Ranking

Best Sustainability Studies Colleges in Pennsylvania 2026

19 Pennsylvania colleges offering Sustainability Studies, ranked by EduGradify value grade.

Schools ranked: 19
Cheapest net price: $12,119
Top earnings 10y: $114,862
Public / Private: 8 / 11

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 8.99
Net price: $31,944
Earnings 10y: $114,862
Acceptance: 11.7%

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 8.67
Net price: $23,149
Earnings 10y: $80,257
Acceptance: 7.5%

Northampton County Area Community College

Bethlehem, PA · Public

ROI score: 8.57
Net price: $12,119
Earnings 10y: $41,566
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

University Park, PA · Public

ROI score: 8.11
Net price: $19,550
Earnings 10y: $63,435
Acceptance: 91.2%

Allegheny College

Meadville, PA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.76
Net price: $22,940
Earnings 10y: $62,069
Acceptance: 54.6%

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, PA · Public

ROI score: 6.76
Net price: $19,608
Earnings 10y: $53,032
Acceptance: 71.5%

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.69
Net price: $28,928
Earnings 10y: $77,449
Acceptance: 81%

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, PA · Public

ROI score: 6.56
Net price: $23,331
Earnings 10y: $61,258
Acceptance: 78.4%

Mercyhurst University

Erie, PA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.10
Net price: $19,444
Earnings 10y: $47,452
Acceptance: 81%

#10

Muhlenberg College

Allentown, PA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.98
Net price: $28,905
Earnings 10y: $69,107
Acceptance: 72%

#11

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg, PA · Public

ROI score: 5.94
Net price: $23,726
Earnings 10y: $56,351
Acceptance: 86.5%

#12

Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre, PA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.72
Net price: $27,743
Earnings 10y: $63,454
Acceptance: 90.6%

#13

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public

ROI score: 5.65
Net price: $28,198
Earnings 10y: $63,727
Acceptance: 80.4%

#14

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, PA · Public

ROI score: 5.43
Net price: $30,434
Earnings 10y: $66,125
Acceptance: 58.1%

#15

Messiah University

Mechanicsburg, PA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.10
Net price: $26,502
Earnings 10y: $54,064
Acceptance: 79%

#16

Wilson College

Chambersburg, PA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.98
Net price: $21,741
Earnings 10y: $43,326
Acceptance: 92.1%

#17

Alvernia University

Reading, PA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.89
Net price: $28,138
Earnings 10y: $55,055
Acceptance: 58.1%

#18

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public

ROI score: 4.82
Net price: $32,875
Earnings 10y: $63,435
Acceptance: 60.6%

#19

Chatham University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.37
Net price: $29,954
Earnings 10y: $52,410
Acceptance: 62%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Pennsylvania schools with positive Sustainability Studies program-share evidence, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 6.32 (8 public, 11 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is B.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Pennsylvania colleges are in this list?

19 Pennsylvania colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.