133 colleges ranked by return on investment — based on U.S. Department of Education data.
| # | College / University | ROI Rating | Break-Even | Grad Salary | Med. Debt | Grad Rate | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 |
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
|
High ROI | 0.2 yrs | $111,371 | $15,715 | 97% | Private Non-profit |
| 🥈 |
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
|
High ROI | 0.3 yrs | $114,862 | $21,750 | 94% | Private Non-profit |
| 🥉 |
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
|
High ROI | 0.3 yrs | $105,584 | $21,960 | 88% | Private Non-profit |
| 4 |
Villanova University
Villanova, PA
|
High ROI | 0.4 yrs | $100,423 | $25,874 | 92% | Private Non-profit |
| 5 |
Lafayette College
Easton, PA
|
High ROI | 0.3 yrs | $91,410 | $16,000 | 88% | Private Non-profit |
| 6 |
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
|
High ROI | 0.4 yrs | $80,257 | $17,500 | 92% | Private Non-profit |
| 7 |
Haverford College
Haverford, PA
|
High ROI | 0.3 yrs | $79,966 | $13,621 | 90% | Private Non-profit |
| 8 |
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA
|
High ROI | 0.4 yrs | $77,449 | $14,744 | 69% | Private Non-profit |
| 9 |
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA
|
High ROI | 0.5 yrs | $93,807 | $27,000 | 86% | Private Non-profit |
| 10 |
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
|
High ROI | 0.5 yrs | $86,881 | $25,500 | 79% | Private Non-profit |
| 11 |
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA
|
High ROI | 0.5 yrs | $76,124 | $19,000 | 84% | Private Non-profit |
| 12 |
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
|
High ROI | 0.6 yrs | $84,648 | $25,325 | 78% | Private Non-profit |
| 13 |
Immaculata University
Immaculata, PA
|
High ROI | 0.7 yrs | $75,701 | $27,000 | 71% | Private Non-profit |
| 14 |
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA
|
High ROI | 0.7 yrs | $75,217 | $25,000 | 82% | Private Non-profit |
| 15 |
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
|
High ROI | 0.7 yrs | $74,742 | $26,244 | 77% | Private Non-profit |
| 16 |
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
|
High ROI | 0.6 yrs | $70,204 | $19,000 | 80% | Private Non-profit |
| 17 |
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA
|
High ROI | 0.8 yrs | $74,652 | $27,000 | 80% | Private Non-profit |
| 18 |
Ursinus College
Collegeville, PA
|
High ROI | 0.8 yrs | $73,721 | $27,000 | 73% | Private Non-profit |
| 19 |
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA
|
High ROI | 0.8 yrs | $71,517 | $26,999 | 83% | Private Non-profit |
| 20 |
Widener University
Chester, PA
|
High ROI | 0.8 yrs | $70,920 | $27,000 | 68% | Private Non-profit |
| 21 |
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA
|
High ROI | 0.8 yrs | $69,107 | $25,455 | 82% | Private Non-profit |
| 22 |
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington, PA
|
High ROI | 0.9 yrs | $67,918 | $27,000 | 70% | Private Non-profit |
| 23 |
La Salle University
Philadelphia, PA
|
High ROI | 0.9 yrs | $67,416 | $25,000 | 57% | Private Non-profit |
| 24 |
Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA
|
High ROI | 0.9 yrs | $67,145 | $25,000 | 57% | Private Non-profit |
| 25 |
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
Bradford, PA
|
High ROI | 0.9 yrs | $66,125 | $24,250 | 48% | Public |
| 26 |
University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg
Greensburg, PA
|
High ROI | 0.9 yrs | $66,125 | $24,250 | 40% | Public |
| 27 |
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
Johnstown, PA
|
High ROI | 0.9 yrs | $66,125 | $24,250 | 56% | Public |
| 28 |
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA
|
High ROI | 0.9 yrs | $66,125 | $24,250 | 86% | Public |
| 29 |
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,727 | $24,395 | 75% | Public |
| 30 |
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
University Park, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 86% | Public |
| 31 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington
Abington, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 20% | Public |
