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Explore Pennsylvania Colleges

Colleges in Pennsylvania

Explore 131 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, including 38 public institutions and 93 private schools. Compare tuition costs, acceptance rates, and find your perfect fit.

131

Total Colleges

38

Public

93

Private

Pennsylvania at a Glance

Avg Acceptance Rate

6813%

Average acceptance rate for Pennsylvania colleges

Avg Net Price

$24,266.776

After financial aid

Avg In-State Tuition

$29,816.585

For public universities

Top Ranked School

#10

University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania College Systems

Pennsylvania has a major public university system that serve students across the state. Understanding these systems can help you find the right fit.

PASSHE provides affordable public higher education through 10 universities across Pennsylvania.

Explore Pennsylvania by Region

Pennsylvania is a diverse state with distinct college regions. Explore schools by area to find the campus environment that fits your lifestyle.

Pittsburgh Area

7 colleges

Central Pennsylvania

1 college

Pennsylvania Colleges Directory

Browse 131 colleges in Pennsylvania, sorted by ranking and selectivity.

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA (2026) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with  Photos) - Tripadvisor
#2 Nursing
University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PAPrivate

5%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$75,386/yr

SAT RANGE

1510-1570

GRADUATION RATE

96%

"Ben Franklin's urban powerhouse where pre-professional hustlers chase Wharton deals, biotech breakthroughs, and Ivy ambition amid Philly's historic grit."

Drones! – Swarthmore College – ITS Blog
#5 Liberal Arts
Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PAPrivate

7%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$79,236/yr

SAT RANGE

1490-1560

GRADUATION RATE

94%

"Swarthmore: the fiercely intellectual Quaker enclave where you'll wrestle big ideas alongside hyper-driven peers in a leafy Philly suburb."

Block Center for Technology and Society - Carnegie Mellon University - Carnegie  Mellon University
#5 Mathematics
Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PAPrivate

12%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$78,030/yr

SAT RANGE

1500-1570

GRADUATION RATE

89%

"At Carnegie Mellon, you'll hack code by day and improvise drama by night in Pittsburgh's reinvented steel-town grit."

Villanova University Tours - Book Now | Expedia
#7 Nursing
Villanova University

Villanova, PAPrivate

27%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$78,462/yr

SAT RANGE

1395-1510

GRADUATION RATE

89%

"Philly suburb's spirited Augustinian hub where hoops frenzy meets service-driven ambition on a polished Main Line campus."

Haverford College
#10 Liberal Arts
Haverford College

Haverford, PAPrivate

12%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$82,020/yr

SAT RANGE

1460-1550

GRADUATION RATE

90%

"Quaker-forged liberal arts college where an ironclad Honor Code lets you self-schedule exams and run your own dorms in a trust-soaked bubble near Philly."

University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA)
#15 Nursing
58%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$33,380/yr

SAT RANGE

1280-1460

GRADUATION RATE

84%

"Pitt delivers gritty urban ambition in the City of Bridges, where you'll tackle world-class research amid Pittsburgh's steel-forged revival."

Trustees committee advances five-year University capital plan | Penn State  University
#17 Communications
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PAPublic

61%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$34,330/yr

SAT RANGE

1240-1420

GRADUATION RATE

86%

"At Penn State University Park, you'll dive into the thunderous heartbeat of a massive land-grant powerhouse where Nittany Lion pride fuels everything from football frenzies to world-changing research."

Lehigh University (@LehighU) / Posts / X
#18 Business
Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PAPrivate

26%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$76,190/yr

SAT RANGE

1370-1500

GRADUATION RATE

88%

"Nestled on a Pennsylvania mountain overlooking a reinvented steel town, Lehigh turns ambitious tinkerers into industry leaders through hands-on engineering and spirited traditions."

We are excited to show you what makes Drexel such an amazing place! 🐉💙💛  Check out the tours, events, information sessions, and videos below to get  a better sense of everything our
#22 Nursing
Drexel University

Philadelphia, PAPrivate

79%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$74,691/yr

SAT RANGE

1240-1440

GRADUATION RATE

73%

"Drexel turns college into a launchpad with the nation's largest mandatory co-op program, blending classes and full-time jobs from day one."

Bucknell University | Lewisburg, PA
#28 Liberal Arts
Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PAPrivate

29%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$78,332/yr

SAT RANGE

1310-1470

GRADUATION RATE

88%

"Bucknell delivers intimate liberal arts depth fused with powerhouse engineering on a postcard-perfect campus where you'll cheer for the Bison amid Pennsylvania's rolling hills."

