From its Ivy League university to its top-ranked liberal arts colleges, the Keystone State has something for every student. But what are the best colleges in Pennsylvania?
Whether you're looking for an affordable public university, a picturesque college town, or a prominent private college, Pennsylvania has it.
Ready to check out which schools made the list? Then, keep reading for our ranking of the best colleges in Pennsylvania.
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Best Colleges in Pennsylvania of 2023
List of All Colleges in Pennsylvania
We've created a complete list of all four-year nonprofit universities in Pennsylvania. You can use the table below to compare data on student population, average net cost, acceptance rate, and number of applicants.
The following school data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Schools with fewer than 500 undergrads were not included in this list.
| School | Total Student Enrollment | Avg. Annual Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Number of Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albright College | 1,498 | $21,496 | 85% | 5,578 |
| Allegheny College | 1,353 | $26,719 | 70% | 4,148 |
| Alvernia University | 2,484 | $27,091 | 59% | 5,703 |
| Arcadia University | 3,026 | $29,692 | 78% | 6,321 |
| Bryn Mawr College | 1,742 | $39,072 | 31% | 3,594 |
| Bucknell University | 3,787 | $39,965 | 33% | 11,707 |
| Cabrini University | 1,613 | $21,981 | 79% | 3,403 |
| Cairn University-Langhorne | 1,031 | $25,923 | 81% | 468 |
| Carlow University | 2,104 | $17,437 | 93% | 1,124 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 16,002 | $33,499 | 11% | 34,261 |
| Cedar Crest College | 1,324 | $23,500 | 84% | 946 |
| Chatham University | 2,387 | $28,322 | 66% | 3,514 |
| Chestnut Hill College | 1,420 | $25,357 | 98% | 1,543 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 697 | $11,588 | 100% | N/A |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | 12,074 | $17,412 | 94% | 9,570 |
| Delaware Valley University | 2,178 | $29,256 | 95% | 2,299 |
| DeSales University | 2,991 | $29,104 | 77% | 3,662 |
| Dickinson College | 2,137 | $37,610 | 35% | 8,261 |
| Drexel University | 22,344 | $39,267 | 80% | 37,040 |
| Duquesne University | 8,107 | $33,919 | 87% | 12,376 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 5,143 | $17,278 | 94% | 5,679 |
| Eastern University | 5,769 | $26,669 | 63% | 2,994 |
| Elizabethtown College | 2,021 | $26,723 | 81% | 2,977 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | 1,990 | $31,135 | 36% | 8,923 |
| Gannon University | 4,665 | $22,200 | 81% | 6,678 |
| Geneva College | 1,232 | $20,999 | 79% | 1,575 |
| Gettysburg College | 2,854 | $33,882 | 56% | 5,696 |
| Grove City College | 2,316 | $23,538 | 71% | 2,174 |
| Gwynedd Mercy University | 2,091 | $28,122 | 58% | 1,063 |
| Harrisburg University of Science and Technology | 3,082 | $10,022 | 84% | 1,160 |
| Haverford College | 1,421 | $23,476 | 14% | 5,657 |
| Holy Family University | 2,912 | $12,379 | 77% | 1,986 |
| Immaculata University | 2,361 | $29,188 | 70% | 2,188 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | 8,816 | $20,205 | 92% | 8,603 |
| Juniata College | 1,212 | $29,926 | 76% | 2,563 |
| Keystone College | 1,131 | $15,559 | 81% | 1,572 |
| King's College | 1,993 | $25,869 | 96% | 3,216 |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | 7,455 | $20,776 | 96% | 7,248 |
| La Roche University | 2,068 | $24,233 | 97% | 3,222 |
| La Salle University | 4,049 | $17,552 | 94% | 5,214 |
| Lafayette College | 2,729 | $37,186 | 34% | 10,500 |
| Lancaster Bible College | 2,066 | $21,415 | 97% | 351 |
| Lebanon Valley College | 2,080 | $26,743 | 77% | 3,130 |
| Lehigh University | 7,394 | $30,453 | 37% | 15,163 |
| Lincoln University | 1,824 | $15,502 | 81% | 6,699 |
| Lycoming College | 1,059 | $19,697 | 75% | 3,039 |
| Marywood University | 2,729 | $22,504 | 81% | 2,645 |
| Mercyhurst University | 2,801 | $24,935 | 81% | 3,625 |
| Messiah University | 3,231 | $24,120 | 79% | 2,438 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | 6,775 | $21,076 | 92% | 6,506 |
| Misericordia University | 2,242 | $27,033 | 89% | 2,196 |
| Moravian University | 2,533 | $31,168 | 67% | 3,284 |
| Mount Aloysius College | 2,752 | $20,564 | 86% | 1,865 |
| Muhlenberg College | 1,959 | $32,926 | 66% | 4,329 |
| Neumann University | 2,155 | $28,707 | 85% | 3,501 |
| Peirce College | 856 | $9,621 | 100% | N/A |
| Penn State (Pennsylvania State University) | 50,028 | $26,747 | 55% | 85,784 |
| Penn State Abington | 3,090 | $20,460 | 93% | 6,463 |
| Penn State Altoona | 2,577 | $20,621 | 96% | 7,523 |
| Penn State Beaver | 522 | $18,113 | 93% | 1,707 |
| Penn State Berks | 2,077 | $21,728 | 97% | 5,605 |
