Rankings / Online
Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Pennsylvania
- 50
- Schools
- $52,784
- Avg. Earnings
- 50%
- Avg. Graduation
- $19,623
- Avg. Net Price
- $21,758
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $37,439 at the low end to $75,701 at the top. That 2.0× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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Bucks County Community College offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $47,324 against $6,389 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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The most budget-friendly option on this list is Westmoreland County Community College, at $5,167 annually in net price.
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Completion rates separate this field: University of Scranton graduates 80% of its students, well above the 50% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor Reading Area Community College: graduates owe only 0.22× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to Pennsylvania State University-World Campus ($63,435 earnings), not the highest earner, Immaculata University ($75,701). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. Westmoreland County Community College ($5,167/yr) and Duquesne University ($37,730/yr) produce graduates earning $37,439 and $74,742 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $32,563 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, Bucks County Community College outperforms Immaculata University: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
The Takeaway
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with Bucks County Community College and University of Scranton. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $52K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-20
Source datasets
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 Pennsylvania State University-World Campus #1 overall | $63,435 ▲ +20% vs avg | $19,550 | 34% | 100 |
| 2 Eastern University #2 overall | $51,655 ▼ -2% vs avg | $26,662 | 55% | 100 |
| 3 Wilson College #3 overall | $43,326 ▼ -18% vs avg | $21,741 | 50% | 100 |
| $42,007 ▼ -20% vs avg | $14,471 | 21% | 100 | |
| $40,852 ▼ -23% vs avg | $11,911 | 22% | 100 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Pennsylvania
This analysis ranks 50 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $52,784 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 50% and an average net price of $19,623.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Bucks County Community College — Net Price: $6,389 | Graduation Rate: 30%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: University of Scranton — 80% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Immaculata University — Median alumni earnings: $75,701
Data Insight
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Legal Profession Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the legal profession and the justice system?
$52,216
Median earnings (10yr)
54%
Median graduation rate
$20,051
Median net price
1.3%
Avg. mobility rate
Legal education is high-stakes. Graduates carry significant debt into a profession where earnings split sharply between large-firm and public-sector tracks, and bar passage is non-negotiable. The programs that deliver value combine strong bar preparation, real placement into legal employment, and costs that do not force graduates onto the large-firm track just to service loans.
Across the 50 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $52,216 ten years after they first enrolled, about $4,216 more than the roughly $48,000 a typical American worker takes home. The median graduation rate is 54%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $20,051 a year, with about $25,000 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 33% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 1.3%.
The earnings premium at the top of legal education masks a long tail of modest outcomes, and debt amplifies every decision. With median earnings of $52,216 and typical debt of $25,000, choosing a program with strong bar-passage rates and employment outcomes matters far more than chasing a brand name.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
University Park, PA · 91% accepted · $19,550 net
Why it ranks #1
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus lands at #1 with a 100/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (69/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $63,435 a decade after enrolling, 20% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,550 a year. 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
Eastern University lands at #2 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (39/100). Graduates earn a median $51,655 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $26,662 a year, above 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 #3
Wilson College lands at #3 with a 100/100 composite, led by academic quality (68/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $43,326 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,741 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 #4
Harrisburg Area Community College lands at #4 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (38/100). Graduates earn a median $42,007 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,471 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 #5
Community College of Philadelphia lands at #5 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $40,852 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,911 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
Bucks County Community College lands at #6 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $47,324 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,389 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Lancaster Bible College lands at #7 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $44,096 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $25,480 a year, above 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 #8
La Salle University lands at #8 with a 100/100 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, 28% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,409 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 #9
Rosemont College lands at #9 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (63/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $48,555 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,150 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 #10
Montgomery County Community College lands at #10 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (77/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $46,108 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,124 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 #11
Point Park University lands at #11 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (38/100). Graduates earn a median $45,856 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $25,942 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 #12
Lehigh Carbon Community College lands at #12 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $42,436 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,203 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 #13
Gwynedd Mercy University lands at #13 with a 100/100 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, 27% above this list's average, and net price runs $27,483 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 #14
Pennsylvania Western University lands at #14 with a 100/100 composite, led by academic quality (65/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $47,295 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,256 a year. 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 #15
Westmoreland County Community College lands at #15 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $37,439 a decade after enrolling, 29% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,167 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Delaware County Community College lands at #16 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $45,391 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,576 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
Northampton County Area Community College lands at #17 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $41,566 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,119 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 #18
Reading Area Community College lands at #18 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $39,082 a decade after enrolling, 26% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,228 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Immaculata University lands at #19 with a 100/100 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, 43% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,258 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 #20
University of Valley Forge lands at #20 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (67/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (28/100). Graduates earn a median $39,016 a decade after enrolling, 26% below this list's average, and net price runs $32,265 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 #21
Harcum College lands at #21 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $46,827 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $24,776 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 #22
Butler County Community College lands at #22 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (40/100). Graduates earn a median $38,891 a decade after enrolling, 26% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,233 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
