1
Williamson College of the Trades Media, PA · Private nonprofit
- Avg net price
- $1,545
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $1,545
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- -
- Enrollment
- 322
State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard
Cheapest Colleges in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's median net price sits 17% above the national Scorecard median; even so, Williamson College of the Trades is the lowest reporter here at $1,545 among 261 schools.
- $1,545
- Cheapest net price
- $19,954
- Pennsylvania median
- 261
- Schools ranked
Williamson College of the Trades has the lowest average net price in Pennsylvania among Scorecard reporters
According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Williamson College of the Trades posts the lowest average net price in Pennsylvania at $1,545 among 261 ranked schools, with the state median 17% above the $17,124 national median. Net price is what students paid after grant aid, not sticker tuition, and can reflect a narrow enrollment mix at specialty schools.
Data source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Cheapest net price
- $1,545
- Pennsylvania median
- $19,954
- Schools ranked
- 261
- National median
- $17,124
Data updated August 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage
The list in one line
Williamson College of the Trades has the lowest average net price in Pennsylvania at $1,545/year, and the state's median net price is 17% above the $17,124 national median across 4,965 schools.
- $1,545
- cheapest ranked net price
- $19,954
- Pennsylvania median net price
- 80 public / 181 private
- schools in this ranking
- $17,095
- avg net price, <$30K income families
Average net price blends every income bracket; families under $30k average $17,095 here. Loans are excluded, open a school profile for the bracket table before treating one average as a personal cost.
Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Haverford College, where in-state published tuition of $70,688 falls to an average net price of $25,314 after aid, a $45,374 gap, the widest sticker-to-net gap among ranked Pennsylvania schools.
Private campuses outnumber public ones here (181 vs 80). A low figure at a small religious or specialty school can reflect a narrow enrollment mix, check sector and enrollment beside the price.
The bar to make this top-25 list is $11,124. Here is where that cutoff sits among all 261 Scorecard-reporting Pennsylvania schools:
The bar to make Pennsylvania's top-25 cheapest list
Average net price after aid · 261 Scorecard-reporting schools
$11,124 Among the most affordable more affordable than 90% of 261 Pennsylvania colleges
Show national distribution
Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more Pennsylvania colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · 2022–23
Pennsylvania's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price
2
Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $5,167
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,972
- Median debt
- $11,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $35,899
- Enrollment
- 3,990
3
Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center Springville, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $5,594
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $5,847
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $34,886
- Enrollment
- 23
4
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Johnstown, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $6,200
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,945
- Median debt
- $11,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,465
- Enrollment
- 2,501
5
Butler County Community College Butler, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $6,233
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $4,083
- Median debt
- $10,020
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $33,920
- Enrollment
- 2,317
6
Bucks County Community College Newtown, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $6,389
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $3,725
- Median debt
- $12,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $39,454
- Enrollment
- 6,232
7
Valley Forge Military College Wayne, PA · Private nonprofit
- Avg net price
- $6,398
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $6,398
- Median debt
- $9,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $36,080
- Enrollment
- 97
8
Delaware County Community College Media, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $6,576
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $5,591
- Median debt
- $13,250
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $37,658
- Enrollment
- 7,402
9
Laurel Technical Institute Hermitage, PA · Private for-profit
- Avg net price
- $6,778
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $4,533
- Median debt
- $10,706
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $24,397
- Enrollment
- 163
10
Schuylkill Technology Center Frackville, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $6,797
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $6,607
- Median debt
- $15,275
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $46,804
- Enrollment
- 102
11
Community College of Beaver County Monaca, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $6,937
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $4,392
- Median debt
- $14,923
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $38,184
- Enrollment
- 1,936
12
Butler Beauty Academy-Kittanning Beauty Academy Kittanning, PA · Private for-profit
- Avg net price
- $7,417
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,417
- Median debt
- $7,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $18,947
- Enrollment
- 14
13
Laurel Business Institute Uniontown, PA · Private for-profit
- Avg net price
- $7,825
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,273
- Median debt
- $12,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $26,264
- Enrollment
- 518
14
Western Area Career & Technology Center Canonsburg, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $8,066
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $2,520
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $42,272
- Enrollment
- 23
15
New Castle School of Trades New Castle, PA · Private for-profit
- Avg net price
- $8,361
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,038
- Median debt
- $9,567
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $41,932
- Enrollment
- 700
16
Butler Beauty Academy-New Castle Beauty Academy New Castle, PA · Private for-profit
- Avg net price
- $8,962
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,962
- Median debt
- $7,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $18,947
- Enrollment
- 15
17
Lehigh Carbon Community College Schnecksville, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $9,203
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,219
- Median debt
- $11,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $37,577
- Enrollment
- 6,221
18
Reading Area Community College Reading, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $9,228
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,968
- Median debt
- $8,750
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $32,565
- Enrollment
- 5,369
19
Luzerne County Community College Nanticoke, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $9,433
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,711
- Median debt
- $11,000
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $35,631
- Enrollment
- 4,460
20
Yeshivath Beth Moshe Scranton, PA · Private nonprofit
- Avg net price
- $9,800
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,765
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- -
- Enrollment
- 34
21
Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology Pleasant Gap, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $9,857
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $8,203
- Median debt
- $9,454
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $41,196
- Enrollment
- 171
22
Butler Beauty Academy Butler, PA · Private for-profit
- Avg net price
- $10,406
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $10,783
- Median debt
- $7,500
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $18,947
- Enrollment
- 26
23
Jefferson County Dubois Area Vocational Technical Practical Nursing Program Reynoldsville, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $10,639
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $12,025
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- -
- Enrollment
- 39
24
Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit
- Avg net price
- $11,008
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $14,100
- Median debt
- -
- Median earnings, 6yr
- -
- Enrollment
- 112
25
Montgomery County Community College Blue Bell, PA · Public
- Avg net price
- $11,124
- Net price (<$30K income)
- $7,881
- Median debt
- $12,349
- Median earnings, 6yr
- $37,237
- Enrollment
- 9,278
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williamson College of the Trades Media, PA · Private nonprofit | $1,545 96% of the leader · rank #1 | $1,545 | - | - | 322 |
| 2 | Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood, PA · Public | $5,167 88% of the leader · rank #2 | $2,972 | $11,000 | $35,899 | 3,990 |
| 3 | Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center Springville, PA · Public | $5,594 87% of the leader · rank #3 | $5,847 | - | $34,886 | 23 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Johnstown, PA · Public | $6,200 86% of the leader · rank #4 | $2,945 | $11,000 | $32,465 | 2,501 |
| 5 | Butler County Community College Butler, PA · Public | $6,233 86% of the leader · rank #5 | $4,083 | $10,020 | $33,920 | 2,317 |
| 6 | Bucks County Community College Newtown, PA · Public | $6,389 85% of the leader · rank #6 | $3,725 | $12,000 | $39,454 | 6,232 |
| 7 | Valley Forge Military College Wayne, PA · Private nonprofit | $6,398 85% of the leader · rank #7 | $6,398 | $9,500 | $36,080 | 97 |
| 8 | Delaware County Community College Media, PA · Public | $6,576 85% of the leader · rank #8 | $5,591 | $13,250 | $37,658 | 7,402 |
| 9 | Laurel Technical Institute Hermitage, PA · Private for-profit | $6,778 85% of the leader · rank #9 | $4,533 | $10,706 | $24,397 | 163 |
| 10 | Schuylkill Technology Center Frackville, PA · Public | $6,797 84% of the leader · rank #10 | $6,607 | $15,275 | $46,804 | 102 |
| 11 | Community College of Beaver County Monaca, PA · Public | $6,937 84% of the leader · rank #11 | $4,392 | $14,923 | $38,184 | 1,936 |
| 12 | Butler Beauty Academy-Kittanning Beauty Academy Kittanning, PA · Private for-profit | $7,417 83% of the leader · rank #12 | $7,417 | $7,500 | $18,947 | 14 |
| 13 | Laurel Business Institute Uniontown, PA · Private for-profit | $7,825 82% of the leader · rank #13 | $7,273 | $12,000 | $26,264 | 518 |
| 14 | Western Area Career & Technology Center Canonsburg, PA · Public | $8,066 82% of the leader · rank #14 | $2,520 | - | $42,272 | 23 |
| 15 | New Castle School of Trades New Castle, PA · Private for-profit | $8,361 81% of the leader · rank #15 | $8,038 | $9,567 | $41,932 | 700 |
| 16 | Butler Beauty Academy-New Castle Beauty Academy New Castle, PA · Private for-profit | $8,962 80% of the leader · rank #16 | $8,962 | $7,500 | $18,947 | 15 |
| 17 | Lehigh Carbon Community College Schnecksville, PA · Public | $9,203 79% of the leader · rank #17 | $7,219 | $11,000 | $37,577 | 6,221 |
| 18 | Reading Area Community College Reading, PA · Public | $9,228 79% of the leader · rank #18 | $7,968 | $8,750 | $32,565 | 5,369 |
| 19 | Luzerne County Community College Nanticoke, PA · Public | $9,433 78% of the leader · rank #19 | $7,711 | $11,000 | $35,631 | 4,460 |
| 20 | Yeshivath Beth Moshe Scranton, PA · Private nonprofit | $9,800 78% of the leader · rank #20 | $8,765 | - | - | 34 |
| 21 | Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology Pleasant Gap, PA · Public | $9,857 77% of the leader · rank #21 | $8,203 | $9,454 | $41,196 | 171 |
| 22 | Butler Beauty Academy Butler, PA · Private for-profit | $10,406 76% of the leader · rank #22 | $10,783 | $7,500 | $18,947 | 26 |
| 23 | Jefferson County Dubois Area Vocational Technical Practical Nursing Program Reynoldsville, PA · Public | $10,639 76% of the leader · rank #23 | $12,025 | - | - | 39 |
| 24 | Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit | $11,008 75% of the leader · rank #24 | $14,100 | - | - | 112 |
| 25 | Montgomery County Community College Blue Bell, PA · Public | $11,124 75% of the leader · rank #25 | $7,881 | $12,349 | $37,237 | 9,278 |
Showing the 25 cheapest of 261 Scorecard-reporting Pennsylvania schools. The remaining 236 are ranked in the same net-price order but omitted from this HTML table so the page stays crawlable.
Look up any institution's exact rank via My School Profile, or open its school page for income-bracket net price, debt, and earnings.
What this means for you
Use Pennsylvania's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.
- Williamson College of the Trades reports the lowest average net price in Pennsylvania, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Williamson College of
- See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
- Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. Pennsylvania safety
Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.
Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. This page lists the 25 cheapest; the title count is the full Scorecard-reporting cohort for Pennsylvania. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.