Methodology
Where the numbers come from
Equivalencies
Every row starts from a published equivalency source — a school's transfer equivalency system, a statewide articulation database, or a signed articulation agreement. Each record keeps a reference to its source and a last-verified date. Records without a verifiable source don't ship.
Per-credit cost
Published tuition schedules are normalized to a per-credit basis. Where a school publishes flat-rate semester tuition, we divide the full-time rate by a standard 15-credit load and label it an estimate. Community college rates use the sponsoring-district or in-county rate, labeled accordingly. Fees, program surcharges, and online differentials are excluded — the number answers one question consistently: roughly what does one credit of tuition cost a Pennsylvania resident.
What this tool is not
Keygrad doesn't guarantee transfer. Schools cap transfer totals, apply residency minimums, and revise equivalencies. Use the rankings to find candidates, then confirm the specific course with the destination registrar — every row links its source record to make that a two-minute check instead of an afternoon.
Coverage policy
A school appears only when its equivalency data is fully loaded and its cost basis is verified. Coverage grows one system at a time rather than shipping partial data quietly.