DeSales University lands at #23 with a 100/100 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, 16% above 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Community College of Allegheny County lands at #24 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (76/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Graduates earn a median $39,449 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,970 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
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College lands at #25 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $38,752 a decade after enrolling, 27% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,200 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Marywood University lands at #26 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $55,817 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,388 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 #27
Holy Family University lands at #27 with a 100/100 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, 18% above 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
Luzerne County Community College lands at #28 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $40,437 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,433 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 #29
Elizabethtown College lands at #29 with a 100/100 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, 18% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,598 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 #30
Lackawanna College lands at #30 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $41,000 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,951 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 #31
Waynesburg University lands at #31 with a 100/100 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, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,235 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 #32
Widener University lands at #32 with a 100/100 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, 34% above this list's average, and net price runs $25,759 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
Millersville, PA · 86% accepted · $20,787 net
Why it ranks #33
Millersville University of Pennsylvania lands at #33 with a 100/100 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, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,787 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 #34
Cedar Crest College lands at #34 with a 100/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (66/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $59,460 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,659 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Slippery Rock, PA · 71% accepted · $19,608 net
Why it ranks #35
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania lands at #35 with a 100/100 composite, led by academic quality (71/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $53,032 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,608 a year. 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 #36
Messiah University lands at #36 with a 100/100 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, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,502 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 #37
King's College lands at #37 with a 100/100 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, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,093 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 #38
Robert Morris University lands at #38 with a 100/100 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, 18% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,003 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 #39
Community College of Beaver County lands at #39 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (34/100). Graduates earn a median $45,090 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,937 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #40
Neumann University lands at #40 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (36/100). Graduates earn a median $57,817 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $27,804 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 #41
University of Scranton lands at #41 with a 100/100 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, 41% 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 #42
Duquesne University lands at #42 with a 100/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (73/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (27/100). Graduates earn a median $74,742 a decade after enrolling, 42% above this list's average, and net price runs $37,730 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
Shippensburg, PA · 87% accepted · $23,726 net
Why it ranks #43
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania lands at #43 with a 100/100 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, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,726 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 #44
Alvernia University lands at #44 with a 100/100 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, 4% above 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.
Pillar breakdown
West Chester, PA · 78% accepted · $23,331 net
Why it ranks #45
West Chester University of Pennsylvania lands at #45 with a 100/100 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, 16% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,331 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 #46
York College of Pennsylvania lands at #46 with a 100/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (67/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $61,012 a decade after enrolling, 16% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,556 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Bloomsburg, PA · 93% accepted · $15,699 net
Why it ranks #47
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania lands at #47 with a 100/100 composite, led by academic quality (65/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $52,416 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,699 a year, well under 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 #48
Chestnut Hill College lands at #48 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (32/100). Graduates earn a median $52,015 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $27,970 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 #49
Indiana University of Pennsylvania lands at #49 with a 100/100 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, 3% 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 #50
Saint Francis University lands at #50 with a 100/100 composite, led by academic quality (78/100) and pulled down by social mobility (37/100). Graduates earn a median $62,101 a decade after enrolling, 18% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,526 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
Cut it by what you care about
The same 50 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
This ranking scores 50 institutions on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt burdens, and social mobility data from Opportunity Insights. Every data point comes from federal sources. No surveys, no opinions.
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in our algorithm. We use Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card — built on 30 million anonymized tax records — to measure whether a college changes a family's economic trajectory across generations. Schools that take low-income students and launch them into higher earnings rank higher than schools that admit wealthy students and take credit for their success.
The transparency penalty matters here. Schools that don't report their data get scored lower than schools that do. If an institution won't show you its numbers, we think you should know that before you write them a tuition check.
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
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 40 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.3%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Community College of Philadelphia leads the group at 2.8%, with Robert Morris University (2.5%) and Lackawanna College (2.4%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 8.9% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Community College of Philadelphia enrolls the most, at 24.1%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 18.6% across the list, peaking at 48.5% at University of Scranton.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.50, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and University of Scranton is highest at 1.79.
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Pennsylvania: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Pennsylvania ranking? +
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus in University Park, PA ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Pennsylvania ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $63,435 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 34% 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 school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Immaculata University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $75,701 ten years after enrollment, well above the $52,784 average across the 50 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Bucks County Community College leads: graduates earn a median $47,324 against net price of about $6,389 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 Scranton has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 80%, compared with a 50% 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 it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $19,623 a year across the 50 ranked schools with cost data. Westmoreland County Community College is among the most affordable at roughly $5,167. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Online Criminal Justice 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 50 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
Related Rankings