| Penn State Brandywine | 1,196 | $21,600 | 96% | 2,440 |
| Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 3,295 | $21,968 | 95% | 4,363 |
| Penn State Harrisburg | 4,572 | $22,096 | 96% | 9,925 |
| Penn State Lehigh Valley | 888 | $18,142 | 94% | 1,806 |
| Penn State Mont Alto | 670 | $19,838 | 91% | 678 |
| Penn State Schuylkill | 623 | $17,252 | 86% | 928 |
| Penn State Scranton | 875 | $16,594 | 94% | 2,297 |
| Penn State World Campus | 13,979 | $19,551 | 82% | 857 |
| Penn State York | 718 | $18,910 | 93% | 2,005 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | 12,778 | $18,527 | 94% | 8,463 |
| Point Park University | 3,288 | $24,702 | 82% | 6,033 |
| Robert Morris University | 3,431 | $23,572 | 94% | 4,684 |
| Saint Francis University | 2,857 | $27,459 | 73% | 2,167 |
| Saint Joseph's University | 7,861 | $33,777 | 89% | 9,708 |
| Saint Vincent College | 1,536 | $23,121 | 73% | 2,163 |
| Seton Hill University | 1,988 | $24,576 | 78% | 2,558 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | 5,162 | $21,462 | 88% | 6,367 |
| Slippery Rock University | 8,221 | $17,873 | 74% | 5,591 |
| Susquehanna University | 2,231 | $28,605 | 77% | 6,375 |
| Swarthmore College | 1,625 | $20,715 | 7% | 14,707 |
| Temple University | 33,196 | $23,935 | 80% | 38,666 |
| The University of the Arts | 1,313 | $42,467 | 80% | 1,086 |
| Thiel College | 907 | $22,732 | 82% | 1,878 |
| Thomas Jefferson University | 8,286 | $28,110 | 89% | 5,723 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 28,201 | $26,123 | 7% | 54,588 |
| University of Pittsburgh | 33,767 | $24,286 | 49% | 53,072 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | 1,074 | $16,505 | 94% | 5,071 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg | 1,328 | $18,194 | 98% | 3,003 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | 2,043 | $17,545 | 97% | 3,470 |
| University of Scranton | 4,731 | $35,526 | 84% | 9,530 |
| University of Valley Forge | 583 | $25,825 | 82% | 370 |
| Ursinus College | 1,527 | $33,546 | 82% | 3,237 |
| Villanova University | 10,383 | $34,837 | 23% | 23,835 |
| Washington & Jefferson College | 1,151 | $25,636 | 88% | 3,414 |
| Waynesburg University | 1,366 | $22,281 | 76% | 2,157 |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 17,275 | $22,973 | 88% | 14,778 |
| Westminster College | 1,211 | $22,645 | 75% | 2,225 |
| Widener University | 5,416 | $32,185 | 88% | 5,961 |
| Wilkes University | 5,207 | $27,918 | 94% | 4,798 |
| Wilson College | 1,360 | $23,923 | 94% | 739 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | 3,656 | $20,916 | 96% | 4,529 |
What Is the Cost of College in Pennsylvania?
| Institution Type | Average Tuition & Required Fees |
|---|---|
| Public 4-Year (In-State) | $14,532 |
| Public 4-Year (Out-of-State) | $25,697 |
| Private 4-Year | $43,926 |
| Public 2-Year (In-State) | $5,441 |
| Public 2-Year (Out-of-State) | $12,808 |
4 Benefits of Studying in Pennsylvania
Whether you're interested in colleges in Pennsylvania's scenic, forested valleys or its bustling cities, here are some of the benefits of studying in the Keystone State.
Top-Ranked Colleges: PA has some of the best colleges in the country. If you're looking for an Ivy League experience, check out UPenn. If you want the state's biggest, most sports-dominant public university, turn to Penn State. And for a liberal arts college experience, there's Swarthmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and more.
Financial Aid: The cost of college in Pennsylvania is slightly higher than the national average, according to NCES data. But you can make college affordable by researching schools with lower tuition rates and looking into financial aid opportunities. Many colleges also offer grants and scholarships, like the Pitt Pell Plus Program, which matches Pell Grants.
Internship Opportunities: Pennsylvania is home to many Fortune 500 companies and smaller businesses. And many of those companies partner with colleges in Pennsylvania to offer internships. Gain hands-on experience by interning at a finance, healthcare, or engineering company.
History and Culture: Interested in historic sites? Pennsylvania has it covered, from Independence Hall to the Gettysburg battlefield. Cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are also known for their art, culture and food. When you're not hitting the books, you'll benefit from everything Pennsylvania has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has nearly 300 colleges, universities, and technical schools. Six Pennsylvania colleges boast ranks in the top 100 nationwide. The state offers nearly 100 four-year nonprofit public and private colleges. Pennsylvania also has over a dozen community colleges that charge affordable tuition rates.