| 32 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Altoona, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 17% | Public |
| 33 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver
Monaca, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 22% | Public |
| 34 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
Reading, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 32% | Public |
| 35 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine
Media, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 26% | Public |
| 36 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Erie, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 44% | Public |
| 37 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly
Lemont Furnace, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 39% | Public |
| 38 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Great Valley
Malvern, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | N/A | Public |
| 39 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny
McKeesport, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 19% | Public |
| 40 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
Middletown, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 26% | Public |
| 41 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton
Hazleton, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 26% | Public |
| 42 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
Center Valley, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 18% | Public |
| 43 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto
Mont Alto, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 34% | Public |
| 44 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington
New Kensington, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 28% | Public |
| 45 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill
Schuylkill Haven, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 32% | Public |
| 46 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
Dunmore, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 39% | Public |
| 47 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango
Sharon, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 42% | Public |
| 48 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Dallas, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 23% | Public |
| 49 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York
York, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 16% | Public |
| 50 |
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
University Park, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $63,435 | $25,000 | 34% | Public |
| 51 |
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, PA
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $61,258 | $23,500 | 71% | Public |
| 52 |
Misericordia University
Dallas, PA
|
High ROI | 1.1 yrs | $64,313 | $26,973 | 72% | Private Non-profit |
| 53 |
Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre, PA
|
High ROI | 1.1 yrs | $63,454 | $26,000 | 63% | Private Non-profit |
| 54 |
Lebanon Valley College
Annville, PA
|
High ROI | 1.1 yrs | $62,621 | $27,000 | 65% | Private Non-profit |
| 55 |
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA
|
High ROI | 1.1 yrs | $62,399 | $27,000 | 76% | Private Non-profit |
| 56 |
Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA
|
High ROI | 1.1 yrs | $62,235 | $25,125 | 61% | Private Non-profit |
| 57 |
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA
|
High ROI | 1.2 yrs | $62,105 | $26,950 | 66% | Private Non-profit |
| 58 |
Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA
|
High ROI | 1.2 yrs | $62,101 | $27,000 | 74% | Private Non-profit |
| 59 |
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA
|
High ROI | 1.2 yrs | $62,069 | $27,000 | 73% | Private Non-profit |
| 60 |
Moravian University
Bethlehem, PA
|
High ROI | 1.2 yrs | $61,860 | $26,793 | 72% | Private Non-profit |
| 61 |
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA
|
High ROI | 1.2 yrs | $61,723 | $27,000 | 82% | Private Non-profit |
| 62 |
DeSales University
Center Valley, PA
|
High ROI | 1.1 yrs | $61,295 | $25,788 | 72% | Private Non-profit |
| 63 |
York College of Pennsylvania
York, PA
|
