The Best Philadelphia Private Colleges

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area Colleges

There are 7 ranked private colleges within the Philadelphia city limits and 31 private colleges within a 50 mile radius. Area colleges collectively enroll a total of 147,642 students. If you're looking for a large school, University of Pennsylvania enrolls the most students with 2,420 currently taking classes. In terms of affordability, University of the Sciences offers the lowest tuition for private colleges in the Philadelphia area at $25,800 per year.

The top rated private college in the area is Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey which is ranked #1 in the nation by CollegeSimply.

The Philadelphia area is home to popular nationally ranked private institutions like Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Haverford College and Swarthmore College.


31 results

Princeton University
P
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in America

  • 8,922enrollment
  • $19,811net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.93Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

34 miles from Philadelphia

University of Pennsylvania
P
Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in America

  • 28,711enrollment
  • $26,017net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

5 miles from Philadelphia

Haverford College
H
Haverford, PA

Haverford College

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,424enrollment
  • $22,828net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

9 miles from Philadelphia

Swarthmore College
S
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#13 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 1,644enrollment
  • $17,930net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1560SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

14 miles from Philadelphia

Lehigh University
L
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,590enrollment
  • $33,289net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1490SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

43 miles from Philadelphia

Villanova University
V
Villanova, PA

Villanova University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 10,111enrollment
  • $37,946net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

11 miles from Philadelphia

Lafayette College
L
Easton, PA

Lafayette College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,764enrollment
  • $34,728net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

48 miles from Philadelphia

Bryn Mawr College
B
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,666enrollment
  • $39,383net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

10 miles from Philadelphia

Muhlenberg College
M
Allentown, PA

Muhlenberg College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,818enrollment
  • $31,814net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1400SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

45 miles from Philadelphia

Drexel University
D
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 21,703enrollment
  • $42,342net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.67Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

5 miles from Philadelphia

Saint Joseph's University
S
Philadelphia, PA

Saint Joseph's University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,201enrollment
  • $36,392net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

6 miles from Philadelphia

Ursinus College
U
Collegeville, PA

Ursinus College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,492enrollment
  • $31,625net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

21 miles from Philadelphia

Moravian University
M
Bethlehem, PA

Moravian University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,658enrollment
  • $30,720net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1230SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

45 miles from Philadelphia

DeSales University
D
Center Valley, PA

DeSales University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,919enrollment
  • $30,524net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1290SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

39 miles from Philadelphia

Rider University
R
Lawrenceville, NJ

Rider University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 4,083enrollment
  • $26,618net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1310SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

28 miles from Philadelphia

Widener University Main Campus
W
Chester, PA

Widener University Main Campus

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 5,610enrollment
  • $30,720net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

16 miles from Philadelphia

La Salle University
L
Philadelphia, PA

La Salle University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#33 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,554enrollment
  • $20,119net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1268SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

2 miles from Philadelphia

Arcadia University
A
Glenside, PA

Arcadia University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#34 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,142enrollment
  • $26,994net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1083-1310SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

6 miles from Philadelphia