Best College ROI in Pa 2026
125 colleges in Pa analyzed for return on investment. Carnegie Mellon University leads with a ROI Score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY).
Pa has 125 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 38 public institutions and 87 private ones. Across the 125 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $23K and earn $86K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
98% of Pa colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Carnegie Mellon University (median $95K on Computer Science).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Pa
Carnegie Mellon University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Pa's ROI rankings on its Computer Science program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $17K in median debt.
Geneva College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Haverford College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Mathematics. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $18K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Pa
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University(private) | Computer Science | $17K | $95K | A (97) |
| 2 | Geneva College(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $20K | $95K | A (97) |
| 3 | Haverford College(private) | Mathematics | $18K | $78K | A (97) |
| 4 | Lafayette College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $17K | $95K | A (97) |
| 5 | Bryn Mawr College(private) | Mathematics | $20K | $78K | A (96) |
| 6 | Chatham University(private) | Mathematics and Statistics, Other | $19K | $78K | A (96) |
| 7 | Dickinson College(private) | Mathematics | $21K | $78K | A (96) |
| 8 | Drexel University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 9 | Grove City College(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 10 | Harrisburg University of Science and Technology(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 11 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 12 | Juniata College(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 13 | Lehigh University(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 14 | Neumann University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 15 | Pennsylvania College of Technology(public) | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 16 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 17 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 18 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 19 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 20 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
College debt and earnings data for Pa is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carnegie Mellon University has the best ROI in Pa with a score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer Science, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $17K in median debt.
Across 125 Pa colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $23K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $86K.
Carnegie Mellon University graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer Science). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Pa has 125 colleges in our database (38 public, 87 private). Of the 125 with reportable ROI, 98% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).