What is the most affordable public university in Pennsylvania?

By average net price — what students actually pay per year after grants and scholarships — it is Cheyney University of Pennsylvania at about $14,265 a year. That is an average across all students there; your own cost depends on your family's income, so check the school's net price calculator.

What is the difference between sticker price and net price?

Sticker price is the published tuition before any aid. Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships are subtracted — not loans, which you pay back. Net price is usually far lower, and at expensive private colleges the gap can be tens of thousands a year, which is why every figure on this page is net price rather than tuition.

How much do public universities in Pennsylvania cost on average?

Across the 38 public universities in Pennsylvania that report a figure, the middle of the range is about $18,305 a year after aid, running from $14,265 to $32,875.

What does the Pell grant percentage mean?

It is the share of undergraduates at that school receiving a federal Pell grant — need-based aid that does not have to be repaid. A higher share usually means the school enrols more students from lower-income families. Across the public universities listed here it runs from 14% to 69%, with a middle of about 33%. It is the only aid figure the Department of Education publishes per school, so it is the only one shown.

Most Affordable Public Universities in Pennsylvania

State-run four-year universities, ranked by net price after aid. In-state students usually pay far less than the published out-of-state rate.

38 public universities in Pennsylvania are listed here, 38 of them reporting a net price. They run from $14,265 a year at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania to $32,875 at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, with a middle of about $18,305.

The cheapest are Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly and Lincoln University. A low average is not a low bill for everyone — aid depends on your family's income — but it is where to start.

Public universities in Pennsylvania, cheapest first · 38

Average net price per year after grants and scholarships, with the share of students on federal Pell grants where reported. Schools publishing no net price are listed last.

← All colleges in Pennsylvania

Questions families ask

What is the most affordable public university in Pennsylvania?: By average net price — what students actually pay per year after grants and scholarships — it is Cheyney University of Pennsylvania at about $14,265 a year. That is an average across all students there; your own cost depends on your family's income, so check the school's net price calculator.
What is the difference between sticker price and net price?: Sticker price is the published tuition before any aid. Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships are subtracted — not loans, which you pay back. Net price is usually far lower, and at expensive private colleges the gap can be tens of thousands a year, which is why every figure on this page is net price rather than tuition.
How much do public universities in Pennsylvania cost on average?: Across the 38 public universities in Pennsylvania that report a figure, the middle of the range is about $18,305 a year after aid, running from $14,265 to $32,875.
What does the Pell grant percentage mean?: It is the share of undergraduates at that school receiving a federal Pell grant — need-based aid that does not have to be repaid. A higher share usually means the school enrols more students from lower-income families. Across the public universities listed here it runs from 14% to 69%, with a middle of about 33%. It is the only aid figure the Department of Education publishes per school, so it is the only one shown.

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