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Cheapest Liberal Arts and Sciences Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

Cheyney University stands out with the lowest net price at $9,837 for Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Pennsylvania, while Swarthmore College demands $18,686 despite its $62,412 sticker price. This dramatic range reflects Pennsylvania's mix of historically black public institutions, elite private colleges, and regional state universities serving students across economic backgrounds. The state's healthcare giants like UPMC actively recruit liberal arts graduates for administrative roles, communications positions, and program coordination jobs that value critical thinking skills. Philadelphia-based companies including Comcast seek humanities graduates for content creation and corporate communications roles. Graduation rates vary significantly, from Peirce College's 5.30% to Swarthmore's 94.10%, suggesting different student populations and institutional approaches. Public universities like University of Pittsburgh's branch campuses offer consistent $31,305 median earnings with manageable $24,000 debt loads. The PA State Grant program helps bridge affordability gaps, making programs accessible at institutions ranging from small religious colleges to large state universities. Students can access quality liberal arts education for under $20,000 annually at most schools, with several options below $15,000.
50
Programs
$9,837 – $29,843
Net Price Range
$30,777
Avg. Program Earnings
58.7%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities 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 $16,521 $19,964 24.4% 93.2%
6 $16,630 $14,620 43.4% 93.6%
7 $17,034 $14,630 39.6% 97.6%
8 $17,216 $11,380 52.4% 91.9%
9 $18,686 $62,412 94.1% 6.9%
10 $18,952 $14,646 53.4% 97.4%
11 $19,173 $41,720 72.8% 73.1%
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 $20,748 $26,156 55.6% 86.0%
16 $20,822 $34,502 55.2% 92.7%
17 $21,043 $33,610 61.5% 79.1%
18 $21,205 $11,230 54.1% 96.1%
19 $21,241 $27,000 51.8% 94.1%
20 $21,409 $35,570 57.9% 94.3%
21 $21,664 $28,794 42.2% 84.9%
22 $21,972 $33,120 57.7% 97.4%
23 $22,558 $41,414 71.0% 78.3%
24 $22,673 $10,687 69.8% 87.9%
25 $22,909 $44,934 58.2% 84.3%
26 $23,206 $37,951 69.5% 80.9%
27 $23,281 $42,600 60.1% 96.0%
28 $23,331 $41,100 72.1% 73.4%
29 $23,553 $13,544 51.6% 87.8%
30 $24,051 $35,815 50.5% 78.5%
31 $24,449 $17,950 37.7%
32 $24,791 $38,160 59.6% 82.1%
33 $24,829 $38,370 69.2% 88.7%
34 $25,210 $68,300 89.4% 14.2%
35 $25,717 $43,810 66.2% 66.3%
36 $25,866 $48,290 64.0% 77.6%
37 $25,885 $37,420 56.0% 63.2%
38 $26,198 $36,842 77.1% 81.1%
39 $26,539 $57,400 74.1% 76.7%
40 $27,263 $44,510 58.7% 80.6%
41 $27,663 $56,402 68.9% 76.2%
42 $27,686 $40,640 78.5% 79.4%
43 $27,700 $42,286 60.3% 94.1%
44 $28,132 $50,320 72.5% 76.7%
45 $28,329 $42,810 58.5% 59.0%
46 $28,714 $37,300 46.1% 85.5%
47 $29,219 $22,082 74.7% 79.7%
48 $29,464 $28,550 64.5% 69.7%
49 $29,577 $32,625 65.2% 81.0%
50 $29,843 $52,000 71.1% 67.0%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the huge graduation rate gap between schools?

Graduation rates range from 5.30% at Peirce College to 94.10% at Swarthmore College, reflecting vastly different student populations and institutional missions. Peirce serves working adults in accelerated programs, while Swarthmore admits only 6.93% of applicants and provides extensive support systems. Most public universities fall between 40-65% graduation rates, with University of Pittsburgh branches maintaining over 90% acceptance rates while achieving solid completion numbers.

How do University of Pittsburgh branches compare for value?

All three University of Pittsburgh branches offer identical $31,305 median earnings and $24,000 typical debt loads, making them strong value propositions. Net prices vary slightly from $16,630 at Bradford to $18,952 at Johnstown, with all three maintaining high acceptance rates above 93%. Graduation rates differ moderately, ranging from 39.60% at Greensburg to 53.40% at Johnstown.

Is Swarthmore worth the premium over other options?

Swarthmore's $18,686 net price reflects substantial financial aid that reduces the $62,412 sticker price for most students. The college admits only 6.93% of applicants and achieves a 94.10% graduation rate, far exceeding other schools in the data. However, students seeking liberal arts education can find quality programs for $9,837 at Cheyney University or around $17,000 at several public universities.

What career outcomes can liberal arts graduates expect in Pennsylvania?

Median earnings range from $24,421 at Mount Aloysius College to $31,305 at University of Pittsburgh branches, reflecting regional employment patterns. Pennsylvania's healthcare sector, led by UPMC, actively recruits liberal arts graduates for administrative and communications roles. Major employers like Comcast value humanities backgrounds for content creation and corporate communications positions. Debt levels typically range from $24,000 to $28,913 at most institutions.

Where can students find the most affordable programs under $15,000?

Five schools offer net prices below $15,000, led by Cheyney University at $9,837 and Holy Family University at $12,251. Peirce College charges $12,905 but has only a 5.30% graduation rate, while Lincoln University at $12,912 achieves 52.10% graduation rates. These options provide significant savings compared to private colleges charging over $19,000 annually.

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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.