Best Pennsylvania Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in Pennsylvania for 2023

There are 187 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania enrolling 660,055 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.


187 results

List of the Best Pennsylvania Colleges

University of Pennsylvania
P
Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 28,038enrollment
  • $24,167net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Haverford College
H
Haverford, PA

Haverford College

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,420enrollment
  • $25,215net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Swarthmore College
S
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,651enrollment
  • $20,360net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

Carnegie Mellon University
C
Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Mellon University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 15,057enrollment
  • $36,983net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Lehigh University
L
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,263enrollment
  • $29,098net price
  • 46%acceptance rate
  • 1325-1490SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Lafayette College
L
Easton, PA

Lafayette College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,725enrollment
  • $28,735net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Bucknell University
B
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,757enrollment
  • $39,359net price
  • 35%acceptance rate
  • 1295-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Gettysburg College
G
Gettysburg, PA

Gettysburg College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,401enrollment
  • $34,850net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Villanova University
V
Villanova, PA

Villanova University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 10,870enrollment
  • $38,303net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1490SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Muhlenberg College
M
Allentown, PA

Muhlenberg College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,095enrollment
  • $35,152net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1370SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Drexel University
D
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 23,216enrollment
  • $39,463net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.67Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
P
Pittsburgh, PA

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 33,230enrollment
  • $22,346net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1470SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Saint Joseph's University
S
Philadelphia, PA

Saint Joseph's University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 6,464enrollment
  • $35,780net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1310SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Washington & Jefferson College
W
Washington, PA

Washington & Jefferson College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,157enrollment
  • $27,477net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1300SAT range
  • 21-31ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

University of the Sciences
T
Philadelphia, PA

University of the Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,420enrollment
  • $31,497net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1340SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.63Estimated Avg GPA

Ursinus College
U
Collegeville, PA

Ursinus College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,556enrollment
  • $31,400net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1360SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Allegheny College
A
Meadville, PA

Allegheny College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,575enrollment
  • $26,376net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Duquesne University
D
Pittsburgh, PA

Duquesne University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 8,300enrollment
  • $32,408net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1310SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15