Visit Bryn Mawr
#30 Liberal Arts
Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr, PAPrivate

29%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$77,400/yr

SAT RANGE

1280-1510

GRADUATION RATE

87%

"Bryn Mawr College: A historic women's bastion where intellectual women forge unbreakable bonds amid Philadelphia's leafy suburbs."

Chapel
#31 Best Value
Lincoln University

Lincoln University, PAPublic

66%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$20,092/yr

SAT RANGE

820-960

GRADUATION RATE

59%

"Lincoln University is located in Lincoln University, PA."

Alumni Share Their Favorite Campus Spots · News · Lafayette College
#33 Liberal Arts
Lafayette College

Easton, PAPrivate

31%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$77,976/yr

SAT RANGE

1350-1500

GRADUATION RATE

88%

"Lafayette College fuses small liberal arts intimacy with hands-on engineering grit in historic Easton, where you'll ring the Victory Bell after crushing Lehigh."

Duquesne University (@duquesneuniversity) · Pittsburgh, PA
#34 Nursing
Duquesne University

Pittsburgh, PAPrivate

84%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$61,750/yr

SAT RANGE

1180-1340

GRADUATION RATE

81%

"Spiritan Catholic university on Pittsburgh's bluff, excelling in pharmacy, jazz studies, and hands-on health sciences."

Center for the Sustainable Environment
#43 Liberal Arts
Franklin & Marshall College

Lancaster, PAPrivate

28%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$81,840/yr

SAT RANGE

1310-1463

GRADUATION RATE

82%

"Franklin & Marshall wraps ambitious liberal arts rigor in a collaborative small-college package amid Pennsylvania's Amish heartland."

Gettysburg College issues all-student quarantine due to COVID-19 cases
#46 Liberal Arts
Gettysburg College

Gettysburg, PAPrivate

39%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$77,870/yr

SAT RANGE

1270-1460

GRADUATION RATE

82%

"Step onto a campus scarred by Civil War bullets, where history majors debate amid actual battlefield echoes."

Snøhetta's New Library for Temple University Is a Soaring Ode to Knowledge  | Architectural Digest
#48 Communications
Temple University

Philadelphia, PAPublic

80%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$34,917/yr

SAT RANGE

1080-1290

GRADUATION RATE

78%

"Philadelphia's gritty urban university where working-class roots meet big-city ambition and practical career training."

Muhlenberg College | Visit Muhlenberg College
#52 Liberal Arts
Muhlenberg College

Allentown, PAPrivate

72%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$71,818/yr

SAT RANGE

1250-1410

GRADUATION RATE

80%

"Nestled in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, Muhlenberg College blends rigorous liberal arts with standout theater and pre-med programs, fostering tight-knit ambition in a surprisingly artsy midsize city."

Ursinus College Schellhase Commons - Bancroft Construction
#61 Liberal Arts
Ursinus College

Collegeville, PAPrivate

92%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$75,044/yr

SAT RANGE

1200-1385

GRADUATION RATE

72%

"Ursinus College wraps you in a cozy liberal arts cocoon where professors double as mentors and Philly's energy waits just down the tracks."

Cost and Aid - Allegheny College
#63 Liberal Arts
Allegheny College

Meadville, PAPrivate

55%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$67,890/yr

SAT RANGE

1173-1358

GRADUATION RATE

74%

"Tucked in rural Pennsylvania, Allegheny College crafts close-knit scholars who chase big ideas in neuroscience and ecology amid gator lore and snowy trails."

Philadelphia universities set AI policies and student guidance
#65 Nursing
Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PAPrivate

81%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$58,934/yr

SAT RANGE

1160-1330

GRADUATION RATE

80%

"Historic Philadelphia medical school turned health-and-design powerhouse through a bold 2017 merger."

Barbelin Hall on the campus of Saint Joseph's University
#84 Business
Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia, PAPrivate

89%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$65,650/yr

SAT RANGE

1170-1350

GRADUATION RATE

79%

"Saint Joseph's University is located in Philadelphia, PA."

President's Report | 2022-2023
#88 Liberal Arts
Juniata College

Huntingdon, PAPrivate

79%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$67,356/yr

SAT RANGE

1130-1320

GRADUATION RATE

76%

"Craft your own major at Juniata College, where self-directed students shape their education amid Pennsylvania's serene rivers and hills."

Colleges & Universities
#106 Liberal Arts
Washington & Jefferson College

Washington, PAPrivate

81%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$64,322/yr

SAT RANGE

1070-1290

GRADUATION RATE

78%

"Pennsylvania's 11th-oldest college, where small classes meet historic red-brick quads and a gold ring for every freshman."

