Best colleges for computer science in Pennsylvania
Swarthmore College ranks first in Pennsylvania for computer science value (#30 nationally, value score 80.2): graduates earn $150,942 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $17,392 a year.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 21 Pennsylvania colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026
Best computer science colleges in Pennsylvania
Swarthmore College ranks first in Pennsylvania for computer science value (#30 nationally, value score 80.2): graduates earn $150,942 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $17,392 a year. 21 Pennsylvania colleges qualify. At the median one, computer science graduates earn $101,670 and the average net price is $23,058 a year.
Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025
What the data shows
Key findings
- 21 Pennsylvania colleges qualify. At the median one, computer science graduates earn $101,670 and the average net price is $23,058 a year.
- The highest computer science earnings in the state are at Carnegie Mellon University ($268,121), ranked #3 in the state once cost, debt and graduation rate count.
- The lowest average net price among them is at Lincoln University-Pennsylvania: $13,517 a year.
- Median earnings
- $101,670
- National: $97,375
- Median net price
- $23,058
- National: $16,804
- Median federal debt
- $23,250
- computer science graduates
- Public colleges
- 9 of 21
- in this list
21 colleges
The Pennsylvania ranking
Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
- Rank in Pennsylvania 1
Swarthmore, PA · Private nonprofit · #30 nationally
80.2Value- Earnings
- $150,942
- Net price
- $17,392
- Federal debt
- $17,461
- Graduation rate
- 92%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 2
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · #38 nationally
78.0Value- Earnings
- $241,380
- Net price
- $29,577
- Federal debt
- $11,000
- Graduation rate
- 97%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 3
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit · #46 nationally
75.4Value- Earnings
- $268,121
- Net price
- $35,780
- Federal debt
- $19,000
- Graduation rate
- 94%
- Earnings
- $141,691
- Net price
- $25,272
- Federal debt
- $22,230
- Graduation rate
- 85%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 5
Villanova, PA · Private nonprofit · #129 nationally
62.2Value- Earnings
- $130,585
- Net price
- $41,536
- Federal debt
- $23,000
- Graduation rate
- 93%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 6
Lewisburg, PA · Private nonprofit · #187 nationally
56.2Value- Earnings
- $122,651
- Net price
- $50,021
- Federal debt
- Not reported
- Graduation rate
- 85%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 7
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
Johnstown, PA · Public · #200 nationally
54.2Value- Earnings
- $108,680
- Net price
- $16,375
- Federal debt
- $23,250
- Graduation rate
- 55%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 8
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · Public · #214 nationally
51.9Value- Earnings
- $108,680
- Net price
- $29,362
- Federal debt
- $23,250
- Graduation rate
- 86%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 9
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · #247 nationally
47.5Value- Earnings
- $113,610
- Net price
- $37,529
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Graduation rate
- 78%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 10
York, PA · Private nonprofit · #260 nationally
46.4Value- Earnings
- $100,044
- Net price
- $21,886
- Federal debt
- $20,364
- Graduation rate
- 62%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 11
Temple University-Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Public · #263 nationally
46.2Value- Earnings
- $101,670
- Net price
- $23,058
- Federal debt
- $23,500
- Graduation rate
- 73%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 12
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg, PA · Public · #267 nationally
45.4Value- Earnings
- $104,026
- Net price
- $21,084
- Federal debt
- $20,833
- Graduation rate
- 46%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 13
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit · #374 nationally
31.7Value- Earnings
- $92,789
- Net price
- $37,704
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Graduation rate
- 76%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 14
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville, PA · Public · #399 nationally
29.5Value- Earnings
- $86,012
- Net price
- $18,817
- Federal debt
- $22,531
- Graduation rate
- 55%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 15
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, PA · Public · #403 nationally
28.3Value- Earnings
- $78,096
- Net price
- $19,972
- Federal debt
- $19,500
- Graduation rate
- 68%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 16
Meadville, PA · Private nonprofit · #408 nationally
27.5Value- Earnings
- $86,069
- Net price
- $23,895
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Graduation rate
- 70%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 17
Glenside, PA · Private nonprofit · #431 nationally
23.6Value- Earnings
- $86,116
- Net price
- $25,397
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Graduation rate
- 58%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 18
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana, PA · Public · #442 nationally
22.0Value- Earnings
- $77,097
- Net price
- $17,391
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Graduation rate
- 52%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 19
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Harrisburg, PA · Private nonprofit · #444 nationally
21.7Value- Earnings
- $74,043
- Net price
- $14,133
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Graduation rate
- 36%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 20
Lincoln University-Pennsylvania
Lincoln University, PA · Public · #451 nationally
20.3Value- Earnings
- $49,412
- Net price
- $13,517
- Federal debt
- $28,455
- Graduation rate
- 45%
- Rank in Pennsylvania 21
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown, PA · Public · #458 nationally
17.4Value- Earnings
- $74,677
- Net price
- $22,146
- Federal debt
- $26,000
- Graduation rate
- 55%
Method: the same value score as the national computer science ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.
Questions about computer science colleges in Pennsylvania
What are the best colleges for computer science in Pennsylvania?
By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 Pennsylvania colleges for computer science are Swarthmore College (value score 80.2), University of Pennsylvania (value score 78) and Carnegie Mellon University (value score 75.4). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.
Which Pennsylvania college has the highest earnings for computer science graduates?
Carnegie Mellon University: its computer science graduates have median earnings of $268,121 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
What is the most affordable computer science college in Pennsylvania on this list?
Lincoln University-Pennsylvania has the lowest average net price of the ranked Pennsylvania colleges, $13,517 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.
How many Pennsylvania colleges are ranked for computer science?
21 Pennsylvania colleges have a computer science bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within Pennsylvania.