition and fees near or under the national average of $16,000/year, and are fully accredited colleges.

Most Affordable Colleges in Pennsylvania 2023

These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.

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Pennsylvania’s Most Affordable Colleges in Your Area of Interest

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Most Affordable Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024

10 Most Affordable Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024

Key Takeaways

Colleges and Universities in Pennsylvania

What are Pennsylvania’s Colleges & Universities?

Pennsylvania and Its Affordable Colleges

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education

Commonwealth System of Higher Education

Most Affordable Colleges in Pennsylvania 2023

Career Outlook for degree at Temple University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Lincoln University, Pennsylvania

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at West Chester University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Slippery Rock University, Pennsylvania

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at PennWest California

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Most Influential Alumni

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at PennWest Edinboro

Most Influential Alumni

PennWest Edinboro’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Most Influential Alumni

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Most Influential Alumni

Millersville University of Pennsylvania’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Lackawanna College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at PennWest Clarion

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania

Career Outlook for degree at Keystone College

Most Influential Alumni

Keystone College’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Pittsburgh Technical College

Pittsburgh Technical College’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg

Career Outlook for degree at Peirce College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Most Influential Alumni

Pennsylvania’s Most Affordable Colleges in Your Area of Interest

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