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Most affordable public universities in Pennsylvania
38 public universities in Pennsylvania report net price data, ranging from $8,460 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $19,312. Pennsylvania's public universities run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.
Median net price in Pennsylvania
$19,312
National median for public universities
$10,692
public universities reporting in Pennsylvania
38
The most affordable public universities in Pennsylvania, ranked by net price
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango
PA
Net price
$14,895
Receive grant aid
98%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny
PA
Net price
$14,933
Receive grant aid
88%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
PA
Net price
$16,275
Receive grant aid
91%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington
PA
Net price
$17,561
Receive grant aid
70%
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
PA
Net price
$17,665
Receive grant aid
98%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
PA
Net price
$18,239
Receive grant aid
78%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly
PA
Net price
$18,780
Receive grant aid
92%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois
PA
Net price
$18,960
Receive grant aid
95%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
PA
Net price
$19,070
Receive grant aid
71%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York
PA
Net price
$19,159
Receive grant aid
79%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington
PA
Net price
$19,294
Receive grant aid
91%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver
PA
Net price
$19,329
Receive grant aid
84%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton
PA
Net price
$19,920
Receive grant aid
93%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto
PA
Net price
$20,294
Receive grant aid
81%
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill
PA
Net price
$20,317
Receive grant aid
78%
What makes a school affordable here
In Pennsylvania, the most affordable public universities share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the most affordable on this list, 97% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.
Affordable colleges in Pennsylvania, other types
Affordable public universities in other states
Find your personalized cost
National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.
Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →