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Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

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2023 Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

129 Schools Ranked
$23,690 Avg Student Debt

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also there are many trade schools and bpptcamp that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

The Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking is one of many tools that Grad Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 129 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region to see which graduate certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region of the U.S.

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Lebanon Valley College

Annville, Pennsylvania
$51,610 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Lebanon Valley College to be the best school for students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in the Middle Atlantic Region .

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at LVC. In 2019-2020 about 81% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Lebanon Valley College Report

#2

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
$42,932 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 129 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pennsylvania landed the # 2 spot on the list.

Online graduate courses are available at UPenn, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 74% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on University of Pennsylvania

#3

Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Elizabethtown College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list.

One thing to take note of is that Etown does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 72% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#4

The College of New Jersey

Ewing, New Jersey
$15,031 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend The College of New Jersey. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at TCNJ. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 99% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full The College of New Jersey Report

#5

Villanova University

Villanova, Pennsylvania
$21,199 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Villanova University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list.

Villanova does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 89% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Villanova University

#6

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
$61,202 Average Tuition & Fees
$19,227 Avg Student Debt

Johns Hopkins University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,227 in student loans.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Johns Hopkins. In fact, around 85% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Johns Hopkins University Report

$35,054 Average Tuition & Fees

Teachers College at Columbia University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking.

Online graduate courses are available at Teachers College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 98% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Teachers College at Columbia University Report

#8

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia
$55,128 Average Tuition & Fees

Georgetown University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking.

Since the graduate programs at Georgetown are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.

Read full report on Georgetown University

#9

Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
$37,827 Avg Student Debt

Saint Joseph’s University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $37,827 in loans while pursuing their degree.

St. Joe’s does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 94% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Saint Joseph’s University Report

#10

The College of Saint Rose

Albany, New York
$15,748 Average Tuition & Fees

The College of Saint Rose came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking.

Saint Rose does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 39% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#11

University of Scranton

Scranton, Pennsylvania
$11,630 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Scranton came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at University of Scranton. In 2019-2020 about 93% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#12

Hood College

Frederick, Maryland
$9,080 Average Tuition & Fees
$16,880 Avg Student Debt

Hood College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

Graduate Certificate recipients from Hood accumulate an average of $16,880 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Hood. In fact, around 43% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#13

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
$47,347 Average Tuition & Fees

Carnegie Mellon University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Carnegie Mellon. In fact, around 6% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#14

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
$22,644 Average Tuition & Fees
$34,734 Avg Student Debt

Thomas Jefferson University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking.

Graduate Certificate recipients from Thomas Jefferson University accumulate an average of $34,734 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Online graduate courses are available at Thomas Jefferson University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 65% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Thomas Jefferson University

#15

George Washington University

Washington, District of Columbia
$32,904 Average Tuition & Fees
$29,615 Avg Student Debt

George Washington University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #15 on the list.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $29,615 in loans while pursuing their degree.

One thing to take note of is that GWU does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 37% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#16

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
$16,995 Average Tuition & Fees
$19,566 Avg Student Debt

University of Maryland - College Park came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking.

Graduate Certificate recipients from UMCP accumulate an average of $19,566 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UMCP. In fact, around 75% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#17

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
$27,130 Average Tuition & Fees

Lehigh University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list.

Lehigh does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 24% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Lehigh University

#18

Stevens Institute of Technology

Hoboken, New Jersey
$39,556 Average Tuition & Fees

Stevens Institute of Technology landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

Stevens does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 54% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

$52,924 Average Tuition & Fees
$33,131 Avg Student Debt

Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #19 on the list.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $33,131 in loans while pursuing their degree.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Columbia. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Columbia University in the City of New York

#20

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, New York
$52,408 Average Tuition & Fees
$20,525 Avg Student Debt

Rochester Institute of Technology came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $20,525 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at RIT. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 72% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Rochester Institute of Technology

#21

Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Brunswick, New Jersey
$20,495 Average Tuition & Fees
$30,169 Avg Student Debt

Rutgers University - New Brunswick did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #21 on the list.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,169 in student loans.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Rutgers New Brunswick. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 23% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Rutgers University - New Brunswick Report

#22

Manhattan College

Riverdale, New York
$21,052 Average Tuition & Fees

Manhattan College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Manhattan. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 24% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Manhattan College

#23

McDaniel College

Westminster, Maryland
$9,568 Average Tuition & Fees
$17,375 Avg Student Debt

McDaniel College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,375 in student loans.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out McDaniel. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Read full report on McDaniel College

#24

Salisbury University

Salisbury, Maryland
$10,529 Average Tuition & Fees

Salisbury University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Salisbury. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#25

DeSales University

Center Valley, Pennsylvania

DeSales University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #25 on the list.

Online graduate courses are available at DeSales, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on DeSales University

View Best Graduate Certificate Graduate Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Honorable Mentions

These schools also performed well in our best schools ranking:

Rank School Location
26 University of Maryland - Baltimore County Baltimore, MD

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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