The Best Pennsylvania Colleges

The Best Colleges in Pennsylvania for 2024

These are the top ranked public and private four-year colleges in Pennsylvania as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the list for 2024 as the best overall college in Pennsylvania is University of Pennsylvania. The top rated public state college is University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


83 results

University of Pennsylvania
P
Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in America

  • 28,201enrollment
  • $26,123net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Haverford College
H
Haverford, PA

Haverford College

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#1 Best Value in Pennsylvania

  • 1,421enrollment
  • $23,476net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT 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

  • 1,625enrollment
  • $20,715net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1560SAT range
  • 32-35ACT 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 Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 16,002enrollment
  • $33,499net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Lehigh University
L
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,394enrollment
  • $30,453net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Franklin and Marshall College
F
Lancaster, PA

Franklin and Marshall College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,990enrollment
  • $31,135net price
  • 36%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1440SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Lafayette College
L
Easton, PA

Lafayette College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,729enrollment
  • $37,186net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1480SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Villanova University
V
Villanova, PA

Villanova University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 10,383enrollment
  • $34,837net price
  • 23%acceptance rate
  • 1378-1500SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Bucknell University
B
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,787enrollment
  • $39,965net price
  • 33%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1470SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Gettysburg College
G
Gettysburg, PA

Gettysburg College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,854enrollment
  • $33,882net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1440SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Bryn Mawr College
B
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,742enrollment
  • $39,072net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1495SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Muhlenberg College
M
Allentown, PA

Muhlenberg College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,959enrollment
  • $32,926net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1400SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Drexel University
D
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 22,344enrollment
  • $39,267net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT 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

#24 Best Public Universities in America

  • 33,767enrollment
  • $24,286net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Saint Joseph's University
S
Philadelphia, PA

Saint Joseph's University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,861enrollment
  • $33,777net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Penn State Main Campus
P
University Park, PA

Penn State Main Campus

Public 4 Year

11 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 50,028enrollment
  • $26,747net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Allegheny College
A
Meadville, PA

Allegheny College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,353enrollment
  • $26,719net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1114-1372SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Duquesne University
D
Pittsburgh, PA

Duquesne University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 8,107enrollment
  • $33,919net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1330SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15