Best Pennsylvania Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in Pennsylvania for 2025

There are 192 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania enrolling 621,895 students. Explore the list of top colleges in Pennsylvania below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in Pennsylvania offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

 Pennsylvania is home to nationally ranked institutions like University of Pennsylvania, Haverford College, Swarthmore College and Carnegie Mellon University. The highest ranked college in Pennsylvania is University of Pennsylvania and the top rated public state college is University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus.

Local college options can be explored in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh or other cities.

Pennsylvania Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

192 results

List of the Best Pennsylvania Colleges

University of Pennsylvania
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P
Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 28,711enrollment
  • $26,017net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Haverford College
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H
Haverford, PA

Haverford College

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,424enrollment
  • $22,828net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Swarthmore College
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Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,644enrollment
  • $17,930net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1560SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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Carnegie Mellon University
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C
Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Mellon University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 15,596enrollment
  • $32,964net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Lehigh University
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L
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,590enrollment
  • $33,289net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1490SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Franklin and Marshall College
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F
Lancaster, PA

Franklin and Marshall College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,911enrollment
  • $37,475net price
  • 32%acceptance rate
  • 1298-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Villanova University
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V
Villanova, PA

Villanova University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 10,111enrollment
  • $37,946net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Lafayette College
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L
Easton, PA

Lafayette College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,764enrollment
  • $34,728net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Bucknell University
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B
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,892enrollment
  • $38,486net price
  • 32%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1450SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Gettysburg College
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G
Gettysburg, PA

Gettysburg College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,895enrollment
  • $35,729net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1460SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Bryn Mawr College
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B
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,666enrollment
  • $39,383net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Muhlenberg College
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M
Allentown, PA

Muhlenberg College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,818enrollment
  • $31,814net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1400SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Drexel University
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D
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 21,703enrollment
  • $42,342net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.67Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
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P
Pittsburgh, PA

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 34,525enrollment
  • $24,338net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

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Saint Joseph's University
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S
Philadelphia, PA

Saint Joseph's University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,201enrollment
  • $36,392net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Penn State Main Campus
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P
University Park, PA

Penn State Main Campus

Public 4 Year

11 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 50,399enrollment
  • $27,450net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Allegheny College
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A
Meadville, PA

Allegheny College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,231enrollment
  • $27,929net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Duquesne University
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D
Pittsburgh, PA

Duquesne University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 8,137enrollment
  • $35,125net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1350SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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