Top 50 Best Associate Degree Programs in Pennsylvania by ROI

Every Associate Degree program in Pennsylvania ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in Pennsylvania

311

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$134,456

Across all Pennsylvania programs

Average Annual Cost

$23,476

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Bucks County Community College Grad rate: 26.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$551,798	$72,230	$12,901	$20,000	Full ROI →
2	Gwynedd Mercy University Grad rate: 57.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$534,722	$74,072	$53,359	N/A	Full ROI →
3	Holy Family University Grad rate: 59.5%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$470,610	$70,777	$38,965	$20,000	Full ROI →
4	Harcum College Grad rate: 36.0%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$457,925	$72,377	$42,113	$48,436	Full ROI →
5	Delaware County Community College Grad rate: 20.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$456,636	$67,950	$12,957	$27,000	Full ROI →
6	Luzerne County Community College Grad rate: 19.4%	Nuclear Engineering Technologies/Technicians.	+$440,850	$65,542	$14,995	N/A	Full ROI →
7	Community College of Philadelphia Grad rate: 17.7%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$438,257	$67,558	$19,070	$25,750	Full ROI →
8	Lehigh Carbon Community College Grad rate: 24.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$436,558	$67,163	$15,075	$27,075	Full ROI →
9	Community College of Beaver County Grad rate: 20.9%	Air Transportation.	+$426,572	$65,339	$11,329	$13,000	Full ROI →
10	Community College of Philadelphia Grad rate: 17.7%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$371,414	$64,014	$19,070	$22,760	Full ROI →
11	Lackawanna College Grad rate: 38.0%	Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians.	+$349,702	$63,180	$28,849	$12,000	Full ROI →
12	Luzerne County Community College Grad rate: 19.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$345,421	$62,479	$14,995	$25,310	Full ROI →
13	Harrisburg Area Community College Grad rate: 17.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$337,910	$62,466	$16,636	$28,250	Full ROI →
14	Montgomery County Community College Grad rate: 23.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$332,511	$61,758	$14,571	$24,820	Full ROI →
15	Pennsylvania College of Technology Grad rate: 49.6%	Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.	+$331,130	$62,626	$32,595	$12,000	Full ROI →
16	Northampton County Area Community College Grad rate: 21.2%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$325,838	$61,668	$16,211	$26,000	Full ROI →
17	Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster Grad rate: 62.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$310,325	$63,529	$41,566	$27,498	Full ROI →
18	La Roche University Grad rate: 56.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$299,694	$61,547	$45,623	N/A	Full ROI →
19	Harrisburg Area Community College Grad rate: 17.9%	Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.	+$284,588	$57,893	$16,636	N/A	Full ROI →
20	Community College of Beaver County Grad rate: 20.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$283,817	$59,180	$11,329	$27,500	Full ROI →
21	Westmoreland County Community College Grad rate: 21.8%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$278,716	$56,995	$10,592	N/A	Full ROI →
22	Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Grad rate: 57.8%	Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology.	+$277,288	$58,381	$17,066	$12,000	Full ROI →
23	Pennsylvania College of Technology Grad rate: 49.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$270,400	$61,412	$32,595	$39,000	Full ROI →
24	Community College of Allegheny County Grad rate: 20.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$256,187	$57,737	$13,905	$22,772	Full ROI →
25	Community College of Philadelphia Grad rate: 17.7%	Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.	+$250,309	$57,700	$19,070	$18,926	Full ROI →
26	Pennsylvania College of Technology Grad rate: 49.6%	Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians.	+$237,730	$57,146	$32,595	N/A	Full ROI →
27	Strayer University-Pennsylvania	Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management.	+$218,569	$57,214	$23,838	$28,174	Full ROI →
28	Mount Aloysius College Grad rate: 50.7%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$217,699	$58,527	$38,533	$26,500	Full ROI →
29	University of Pittsburgh-Titusville Grad rate: 13.3%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$215,330	$56,813	$24,265	$24,000	Full ROI →
30	Luzerne County Community College Grad rate: 19.4%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$212,019	$55,298	$14,995	$17,741	Full ROI →
31	University of Pittsburgh-Bradford Grad rate: 42.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$204,884	$56,813	$29,488	$24,000	Full ROI →
32	Delaware County Community College Grad rate: 20.2%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$203,792	$54,912	$12,957	$21,136	Full ROI →
33	Johnson College Grad rate: 50.3%	Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.	+$193,911	$55,232	$24,902	$15,500	Full ROI →
34	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Grad rate: 84.0%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$190,446	$56,813	$36,707	$24,000	Full ROI →
35	Pennsylvania College of Technology Grad rate: 49.6%	Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies.	+$189,077	$55,709	$32,595	$14,750	Full ROI →
36	Northampton County Area Community College Grad rate: 21.2%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$183,245	$54,364	$16,211	$23,417	Full ROI →
37	Harcum College Grad rate: 36.0%	Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.	+$175,117	$56,658	$42,113	$25,049	Full ROI →
38	Harrisburg Area Community College Grad rate: 17.9%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$174,325	$54,010	$16,636	$24,150	Full ROI →
39	Pittsburgh Technical College Grad rate: 53.4%	Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians.	+$165,455	$54,834	$33,969	$17,249	Full ROI →
40	Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Grad rate: 57.8%	Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other.	+$165,268	$51,970	$17,066	N/A	Full ROI →
41	Harrisburg Area Community College Grad rate: 17.9%	Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.	+$160,728	$53,711	$16,636	$29,792	Full ROI →
42	Montgomery County Community College Grad rate: 23.2%	Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.	+$158,903	$52,530	$14,571	$16,707	Full ROI →
43	Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster Grad rate: 62.6%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$152,073	$55,009	$41,566	$18,500	Full ROI →
44	Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics Grad rate: 57.8%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	+$151,625	$54,217	$35,447	$16,163	Full ROI →
45	Northampton County Area Community College Grad rate: 21.2%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	+$131,218	$50,182	$16,211	N/A	Full ROI →
46	Thomas Jefferson University Grad rate: 67.9%	Health and Medical Administrative Services.	+$123,380	$54,380	$62,110	N/A	Full ROI →
47	Johnson College Grad rate: 50.3%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$108,723	$51,327	$24,902	$20,750	Full ROI →
48	Community College of Allegheny County Grad rate: 20.9%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	+$108,510	$48,816	$13,905	N/A	Full ROI →
49	Northampton County Area Community College Grad rate: 21.2%	Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.	+$99,076	$49,904	$16,211	$19,690	Full ROI →
50	South Hills School of Business & Technology Grad rate: 61.0%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$94,638	$51,349	$32,080	$20,875	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.