Rankings / MBA
Best MBA Programs in Pennsylvania
- 34
- Schools
- $66,480
- Avg. Earnings
- 68%
- Avg. Graduation
- $25,715
- Avg. Net Price
- $25,331
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 34 programs run from $51,019 to $114,862, a 2.3× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Holy Family University delivers the most for the money: roughly $62,235 in median earnings against $13,143 a year in tuition, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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The most affordable option, Holy Family University ($13,143 tuition), still posts $62,235 in earnings, at or above the list average. Paying more does not guarantee a better outcome.
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University of Pennsylvania graduates 97% of its students, versus a 68% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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University of Pennsylvania carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.14× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 University of Pennsylvania ($111,371 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Carnegie Mellon University ($114,862), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Holy Family University costs $13,143 a year and University of Pennsylvania costs $87,970. Yet their graduates earn $62,235 and $111,371, nowhere near the $74,827 price gap.
- On value, Holy Family University beats Carnegie Mellon University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the tuition.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked programs is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with Holy Family University and University of Pennsylvania. For each program, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
Business is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $62K within a decade, and management analyst roles are projected to grow 10%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
- Chetty, R., Friedman, J., Saez, E., Turner, N., & Yagan, D. (2017). Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility. NBER Working Paper No. 23618.
- U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard Data. Federal Student Aid, National Center for Education Statistics.
- National Center for Education Statistics. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
- U.S. News & World Report. Best Business Schools MBA Rankings. Used for MBA program validation.
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 University of Pennsylvania #1 overall | $111,371 ▲ +68% vs avg | $28,699 | 97% | 82 |
| 2 Carnegie Mellon University #2 overall | $114,862 ▲ +73% vs avg | $31,944 | 93% | 80 |
| 3 Lehigh University #3 overall | $105,584 ▲ +59% vs avg | $36,931 | 89% | 76 |
| $100,423 ▲ +51% vs avg | $43,756 | 92% | 75 | |
| $61,258 ▼ -8% vs avg | $23,331 | 70% | 72 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best MBA Programs in Pennsylvania
This analysis ranks 34 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $66,480 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 68% and an average net price of $25,715.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Holy Family University — Net Price: $13,143 | Graduation Rate: 61%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: University of Pennsylvania — 97% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Carnegie Mellon University — Median alumni earnings: $114,862
CollegeRanker Primary Research
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Management Education Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about leadership and management education?
$61,578
Median earnings (10yr)
66%
Median graduation rate
$26,131
Median net price
1.6%
Avg. mobility rate
Business and MBA programs sell acceleration: faster paths into management, bigger networks, and a salary step-change. The return is famously dispersed, though. A handful of programs deliver enormous ROI through placement and alumni networks, while many barely clear the cost of attendance. Management education is less a single product than a wide spectrum of outcomes.
The median graduation rate across these 34 programs is 66%. Median graduate earnings reach $61,578 ten years after enrollment, roughly $13,578 more than the national worker average of $48,000. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $26,131 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $25,831. Some 27% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 1.6%.
What we’re seeing: value concentrates where networks and employer pipelines are strongest, and ROI varies more here than in almost any other field. Median earnings reach $61,578 ten years after enrollment, with University of Pennsylvania at the top of the list. The spread between the best programs and the median is the real story of an MBA.
The podium
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Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
University of Pennsylvania lands at #1 with a 82/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (90/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (74/100). Graduates earn a median $111,371 a decade after enrolling, 68% above this list's average, and net price runs $28,699 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Carnegie Mellon University lands at #2 with a 80/100 composite, led by academic quality (90/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $114,862 a decade after enrolling, 73% above this list's average, and net price runs $31,944 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Lehigh University lands at #3 with a 76/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $105,584 a decade after enrolling, 59% above this list's average, and net price runs $36,931 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Villanova University lands at #4 with a 75/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $100,423 a decade after enrolling, 51% above this list's average, and net price runs $43,756 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
West Chester, PA · 78% accepted · $23,331 net
Why it ranks #5
West Chester University of Pennsylvania lands at #5 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $61,258 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $23,331 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Immaculata University lands at #6 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $75,701 a decade after enrolling, 14% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,258 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Robert Morris University lands at #7 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $62,105 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $23,003 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Shippensburg, PA · 87% accepted · $23,726 net
Why it ranks #8
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania lands at #8 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $56,351 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $23,726 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
La Salle University lands at #9 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $67,416 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,409 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Philadelphia, PA · 89% accepted · $29,689 net
Why it ranks #10
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia lands at #10 with a 69/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $86,881 a decade after enrolling, 31% above this list's average, and net price runs $29,689 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
King's College lands at #11 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $59,498 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $23,093 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
University of Scranton lands at #12 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (36/100). Graduates earn a median $74,652 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $32,568 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Indiana University of Pennsylvania lands at #13 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $51,019 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,804 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Seton Hill University lands at #14 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $51,748 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,204 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Holy Family University lands at #15 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (59/100). Graduates earn a median $62,235 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,143 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
East Stroudsburg, PA · 92% accepted · $18,134 net
Why it ranks #16
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania lands at #16 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $56,148 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,134 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Elizabethtown College lands at #17 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $62,399 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $26,598 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania lands at #18 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $53,775 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,331 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Millersville, PA · 86% accepted · $20,787 net