Strategic Plan | Latrobe, PA | Saint Vincent College
#114 Liberal Arts
Saint Vincent College

Latrobe, PAPrivate

62%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$52,986/yr

SAT RANGE

1020-1230

GRADUATION RATE

77%

"Benedictine liberal arts college anchored by America's first monastery, blending faith, tradition, and small-town focus in Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands."

Visit / Admissions & Aid / Westminster College
#123 Liberal Arts
Westminster College

New Wilmington, PAPrivate

93%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$50,880/yr

SAT RANGE

1050-1270

GRADUATION RATE

77%

"Quiet Pennsylvania liberal arts college forever linked to Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech."

Apply to Susquehanna University
#128 Liberal Arts
Susquehanna University

Selinsgrove, PAPrivate

81%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$70,540/yr

SAT RANGE

1100-1300

GRADUATION RATE

75%

"Small liberal arts university along Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River that launches communications grads into broadcast careers."

The newly finished and dedicated (Fall 2011) Pilarz Hall on a cold December morning.
#139 Business
University of Scranton

Scranton, PAPrivate

81%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$67,292/yr

SAT RANGE

1160-1318

GRADUATION RATE

79%

"University of Scranton is located in Scranton, PA."

Lycoming College – Krapf Gateway Center - Reese Hackman
#147 Liberal Arts
Lycoming College

Williamsport, PAPrivate

74%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$59,156/yr

SAT RANGE

1080-1300

GRADUATION RATE

69%

"Small liberal arts college overlooking Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River, where professors mentor small classes amid Little League World Series energy."

Magnificent view of the Bryn Athyn Cathedral exterior under a clear blue sky.
#149 Liberal Arts
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church

Bryn Athyn, PAPrivate

83%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$39,546/yr

SAT RANGE

1060-1298

GRADUATION RATE

54%

"Tiny faith-based liberal arts college centered on Swedenborgian theology in a Gothic cathedral-dotted suburb north of Philadelphia."

Visit West Chester University - WCU of PA
#162 Public Universities
78%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$18,834/yr

SAT RANGE

1100-1270

GRADUATION RATE

74%

"Pennsylvania's pioneering teacher college evolved into a sprawling public university amid a historic borough's brick-lined streets."

University of Pittsburgh Greensburg - Acalog ACMS™
#165 Liberal Arts
95%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$26,780/yr

SAT RANGE

1055-1253

GRADUATION RATE

36%

"Pitt-Greensburg blends University of Pittsburgh credentials with small-campus intimacy in a historic Pennsylvania town."

Cheyney University, Carver Science Building - mbp
#174 Liberal Arts
89%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$19,232/yr

SAT RANGE

850-1010

GRADUATION RATE

38%

"Nation's oldest HBCU, founded by a Quaker in 1837, blends historic legacy with focused undergraduate programs on a wooded Pennsylvania campus."

Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Campus | SAH ARCHIPEDIA
#190 Best Value
91%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$20,286/yr

SAT RANGE

970-1180

GRADUATION RATE

62%

"A historic public university in small-town Pennsylvania with a knack for blending affordability and personal attention."

Enrollment Services | Penn State New Kensington
95%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$13,824/yr

SAT RANGE

1110-1265

GRADUATION RATE

37%

"Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington is located in New Kensington, PA."

Penn State Abington
97%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$26,820/yr

SAT RANGE

1070-1265

GRADUATION RATE

37%

"Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington is located in Abington, PA."

The quad of Grove City College in May 2005, with Harbison Chapel, opened in 1930, on the left, and North Hall, a women's dormitory, on the right.
Grove City College

Grove City, PAPrivate

72%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$32,220/yr

SAT RANGE

1141-1388

GRADUATION RATE

86%

"Grove City College is located in Grove City, PA."

Hayfield House, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Campus, Lehman, Pennsylvania, August 2012
97%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$13,824/yr

SAT RANGE

1090-1330

GRADUATION RATE

26%

"Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre is located in Dallas, PA."

Pennsylvania State University at Brandywine Student Union
98%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$29,160/yr

SAT RANGE

1080-1310

GRADUATION RATE

27%

"Penn State's compact suburban outpost delivers a Nittany Lion degree starter-pack amid Philadelphia's backyard woods."

A view of the entrance gate of the South Campus of the Moravian Collegeen in Bethlehem, Pennsylvaniaen.  The photograph was taken from Main Street.





Camera and Exposure Details:Camera: Nikon D50Lens: Nikon Nikkor ED-IF AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G VRExposure: 
50mm (75mm in 35mm equivalent) f/10
Moravian University

Bethlehem, PAPrivate

54%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$64,941/yr

SAT RANGE

1070-1285

GRADUATION RATE

71%

"Moravian University is located in Bethlehem, PA."

