# Best Data Science Colleges in Pennsylvania

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-09-07 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-data-science-pennsylvania

## Methodology

Data Science programs in Pennsylvania ranked by outcomes and program concentration

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

As data science continues to be a rapidly growing field, students in Pennsylvania are exploring programs that can set them up for success. These colleges are distinguished by their strong outcomes, such as high graduation rates and competitive earnings. With 50 institutions offering data science degrees in the state, it’s crucial to understand which ones provide the best pathways for students.

The strongest programs in this list are defined by key metrics: earnings after graduation, graduation rates, student debt, and overall program concentration. The numbers speak volumes. Graduates from the University of Pennsylvania, for instance, earn an impressive $111,371, while Carnegie Mellon University graduates follow closely behind at $114,862. These figures reflect not just the quality of education but also the return on investment for students.

Take the University of Pennsylvania and Swarthmore College, for example. While both have strong graduation rates at 97% and 93%, respectively, their earnings differ significantly. The University of Pennsylvania’s graduates earn $111,371, compared to Swarthmore’s $80,257. This contrast highlights the trade-off between school choice and potential financial outcomes, setting the stage for deeper exploration of each program's offerings.

## Key Findings

- University of Pennsylvania graduates earn $111,371, higher than the average earnings of $65,062.
- Carnegie Mellon University has a 93% graduation rate, slightly lower than UPenn's 97%.
- Swarthmore College has a net price of $23,149, significantly lower than Carnegie Mellon’s $31,944.
- Lehigh University graduates carry a debt of $21,960, while Haverford's graduates have lower debt at $13,621.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/carnegie-mellon-university) | Pittsburgh, PA | 93% | $114,862 | $31,944 | $21,750 | 0.19x |
| 2 | [University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania) | Philadelphia, PA | 97% | $111,371 | $28,699 | $15,715 | 0.14x |
| 3 | [Swarthmore College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/swarthmore-college) | Swarthmore, PA | 93% | $80,257 | $23,149 | $17,500 | 0.22x |
| 4 | [Haverford College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/haverford-college) | Haverford, PA | 90% | $79,966 | $25,314 | $13,621 | 0.17x |
| 5 | [Lehigh University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lehigh-university) | Bethlehem, PA | 89% | $105,584 | $36,931 | $21,960 | 0.21x |
| 6 | [Lafayette College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lafayette-college) | Easton, PA | 88% | $91,410 | $34,433 | $16,000 | 0.18x |
| 7 | [Bryn Mawr College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bryn-mawr-college) | Bryn Mawr, PA | 84% | $75,217 | $31,759 | $25,000 | 0.33x |
| 8 | [Franklin and Marshall College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/franklin-and-marshall-college) | Lancaster, PA | 85% | $76,124 | $36,425 | $19,000 | 0.25x |
| 9 | [Villanova University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/villanova-university) | Villanova, PA | 92% | $100,423 | $43,756 | $25,874 | 0.26x |
| 10 | [Bucknell University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bucknell-university) | Lewisburg, PA | 86% | $93,807 | $40,766 | $27,000 | 0.29x |
| 11 | [Muhlenberg College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/muhlenberg-college) | Allentown, PA | 81% | $69,107 | $28,905 | $25,455 | 0.37x |
| 12 | [Gettysburg College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/gettysburg-college) | Gettysburg, PA | 83% | $71,517 | $31,490 | $26,999 | 0.38x |
| 13 | [Dickinson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dickinson-college) | Carlisle, PA | 82% | $70,204 | $37,607 | $19,000 | 0.27x |
| 14 | [Immaculata University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/immaculata-university) | Immaculata, PA | 68% | $75,701 | $24,258 | $27,000 | 0.36x |
| 15 | [Washington & Jefferson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washington-jefferson-college) | Washington, PA | 70% | $67,918 | $25,002 | $27,000 | 0.4x |
| 16 | [Holy Family University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/holy-family-university) | Philadelphia, PA | 61% | $62,235 | $13,143 | $25,125 | 0.4x |
| 17 | [Reading Area Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/reading-area-community-college) | Reading, PA | 30% | $39,082 | $9,228 | $8,750 | 0.22x |
| 18 | [Bucks County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bucks-county-community-college) | Newtown, PA | 30% | $47,324 | $6,389 | $12,000 | 0.25x |
| 19 | [Kutztown University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kutztown-university-of-pennsylvania) | Kutztown, PA | 54% | $53,775 | $21,331 | $26,000 | 0.48x |
| 20 | [Allegheny College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/allegheny-college) | Meadville, PA | 70% | $62,069 | $22,940 | $27,000 | 0.43x |