High ROI | 1.2 yrs | $61,012 | $26,000 | 64% | Private Non-profit |
| 64 |
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, PA
|
High ROI | 1.3 yrs | $59,982 | $27,000 | 69% | Private Non-profit |
| 65 |
Saint Vincent Seminary
Latrobe, PA
|
High ROI | 1.3 yrs | $59,982 | $27,000 | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 66 |
King's College
Wilkes-Barre, PA
|
High ROI | 1.3 yrs | $59,498 | $27,000 | 60% | Private Non-profit |
| 67 |
Cedar Crest College
Allentown, PA
|
High ROI | 1.3 yrs | $59,460 | $27,000 | 60% | Private Non-profit |
| 68 |
Gannon University
Erie, PA
|
High ROI | 1.3 yrs | $58,845 | $27,000 | 66% | Private Non-profit |
| 69 |
Albright College
Reading, PA
|
High ROI | 1.4 yrs | $58,700 | $27,000 | 51% | Private Non-profit |
| 70 |
Waynesburg University
Waynesburg, PA
|
High ROI | 1.4 yrs | $58,537 | $27,000 | 66% | Private Non-profit |
| 71 |
Arcadia University
Glenside, PA
|
High ROI | 1.4 yrs | $58,336 | $27,000 | 67% | Private Non-profit |
| 72 |
Neumann University
Aston, PA
|
High ROI | 1.4 yrs | $57,817 | $27,000 | 54% | Private Non-profit |
| 73 |
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg, PA
|
High ROI | 1.4 yrs | $56,351 | $25,000 | 56% | Public |
| 74 |
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg, PA
|
High ROI | 1.4 yrs | $56,148 | $24,218 | 43% | Public |
| 75 |
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville, PA
|
High ROI | 1.4 yrs | $55,246 | $23,507 | 58% | Public |
| 76 |
Juniata College
Huntingdon, PA
|
High ROI | 1.5 yrs | $56,918 | $27,000 | 74% | Private Non-profit |
| 77 |
Delaware Valley University
Doylestown, PA
|
High ROI | 1.5 yrs | $55,838 | $25,000 | 56% | Private Non-profit |
| 78 |
Marywood University
Scranton, PA
|
High ROI | 1.5 yrs | $55,817 | $26,186 | 72% | Private Non-profit |
| 79 |
Lycoming College
Williamsport, PA
|
High ROI | 1.6 yrs | $56,210 | $27,000 | 60% | Private Non-profit |
| 80 |
Alvernia University
Reading, PA
|
High ROI | 1.7 yrs | $55,055 | $27,000 | 56% | Private Non-profit |
| 81 |
Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, PA
|
High ROI | 1.7 yrs | $54,064 | $25,621 | 75% | Private Non-profit |
| 82 |
Westminster College
New Wilmington, PA
|
High ROI | 1.7 yrs | $53,861 | $26,060 | 65% | Private Non-profit |
| 83 |
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown, PA
|
High ROI | 1.7 yrs | $53,775 | $26,000 | 54% | Public |
| 84 |
Chatham University
Pittsburgh, PA
|
High ROI | 1.7 yrs | $52,410 | $23,250 | 63% | Private Non-profit |
| 85 |
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, PA
|
High ROI | 1.8 yrs | $53,032 | $25,000 | 66% | Public |
| 86 |
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg, PA
|
High ROI | 1.9 yrs | $52,416 | $26,000 | 54% | Public |
| 87 |
La Roche University
Pittsburgh, PA
|
High ROI | 1.8 yrs | $52,341 | $25,000 | 57% | Private Non-profit |
| 88 |
Eastern University
Saint Davids, PA
|
High ROI | 1.9 yrs | $51,655 | $25,000 | 54% | Private Non-profit |
| 89 |
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Harrisburg, PA
|
High ROI | 2 yrs | $52,374 | $27,000 | 34% | Private Non-profit |
| 90 |
Chestnut Hill College
Philadelphia, PA
|
High ROI | 2 yrs | $52,015 | $26,389 | 49% | Private Non-profit |
| 91 |
Seton Hill University
Greensburg, PA
|
High ROI | 2.1 yrs | $51,748 | $27,000 | 67% | Private Non-profit |
| 92 |
Carlow University
Pittsburgh, PA
|
High ROI | 2.1 yrs | $51,051 | $25,500 | 60% | Private Non-profit |
| 93 |
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
Indiana, PA
|
High ROI | 2.2 yrs | $51,019 | $26,798 | 56% | Public |
| 94 |
Geneva College
Beaver Falls, PA
|
High ROI | 2.2 yrs | $50,004 | $25,198 | 61% | Private Non-profit |
| 95 |
Thiel College
Greenville, PA
|
High ROI | 2.5 yrs | $49,714 | $27,000 | 49% | Private Non-profit |
| 96 |
Peirce College
Philadelphia, PA
|
High ROI | 2.6 yrs | $50,660 | $31,250 | 10% | Private Non-profit |
| 97 |
Rosemont College
Rosemont, PA
|
High ROI | 2.8 yrs | $48,555 | $27,000 | 57% | Private Non-profit |
| 98 |
Mercyhurst University
Erie, PA
|
High ROI | 2.9 yrs | $47,452 | $25,305 | 60% | Private Non-profit |
| 99 |
Pennsylvania Western University
California, PA
|