3 Questions with Shadyside Campus — Chatham Pulse
Chatham University

Pittsburgh, PAPrivate

62%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$54,225/yr

SAT RANGE

1070-1295

GRADUATION RATE

69%

"Pittsburgh private with women's college roots, pioneering sustainability on the world's first LEED Platinum campus."

The student union building on the campus of York College of Pennsylvania.
74%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$35,960/yr

SAT RANGE

1020-1270

GRADUATION RATE

67%

"York College of Pennsylvania is located in York, PA."

King's College Campus
King's College

Wilkes-Barre, PAPrivate

93%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$54,922/yr

SAT RANGE

1070-1270

GRADUATION RATE

65%

"King's College is located in Wilkes-Barre, PA."

About Widener University | Widener University
Widener University

Chester, PAPrivate

71%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$67,154/yr

SAT RANGE

1080-1290

GRADUATION RATE

69%

"Widener University blends hands-on learning with a tight-knit community in the heart of Chester, Pennsylvania."

It's never too early to feel at home on campus. Whether you're arriving in  August or still exploring your options, check out our virtual tour at gannon.edu/online-tour  or at the link in
Gannon University

Erie, PAPrivate

74%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$51,580/yr

SAT RANGE

1070-1250

GRADUATION RATE

68%

"Erie's Catholic hub for hands-on training in nursing, occupational therapy, and mechanical engineering."

About DeSales University | DeSales University
DeSales University

Center Valley, PAPrivate

77%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$54,900/yr

SAT RANGE

1090-1260

GRADUATION RATE

64%

"Catholic university blending Salesian spirituality with standout theater and TV production training on a pastoral Pennsylvania campus."

Wilkes University | Wilkes University has received a $2 million gift to  support its School of Education. The gift, given by local physician and  philanthropist... | Instagram
Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre, PAPrivate

91%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$55,300/yr

SAT RANGE

1020-1250

GRADUATION RATE

66%

"Wilkes University blends small-school warmth with hands-on learning in the heart of historic Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania."

Thiel College Roth Hall students
Thiel College

Greenville, PAPrivate

72%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$48,920/yr

SAT RANGE

910-1110

GRADUATION RATE

52%

"Thiel College is located in Greenville, PA."

Misericordia University | Think you know Misericordia? Check out these 10  amazing facts about MU! #1 Our picturesque campus is located in Dallas,  Pennsylvania,... | Instagram
Misericordia University

Dallas, PAPrivate

71%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$50,458/yr

SAT RANGE

1050-1240

GRADUATION RATE

57%

"Catholic university in rural Pennsylvania specializing in hands-on training for nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists."

RMU Athletics Announces Six-Figure Gift from Alumnus Welling W. Fruehauf,  CPA - Robert Morris University Athletics
Robert Morris University

Moon Township, PAPrivate

90%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$45,490/yr

SAT RANGE

1040-1220

GRADUATION RATE

64%

"Practical private university outside Pittsburgh, blending business smarts with Division I hockey intensity."

Showing top 50 of 131 colleges in Pennsylvania

Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania Colleges

Pennsylvania has 131 colleges and universities. This includes 38 public institutions and 93 private institutions. The state offers a diverse range of educational opportunities from community colleges to major research universities.

University of Pennsylvania is the highest-ranked university in Pennsylvania, ranked #10 nationally. The state is home to several prestigious institutions offering world-class education across various fields.

The average tuition at Pennsylvania colleges varies by institution type. For public universities, the average in-state tuition is $29,817 per year. Out-of-state students pay an average of $32,474. After financial aid, the average net price is $24,267.

The average acceptance rate for colleges in Pennsylvania is 68%. However, acceptance rates vary significantly by institution, with some highly selective universities accepting less than 10% of applicants while others maintain open enrollment policies.

Pennsylvania has a major public university system: Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Together, these systems include 10 campuses serving hundreds of thousands of students. PASSHE provides affordable public higher education through 10 universities across Pennsylvania.

To qualify for in-state tuition at Pennsylvania public universities, you typically need to establish residency for at least 12 months before enrolling. Requirements usually include living in the state, having a Pennsylvania driver's license, registering to vote in the state, and demonstrating intent to remain. Specific requirements vary by institution, so check with your chosen school's admissions office.

Pennsylvania is located in the Northeast region of the United States. Home to the Ivy League and some of America's oldest universities, the Northeast offers a rich academic tradition with diverse urban and rural campuses.

Pennsylvania offers a range of affordable college options. The average net price after financial aid is $24,267. Public universities in Pennsylvania provide particularly strong value for in-state residents, with lower tuition rates and access to state financial aid programs.