| 21 | [Johnson College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/johnson-college) | Scranton, PA | 51% | $55,194 | $19,954 | $12,000 | 0.22x |
| 22 | [La Roche University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/la-roche-university) | Pittsburgh, PA | 57% | $52,341 | $20,794 | $25,000 | 0.48x |
| 23 | [Ursinus College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ursinus-college) | Collegeville, PA | 75% | $73,721 | $30,536 | $27,000 | 0.37x |
| 24 | [East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-stroudsburg-university-of-pennsylvania) | East Stroudsburg, PA | 44% | $56,148 | $18,134 | $24,218 | 0.43x |
| 25 | [Community College of Philadelphia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/community-college-of-philadelphia) | Philadelphia, PA | 22% | $40,852 | $11,911 | $10,750 | 0.26x |
| 26 | [Juniata College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/juniata-college) | Huntingdon, PA | 71% | $56,918 | $23,988 | $27,000 | 0.47x |
| 27 | [Temple University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/temple-university) | Philadelphia, PA | 75% | $63,727 | $28,198 | $24,395 | 0.38x |
| 28 | [Moravian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/moravian-university) | Bethlehem, PA | 71% | $61,860 | $30,670 | $26,793 | 0.43x |
| 29 | [La Salle University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/la-salle-university) | Philadelphia, PA | 58% | $67,416 | $19,409 | $25,000 | 0.37x |
| 30 | [Pennsylvania Highlands Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-highlands-community-college) | Johnstown, PA | 39% | $38,752 | $6,200 | $11,000 | 0.28x |
| 31 | [Seton Hill University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/seton-hill-university) | Greensburg, PA | 69% | $51,748 | $22,204 | $27,000 | 0.52x |
| 32 | [Susquehanna University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/susquehanna-university) | Selinsgrove, PA | 78% | $61,723 | $28,819 | $27,000 | 0.44x |
| 33 | [Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-penn-state-lehigh-valley) | Center Valley, PA | 18% | $63,435 | $18,220 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 34 | [Manor College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/manor-college) | Jenkintown, PA | 25% | $46,825 | $13,078 | $19,000 | 0.41x |
| 35 | [Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-penn-state-wilkes-barre) | Dallas, PA | 19% | $63,435 | $16,448 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 36 | [Westmoreland County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/westmoreland-county-community-college) | Youngwood, PA | 28% | $37,439 | $5,167 | $11,000 | 0.29x |
| 37 | [Widener University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/widener-university) | Chester, PA | 66% | $70,920 | $25,759 | $27,000 | 0.38x |
| 38 | [Montgomery County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/montgomery-county-community-college) | Blue Bell, PA | 26% | $46,108 | $11,124 | $12,349 | 0.27x |
| 39 | [Lehigh Carbon Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lehigh-carbon-community-college) | Schnecksville, PA | 29% | $42,436 | $9,203 | $11,000 | 0.26x |
| 40 | [Delaware County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/delaware-county-community-college) | Media, PA | 22% | $45,391 | $6,576 | $13,250 | 0.29x |
| 41 | [Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-penn-state-abington) | Abington, PA | 21% | $63,435 | $18,071 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 42 | [Gannon University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/gannon-university) | Erie, PA | 68% | $58,845 | $22,553 | $27,000 | 0.46x |
| 43 | [Messiah University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/messiah-university) | Mechanicsburg, PA | 77% | $54,064 | $26,502 | $25,621 | 0.47x |
| 44 | [Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-penn-state-greater-allegheny) | McKeesport, PA | 23% | $63,435 | $15,521 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 45 | [DeSales University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/desales-university) | Center Valley, PA | 72% | $61,295 | $31,643 | $25,788 | 0.42x |
| 46 | [Arcadia University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arcadia-university) | Glenside, PA | 65% | $58,336 | $29,466 | $27,000 | 0.46x |
| 47 | [Lincoln University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lincoln-university-pa) | Lincoln University, PA | 48% | $43,167 | $14,977 | $28,250 | 0.65x |
| 48 | [Albright College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/albright-college) | Reading, PA | 47% | $58,700 | $20,024 | $27,000 | 0.46x |
| 49 | [Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-penn-state-harrisburg) | Middletown, PA | 28% | $63,435 | $23,330 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 50 | [Community College of Beaver County](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/community-college-of-beaver-county) | Monaca, PA | 17% | $45,090 | $6,937 | $14,923 | 0.33x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Data Science Colleges in Pennsylvania." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-09-07. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-data-science-pennsylvania

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.