High ROI | 2.8 yrs | $47,295 | $23,725 | 52% | Public |
| 100 |
Mount Aloysius College
Cresson, PA
|
Good ROI | 3.3 yrs | $46,165 | $24,287 | 57% | Private Non-profit |
| 101 |
Central Penn College
Summerdale, PA
|
Good ROI | 3.5 yrs | $45,370 | $23,194 | 51% | Private For-profit |
| 102 |
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PA
|
Good ROI | 3.8 yrs | $45,856 | $27,000 | 59% | Private Non-profit |
| 103 |
Lancaster Bible College
Lancaster, PA
|
Good ROI | 3.9 yrs | $44,096 | $20,500 | 67% | Private Non-profit |
| 104 |
Keystone College
La Plume, PA
|
Good ROI | 4.2 yrs | $44,976 | $26,000 | 36% | Private Non-profit |
| 105 |
Cairn University-Langhorne
Langhorne, PA
|
Good ROI | 5 yrs | $44,172 | $26,926 | 60% | Private Non-profit |
| 106 |
Wilson College
Chambersburg, PA
|
Good ROI | 5.8 yrs | $43,326 | $26,328 | 48% | Private Non-profit |
| 107 |
Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary-Overbrook
Ambler, PA
|
Moderate ROI | 6.3 yrs | $55,225 | N/A | 42% | Private Non-profit |
| 108 |
Lincoln University
Lincoln University, PA
|
Moderate ROI | 6.5 yrs | $43,167 | $28,250 | 44% | Public |
| 109 |
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
Bryn Athyn, PA
|
Low ROI | 13.4 yrs | $40,457 | $22,250 | 68% | Private Non-profit |
| 110 |
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Philadelphia, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | $138,767 | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 111 |
Strayer University-Pennsylvania
Trevose, PA
|
Low ROI | 31.2 yrs | $40,092 | $40,621 | 0% | Private For-profit |
| 112 |
University of Valley Forge
Phoenixville, PA
|
Low ROI | 120.5 yrs | $39,016 | $27,000 | 49% | Private Non-profit |
| 113 |
Moore College of Art and Design
Philadelphia, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | $37,839 | $26,000 | 57% | Private Non-profit |
| 114 |
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Cheyney, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | $37,837 | $21,785 | 41% | Public |
| 115 |
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Lancaster, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | $33,301 | $27,000 | 69% | Private Non-profit |
| 116 |
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Philadelphia, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | $29,881 | $22,309 | 58% | Private Non-profit |
| 117 |
Academy of Vocal Arts
Philadelphia, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 118 |
Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Pittsburgh, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 119 |
Curtis Institute of Music
Philadelphia, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | $31,201 | N/A | 96% | Private Non-profit |
| 120 |
Gratz College
Melrose Park, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 121 |
Grove City College
Grove City, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | 83% | Private Non-profit |
| 122 |
International Institute for Restorative Practices
Bethlehem, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 123 |
Lancaster Theological Seminary
Lancaster, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 124 |
Missio Theological Seminary
Philadelphia, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 125 |
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Pittsburgh, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 126 |
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Wyncote, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 127 |
Salus University
Elkins Park, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 128 |
Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | 50% | Private Non-profit |
| 129 |
Theological Seminary of the Reformed Episcopal Church
Oreland, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 130 |
Trinity Anglican Seminary
Ambridge, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 131 |
United Lutheran Seminary
Gettysburg, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 132 |
Westminster Theological Seminary
Glenside, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 133 |
Won Institute of Graduate Studies
Warminster, PA
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |