Compare 27 Public Finance. programs in Pennsylvania. Average earnings: $75,144.
With top graduates earning $207K, Public Finance stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $132K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
The University of Pennsylvania's Public Finance program leads with graduates earning $206,646, nearly three times the $75,144 average across Pennsylvania's 27 programs. Villanova follows at $110,166, while Lehigh rounds out the top three at $107,260—demonstrating that program excellence concentrates in specific schools, not broad institutional rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Pennsylvania graduates borrow $15,715 and face just a 1.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, making top-tier outcomes genuinely affordable.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $206,646 | 390 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Excellent |
| #2 | Villanova UniversityPrivate | $110,166 | 276 | $25,874 | Excellent | $40,000 | Good |
| #3 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | $107,260 | 221 | $21,960 | Excellent | $42,245 | Good |
| #4 | Muhlenberg CollegePrivate | $91,304 | 63 | $25,455 | Excellent | $48,779 | Manageable |
| #5 | $90,308 | 705 | $25,000 | Excellent | $38,368 | Manageable | |
| #6 | Saint Joseph's UniversityPrivate | $85,648 | 153 | $25,500 | Excellent | $42,436 | Manageable |
| #7 | University Of ScrantonPrivate | $81,990 | 41 | $27,000 | Excellent | $41,370 | Manageable |
| #8 | Susquehanna UniversityPrivate | $73,470 | 29 | $27,000 | Excellent | $46,359 | Challenging |
| #9 | $73,298 | 228 | $24,250 | Excellent | $35,031 | Manageable | |
| #10 | La Salle UniversityPrivate | $71,973 | 54 | $25,000 | Excellent | $31,871 | Manageable |
| #11 | $71,506 | 211 | $23,500 | Excellent | $25,362 | Manageable | |
| #12 | Saint Vincent CollegePrivate | $71,311 | 16 | $27,000 | Excellent | $43,823 | Challenging |
| #13 | King's CollegePrivate | $70,775 | 17 | $27,000 | Excellent | $35,000 | Challenging |
| #14 | Temple UniversityPublic | $70,603 | 375 | $24,395 | Excellent | $36,495 | Challenging |
| #15 | Desales UniversityPrivate | $67,701 | 36 | $25,788 | Excellent | $33,790 | Challenging |
| #16 | Duquesne UniversityPrivate | $67,308 | 95 | $26,244 | Good | $57,511 | High |
| #17 | $67,272 | 64 | $26,798 | Good | $26,073 | Manageable | |
| #18 | $64,862 | 59 | $25,000 | Good | $28,373 | Challenging | |
| #19 | Immaculata UniversityPrivate | $64,476 | 8 | $27,000 | Good | $34,053 | Challenging |
| #20 | Widener UniversityPrivate | $62,672 | 21 | $27,000 | Good | $33,146 | Challenging |
| #21 | Mercyhurst UniversityPrivate | $60,261 | 19 | $25,305 | Good | $25,932 | Challenging |
| #22 | Robert Morris UniversityPrivate | $59,189 | 51 | $26,950 | Good | $38,989 | High |
| #23 | Wilkes UniversityPrivate | $50,856 | 18 | $26,000 | Manageable | $29,898 | High |
| #24 | York College Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $50,465 | 17 | $26,000 | Manageable | $33,999 | High |
| #25 | $49,248 | 53 | $25,000 | Manageable | $23,528 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
