College Costs in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Colleges, Cost and Affordability for 2027

How much does it cost to attend college in Pennsylvania?   The average annual in-state college tuition in Pennsylvania was $28,521 for the 2024-2025 academic year. This is $10,711 higher than the U.S. average and ranks Pennsylvania amongst the costliest as the 6th most expensive state or district to attend college. This is a change of $3,338 from the 2022-2023 average of $25,183 and represents a 13.25% annual increase in tuition costs. The list of Pennsylvania colleges below provides school specific cost and value rating.

This analysis surveyed tuition data from the 163 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, the most popular being Penn State Main Campus with 49,151 full time students and an in-state tuition list price of $20,644. Franklin and Marshall College is the most expensive in Pennsylvania with an in-state tuition of $70,794.

All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS 2025 survey and reflect reported costs for academic year 2024/2025.

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Pennsylvania Public Private For-Profit 4 Year 2 Year

  • Private 4 Year
  • Gettysburg, PA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • $66,640 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Gettysburg is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate history and political science. The campus borders Gettysburg National Military Park and the Civil War battlefield.

#11 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1270-1460
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 39%
  • Net Price $32,769

  • Private 4 Year
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $37,800 tuition

La Salle is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business and nursing. The urban campus sits in northwest Philadelphia.

#36 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1268
  • Avg GPA 3.44
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $18,069

  • Public 4 Year
  • Lincoln University, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $12,512 tuition
  • May 1 application deadline

Lincoln University is a public HBCU known for undergraduate programs in education, business, and the sciences. The rural campus is set in Chester County in southern Pennsylvania.

#19 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 820-960
  • Avg GPA 3.06
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $14,473

  • Private 4 Year
  • Glenside, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $49,610 tuition

Arcadia is a private university known for undergraduate study abroad and international education. The suburban Glenside campus is anchored by Grey Towers Castle, a National Historic Landmark.

#41 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1065-1265
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $30,037

  • Private 4 Year
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $53,260 tuition
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Saint Joseph's is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and food marketing. The residential campus sits in western Philadelphia's Overbrook neighborhood.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1350
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $31,205

  • Public 4 Year
  • Slippery Rock, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $10,568 tuition

Slippery Rock is a public university known for undergraduate education, physical therapy, and exercise science. The residential campus sits in a small college town in western Pennsylvania.

#10 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $18,252

  • Public 4 Year
  • Abington, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $15,268 tuition

Penn State Abington is a public regional campus of Penn State known for undergraduate business, nursing, and information sciences. The suburban campus sits just north of Philadelphia.

#15 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1265
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $19,232

  • Public 4 Year
  • Millersville, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $11,128 tuition

Millersville is a public university known for undergraduate education and meteorology. The campus sits in a small college town near Lancaster in southeastern Pennsylvania.

#13 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1210
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.21
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $20,551

  • Private 4 Year
  • Carlisle, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $65,650 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Dickinson is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate international studies, foreign languages, and environmental science. The historic campus sits in the small college town of Carlisle in central Pennsylvania.

#10 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1310-1460
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 42%
  • Net Price $38,483
Albright College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Reading, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $29,082 tuition

Albright is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate fashion, biology, and business. The residential campus sits in the midsize city of Reading in southeastern Pennsylvania.

0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.05
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $20,587

  • Private 4 Year
  • Lancaster, PA
  • 3.8 | 6 reviews
  • $70,794 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Franklin and Marshall is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate government and the natural sciences. Most students live on a residential campus in the city of Lancaster.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1310-1463
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 28%
  • Net Price $43,987

  • Public 4 Year
  • Middletown, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $15,972 tuition

Penn State Harrisburg is a public university campus known for undergraduate business, engineering, and public affairs. The suburban Middletown campus sits near Pennsylvania's state capital.

#7 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1310
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $23,788

  • Private 4 Year
  • Bryn Mawr, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $65,920 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Bryn Mawr is a highly selective private women's liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences, archaeology, and classics. The suburban Main Line campus outside Philadelphia shares courses and resources with nearby Haverford and Swarthmore.

#12 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1280-1510
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.85
  • Acceptance Rate 29%
  • Net Price $33,221

  • Public 4 Year
  • East Stroudsburg, PA
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • $11,536 tuition
  • Apr 1 application deadline

East Stroudsburg is a public university known for undergraduate education, athletic training, and exercise science. The campus sits in the Pocono Mountains near the Delaware Water Gap.

#17 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $18,610

  • Private 4 Year
  • Moon Township, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $35,970 tuition

Robert Morris is a private university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and cybersecurity. The suburban campus sits in Moon Township near Pittsburgh.

#45 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $23,933

  • Public 4 Year
  • Cheyney, PA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $10,904 tuition
  • Mar 31 application deadline

Cheyney is a small public university and the nation's oldest HBCU, with undergraduate programs rooted in teacher education and the liberal arts. The suburban campus sits in Chester County west of Philadelphia.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 2.37
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $14,207

  • Private 4 Year
  • Meadville, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $56,550 tuition
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Allegheny is a private liberal arts college known for requiring a major and minor in different fields and a senior comprehensive project. The historic campus sits in the small college town of Meadville in northwestern Pennsylvania.

#17 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1173-1358
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $26,420

  • Public 2 Year
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $8,803 tuition

CCAC is a public community college offering associate degrees and certificates in nursing, allied health, and business. Students attend classes across multiple campuses throughout the Pittsburgh area.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $13,196