Why it ranks #19
Millersville University of Pennsylvania lands at #19 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $55,246 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,787 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Widener University lands at #20 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $70,920 a decade after enrolling, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $25,759 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
La Roche University lands at #21 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (58/100). Graduates earn a median $52,341 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,794 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #22
Messiah University lands at #22 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $54,064 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $26,502 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Moravian University lands at #23 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (34/100). Graduates earn a median $61,860 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $30,670 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Waynesburg University lands at #24 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (51/100). Graduates earn a median $58,537 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,235 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Wilkes University lands at #25 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (36/100). Graduates earn a median $63,454 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $27,743 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Carlow University lands at #26 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $51,051 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,786 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
Gannon University lands at #27 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $58,845 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,553 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
Gwynedd Mercy University lands at #28 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (43/100). Graduates earn a median $67,145 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $27,483 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
DeSales University lands at #29 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (36/100). Graduates earn a median $61,295 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $31,643 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #30
Temple University lands at #30 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $63,727 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $28,198 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
Lebanon Valley College lands at #31 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $62,621 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $26,979 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #32
Chatham University lands at #32 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $52,410 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $29,954 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #33
Alvernia University lands at #33 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (35/100). Graduates earn a median $55,055 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $28,138 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #34
Arcadia University lands at #34 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (38/100). Graduates earn a median $58,336 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $29,466 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 34 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Management Analysts and related roles — a field with $99,410 median pay and 10% projected growth.
See the Management Analyst career guide →In Pennsylvania, MBA programs are a vital stepping stone for professionals aiming to elevate their careers. With 24 schools in the state offering these programs, prospective students have a variety of options to consider. These programs not only promise advanced business education but also a significant return on investment, with average earnings around $72,515 for graduates across the state.
What sets the top contenders apart are tangible outcomes such as graduate earnings, completion rates, debt levels, and upward mobility. Schools like the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University are notable for their high earnings post-graduation, with respective figures of $111,371 and $114,862. The list below can guide students in evaluating which program aligns best with their goals and financial situation.
Take the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova University as examples. While Penn graduates earn an impressive $111,371, Villanova's graduates earn $100,423. However, Villanova's net price is significantly higher at $43,756 compared to Penn's $28,699. This highlights the importance of weighing both potential earnings and costs when making a decision.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 33 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 1.6%. Temple University leads the group at 3.3%, with Wilkes University (2.9%) and Robert Morris University (2.5%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 6.2% of students start in the bottom income quintile. King's College leads at 20%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 31% across this list. Villanova University posts the highest success rate at 58%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.69 against a national benchmark of 1.0. University of Pennsylvania reaches 1.88, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
While examining the data, a clear pattern emerges: Carnegie Mellon University consistently outperforms its peers in terms of graduate earnings and completion rate. With earnings of $114,862 and a graduation rate of 93%, it stands out compared to Lehigh University, which has earnings of $105,584 and a graduation rate of 89%. This difference can significantly impact a graduate's financial trajectory.
As you consider your options, it's crucial to match these statistics with your personal priorities. Reflect on what matters most to you—whether it's the location of the school, the fit of the program, the overall campus environment, or your financial situation. Dig deeper into each program's offerings and connect them with your career aspirations. This approach can help you make a more informed choice.
Ultimately, these numbers reflect the broader landscape of transitioning from education to a stable career. Each school represents a unique path that can lead to varying outcomes for families. It's not just about the degree; it's about how that degree translates into a secure and fulfilling life. Each decision made here has the potential to shape future opportunities.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best MBA Programs in Pennsylvania: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best MBA Programs in Pennsylvania ranking? +
University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA ranks #1 in our 2026 Best MBA Programs in Pennsylvania ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $111,371 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 97% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which program has the highest graduate earnings? +
Carnegie Mellon University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $114,862 ten years after enrollment, well above the $66,480 average across the 34 ranked programs with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which program offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Holy Family University leads: graduates earn a median $62,235 against tuition of about $13,143 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
University of Pennsylvania has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 97%, compared with a 68% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does an MBA cost at these schools? +
Across the 5 programs with verified tuition, annual MBA tuition averages $62,994, ranging from about $30,000 a year at Temple University to $87,970 at University of Pennsylvania. These are tuition figures pulled from official program pages (in-state where the school is public), not estimated net price.
How is the Best MBA Programs in Pennsylvania ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 34 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
Chetty, R., Friedman, J., Saez, E., Turner, N., & Yagan, D. (2017). Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility. NBER Working Paper No. 23618. →
U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard Data. Federal Student Aid, National Center for Education Statistics. →
National Center for Education Statistics. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). →
U.S. News & World Report. Best Business Schools MBA Rankings. Used for MBA program validation. →
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