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Cheapest Business Administration Colleges in Pennsylvania

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Cheyney University breaks the mold for business education costs in Pennsylvania with a net price of just $9,837, creating an $11,206 gap between the cheapest and most expensive options on this list. While most students expect private colleges to deliver higher earnings, the data tells a different story. Holy Family University graduates earn $52,107 annually despite charging $12,251 net, while Saint Francis University costs $19,173 but produces graduates earning only $33,993. Pennsylvania's business market offers strong career prospects for management graduates, with healthcare giant UPMC, media conglomerate Comcast, and major pharmaceutical companies providing leadership opportunities across the state. The earnings spread ranges from $30,047 to $52,107, showing that school choice matters significantly for long-term financial outcomes. Public universities dominate the most affordable spots, with four of the top six schools being state institutions that benefit from Pennsylvania's in-state tuition structure.
50
Programs
$9,837 – $26,539
Net Price Range
$40,580
Avg. Program Earnings
55.2%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Business Administration, Management and Operations Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $9,837 $10,904 16.2%
2 $12,251 $33,968 60.4% 77.4%
3 $12,905 $15,060 5.3%
4 $12,912 $12,512 52.1% 80.6%
5 $13,766 $23,900 43.4% 84.3%
6 $15,089 $11,036 43.8% 93.6%
7 $16,521 $19,964 24.4% 93.2%
8 $17,216 $11,380 52.4% 91.9%
9 $19,173 $41,720 72.8% 73.1%
10 $19,258 $47,675 59.6% 75.2%
11 $19,279 $19,404 38.9% 34.0%
12 $19,524 $10,507 65.9% 74.3%
13 $19,600 $27,804 46.3% 80.0%
14 $19,685 $24,606 59.7% 95.6%
15 $20,231 $12,262 54.4% 92.4%
16 $20,356 $22,171 43.5% 75.6%
17 $20,748 $26,156 55.6% 86.0%
18 $20,800 $39,470 65.9% 75.3%
19 $20,822 $34,502 55.2% 92.7%
20 $21,043 $33,610 61.5% 79.1%
21 $21,205 $11,230 54.1% 96.1%
22 $21,241 $27,000 51.8% 94.1%
23 $21,409 $35,570 57.9% 94.3%
24 $21,461 $17,850 41.2% 80.7%
25 $21,664 $28,794 42.2% 84.9%
26 $21,873 $32,400 54.2% 65.2%
27 $21,972 $33,120 57.7% 97.4%
28 $22,222 $39,570 72.5% 80.8%
29 $22,558 $41,414 71.0% 78.3%
30 $22,673 $10,687 69.8% 87.9%
31 $22,746 $36,864 43.5% 82.3%
32 $22,870 $29,990 71.4% 97.2%
33 $22,909 $44,934 58.2% 84.3%
34 $23,206 $37,951 69.5% 80.9%
35 $23,281 $42,600 60.1% 96.0%
36 $23,331 $41,100 72.1% 73.4%
37 $23,553 $13,544 51.6% 87.8%
38 $24,051 $35,815 50.5% 78.5%
39 $24,449 $17,950 37.7%
40 $24,791 $38,160 59.6% 82.1%
41 $24,829 $38,370 69.2% 88.7%
42 $25,157 $29,460 60.5% 75.6%
43 $25,717 $43,810 66.2% 66.3%
44 $25,747 $34,940 65.6% 93.8%
45 $25,754 $18,980 53.1%
46 $25,866 $48,290 64.0% 77.6%
47 $25,885 $37,420 56.0% 63.2%
48 $26,084 $17,940 50.4%
49 $26,198 $36,842 77.1% 81.1%
50 $26,539 $57,400 74.1% 76.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the huge earnings gap between Pennsylvania business programs?

Holy Family University graduates earn $52,107 while Lincoln University graduates average $30,047, creating a $22,060 annual difference. This gap reflects varying program quality, alumni networks, and geographic placement. Holy Family's Philadelphia location provides access to finance and healthcare management roles, while some programs focus more on general business skills that command lower starting salaries.

How do graduation rates compare between cheap and expensive business programs?

Saint Francis University achieves a 72.8% graduation rate despite costing $19,173, while Cheyney University graduates only 16.2% of students at $9,837 net cost. The pattern shows mixed results across price points. Holy Family University combines affordability at $12,251 with solid 60.4% completion rates, proving that higher costs don't guarantee better student outcomes.

Is attending a public university always cheaper for Pennsylvania business students?

Public schools claim seven of the top 12 most affordable spots, but private options can compete on net price. Holy Family University costs $12,251 net compared to East Stroudsburg's $15,089, even though the public school charges only $11,036 in tuition. Financial aid packages at private institutions sometimes offset higher sticker prices for qualifying students.

Does student debt load vary significantly among affordable business programs?

Debt levels range from $22,623 at East Stroudsburg to $34,720 at Central Penn College among schools reporting this data. Public universities generally produce lower debt burdens, with Millersville graduates owing $22,849 compared to $34,000 at private Peirce College. Lower debt combined with solid earnings creates better long-term financial outcomes for most graduates.

Where do Pennsylvania business graduates find the best job opportunities?

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh anchor Pennsylvania's business job market, with UPMC employing over 87,000 people in healthcare management roles. Comcast headquarters in Philadelphia creates media and technology management positions, while pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline offer operations leadership tracks. The PA State Grant program helps reduce costs for in-state students pursuing these regional opportunities.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.