Best Pennsylvania Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in Pennsylvania for 2025

There are 192 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania enrolling 621,895 students. Explore the list of top colleges in Pennsylvania below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in Pennsylvania offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

 Pennsylvania is home to nationally ranked institutions like University of Pennsylvania, Haverford College, Swarthmore College and Carnegie Mellon University. The highest ranked college in Pennsylvania is University of Pennsylvania and the top rated public state college is University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus.

Local college options can be explored in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh or other cities.

Pennsylvania Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

192 results

List of the Best Pennsylvania Colleges

Ursinus College
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U
Collegeville, PA

Ursinus College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

Applications Due May 1

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Moravian University
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M
Bethlehem, PA

Moravian University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

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Washington & Jefferson College
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W
Washington, PA

Washington & Jefferson College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,162enrollment
  • $26,051net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

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University of Scranton
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S
Scranton, PA

University of Scranton

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 4,825enrollment
  • $32,100net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1320SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Elizabethtown College
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E
Elizabethtown, PA
 

Elizabethtown College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,152enrollment
  • $27,019net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • 19-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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Lycoming College
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L
Williamsport, PA

Lycoming College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#24 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,063enrollment
  • $20,733net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1273SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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DeSales University
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D
Center Valley, PA

DeSales University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#25 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

Applications Due Aug 1

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Juniata College
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J
Huntingdon, PA

Juniata College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#26 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,292enrollment
  • $28,925net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1280SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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Susquehanna University
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S
Selinsgrove, PA

Susquehanna University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,247enrollment
  • $27,258net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1290SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

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Lebanon Valley College
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L
Annville, PA

Lebanon Valley College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#28 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,142enrollment
  • $28,640net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1093-1300SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

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Chatham University
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C
Pittsburgh, PA

Chatham University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#29 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,319enrollment
  • $29,051net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1290SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

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Messiah College
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M
Grantham, PA

Messiah College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,344enrollment
  • $29,882net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1340SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

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Saint Vincent College
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S
Latrobe, PA

Saint Vincent College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,442enrollment
  • $23,857net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 993-1231SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Widener University Main Campus
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W
Chester, PA

Widener University Main Campus

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

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Wilkes University
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W
Wilkes-Barre, PA

Wilkes University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#33 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 5,198enrollment
  • $28,508net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1023-1270SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

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University of Pittsburgh Johnstown
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P
Johnstown, PA

University of Pittsburgh Johnstown

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#34 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,940enrollment
  • $17,909net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1255SAT range
  • 19-32ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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Gannon University
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G
Erie, PA

Gannon University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#35 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 4,548enrollment
  • $23,942net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 990-1250SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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University of Pittsburgh Bradford
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P
Bradford, PA

University of Pittsburgh Bradford

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#36 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,003enrollment
  • $17,015net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1260SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.28Avg GPA

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