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    Colleges Top Colleges in Pennsylvania
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    Top Colleges in Pennsylvania

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman Written by Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman
    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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    Updated: June 6th, 2024

    Pennsylvania has long been a popular destination for higher education, drawing in over half a million college students each year. With esteemed institutions like the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University, it’s no wonder students flock to the state for top-tier education. Discover your perfect fit in the Keystone State by exploring the list below.

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    Top college scholarships for
    Pennsylvania Students

    $18,500 in scholarships available
    Scholarships360 is recommended by
    54 colleges
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    P

    University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, PA • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the University of Pennsylvania, commonly known as Penn, is an Ivy League institution renowned for its blend of rigorous academics and vibrant campus life. Founded by…Read More

    Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the University of Pennsylvania, commonly known…Read More

    7% acceptance
    96% graduation rate
    10,572 undergrads
    $26,138 net price
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    S

    Swarthmore College

    Swarthmore, PA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Swarthmore College, located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, is a private liberal arts college known for its academic rigor and small class sizes. The college's Scott Arboretum encompasses 425 acres of gardens…

    Swarthmore College, located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, is a private liberal…Read More

    7% acceptance
    94% graduation rate
    1,619 undergrads
    $21,595 net price
    C

    Carnegie Mellon University

    Pittsburgh, PA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Carnegie Mellon has been the home of many new fields of study, including machine learning, robotics, computational biology, management science, and drama. Located in Pittsburg, CMU has always been on…Read More

    Carnegie Mellon has been the home of many new fields…Read More

    11% acceptance
    92% graduation rate
    7,005 undergrads
    $34,550 net price
    L

    Lehigh University

    Bethlehem, PA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Lehigh University, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is a private research university known for its strengths in engineering, business, and environmental studies. The university's Mountaintop Campus provides students with state-of-the-art research…Read More

    Lehigh University, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is a private research…Read More

    37% acceptance
    91% graduation rate
    5,612 undergrads
    $32,125 net price
    V

    Villanova University

    Villanova, PA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Villanova University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. There are currently 6,926 undergraduates at Villanova and the school’s acceptance rate is 23%. The tuition at Villanova…

    Villanova University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    23% acceptance
    91% graduation rate
    6,926 undergrads
    $43,090 net price
    D

    Dickinson College

    Carlisle, PA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. There are currently 2,083 undergraduates at Dickinson and the school’s acceptance rate is 35%. The tuition at Dickinson…

    Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    35% acceptance
    84% graduation rate
    2,083 undergrads
    $30,345 net price

    Haverford College

    Haverford, PA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Haverford College is a highly selective liberal arts school known for its Honor Code, which emphasizes student integrity and self-governance. The college has a close partnership with Bryn Mawr College,…Read More

    Haverford College is a highly selective liberal arts school known…Read More

    14% acceptance
    91% graduation rate
    1,417 undergrads
    $21,464 net price
    D

    Drexel University

    Philadelphia, PA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There are currently 13,933 undergraduates at Drexel and the school’s acceptance rate is 80%. The tuition at Drexel…

    Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    80% acceptance
    78% graduation rate
    13,933 undergrads
    $35,596 net price
    S

    University of the Sciences

    Philadelphia, PA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    University of the Sciences is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There are currently 1,311 undergraduates at USciences and the school’s acceptance rate is 61%. The tuition…

    University of the Sciences is a private, non-profit 4-year college…Read More

    61% acceptance
    77% graduation rate
    1,311 undergrads
    $34,773 net price
    F

    Franklin and Marshall College

    Lancaster, PA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There are currently 1,986 undergraduates at F&M and the school’s acceptance rate is 36%. The tuition…Read More

    Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year college…Read More

    36% acceptance
    86% graduation rate
    1,986 undergrads
    $33,802 net price
    L

    Lafayette College

    Easton, PA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    Lafayette College, situated in Easton, Pennsylvania, is a private liberal arts college known for its strong engineering, business, and humanities programs. The college's campus is home to the Kirby Hall…Read More

    Lafayette College, situated in Easton, Pennsylvania, is a private liberal…Read More

    34% acceptance
    89% graduation rate
    2,725 undergrads
    $36,995 net price
    G

    Gettysburg College

    Gettysburg, PA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Gettysburg College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. There are currently 2,236 undergraduates at Gettysburg and the school’s acceptance rate is 56%. The tuition at Gettysburg…

    Gettysburg College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    56% acceptance
    82% graduation rate
    2,236 undergrads
    $28,320 net price
    B

    Bucknell University

    Lewisburg, PA • Private, Non-Profit, Town

    Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. There are currently 3,732 undergraduates at Bucknell and the school’s acceptance rate is 33%. The tuition at Bucknell…

    Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    33% acceptance
    87% graduation rate
    3,732 undergrads
    $42,198 net price
    M

    Muhlenberg College

    Allentown, PA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Muhlenberg College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. There are currently 1,933 undergraduates at Muhlenberg and the school’s acceptance rate is 66%. The tuition at Muhlenberg…

    Muhlenberg College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    66% acceptance
    83% graduation rate
    1,933 undergrads
    $27,729 net price
    S

    Saint Joseph's University

    Philadelphia, PA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Saint Joseph's University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There are currently 4,978 undergraduates at St. Joseph's and the school’s acceptance rate is 89%. The tuition…

    Saint Joseph's University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    89% acceptance
    82% graduation rate
    4,978 undergrads
    $31,894 net price
    W

    West Chester University of Pennsylvania

    West Chester, PA • Public, Suburb

    Top College Top Affordability
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public 4-year college located in West Chester, Pennsylvania. There are currently 14,014 undergraduates at West Chester and the school’s acceptance rate is 88%.…

    West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public 4-year college…Read More

    88% acceptance
    72% graduation rate
    14,014 undergrads
    $24,128 net price
    P

    University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

    Pittsburgh, PA • Public, City

    University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is a public 4-year college located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There are currently 19,954 undergraduates at Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus and the school’s acceptance rate is 49%. The tuition…

    University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is a public 4-year college located…Read More

    49% acceptance
    84% graduation rate
    19,954 undergrads
    $29,187 net price
    T

    Thomas Jefferson University

    Philadelphia, PA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Thomas Jefferson University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There are currently 3,739 undergraduates at Thomas Jefferson and the school’s acceptance rate is 89%. The tuition…

    Thomas Jefferson University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    89% acceptance
    68% graduation rate
    3,739 undergrads
    $26,290 net price
    W

    Washington & Jefferson College

    Washington, PA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Washington & Jefferson College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Washington, Pennsylvania. There are currently 1,139 undergraduates at W&J and the school’s acceptance rate is 88%. The tuition…

    Washington & Jefferson College is a private, non-profit 4-year college…

    88% acceptance
    74% graduation rate
    1,139 undergrads
    $25,625 net price
    T

    Temple University

    Philadelphia, PA • Public, City

    Temple University is a public 4-year college located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There are currently 23,697 undergraduates at Temple and the school’s acceptance rate is 80%. The tuition at Temple is…

    Temple University is a public 4-year college located in Philadelphia,…Read More

    80% acceptance
    78% graduation rate
    23,697 undergrads
    $23,742 net price
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    About the Data

    We sort colleges on our lists according to their Scholarships360 Top Colleges Index Score. This score is calculated using up-to-date information taken directly from the College Scorecard. Additional information is sourced from the colleges themselves, as well as other publicly available information. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.

    State Grants in Pennsylvania

    Most states offer their own state-wide grants to help residents obtain an affordable education. Here are some of the most prominent state-wide grants in Pennsylvania:

    Pennsylvania State Grant Program (PHEAA)

    The PHEAA offers funding for Pennsylvania students who are enrolled at least half-time in an institution and program approved by PHEAA. Students must meet certain academic and financial criteria in order to qualify.

    PA Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP)

    The TIP program offers need-based funding for Pennsylvania students who are pursuing degrees in one of their designated high-demand career areas. As of 2023, these fields were:

    • Energy
    • Health
    • Advanced Materials and Diversified Manufacturing
    • Agriculture and Food Production

    Pennsylvania Tuition Reciprocity Agreements

    Pennsylvania is not a member of any tuition reciprocity agreements. That means students in neighboring states will not receive tuition discounts in Pennsylvania, and vice-versa. However, if you live elsewhere, be sure to investigate these agreements to find out if your state participates in one.

    Other college lists to explore

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the hardest Pennsylvania college to get into?

    UPenn and the Curtis Institute of Music have the two lowest admission rates in the state of Pennsylvania. These admissions rates may seem intimidating, but don’t let a low number deter you from applying. Remember, your application can always catch an admissions officer’s eye, and everyone should apply to at least a couple of reach schools!

    Why should I study in Pennsylvania?

    Pennsylvania is a great place for college due to the cultural and economic opportunities offered by Philadelphia, its proximity to other New England cities, and its proximity to natural attractions. Many parts of Pennsylvania, such as Philly, also offer a lower cost of living than other New England cities like DC, New York, and Boston.

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