Pennsylvania Colleges with low acceptance rates

Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate in Pennsylvania for 2024

These are the most selective public and private four-year colleges in Pennsylvania. The list is ranked by acceptance rate, lowest to highest and limited to schools which reject at least half of all applicants. Leading the list is University of Pennsylvania which sent acceptance letters to only 7% of the 54,588 students who applied and rejected 93%.

Not all schools on the most selective list are overly academically challenging. Some schools with less rigorous test and high school GPA requirements may receive a large numbers of qualified applicants and the school does not have space to admit them all.

If you're looking for challenging colleges, explore rankings of Pennsylvania colleges with the highest SAT scores, highest ACT scores and highest GPA's.
Pennsylvania Low Acceptance % Public Private 4 year

15 results

University of Pennsylvania
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P
Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

7% Acceptance Rate

#23 Best Colleges in America

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

Applications Due Jan 5

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Swarthmore College
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S
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

7% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,625enrollment
  • $20,715net price
  • 1440-1560SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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Curtis Institute of Music
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C
Philadelphia, PA
 

Curtis Institute of Music

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

10% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 151enrollment
  • $20,005net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Dec 18

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Carnegie Mellon University
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C
Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Mellon University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

11% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

Applications Due Jan 1

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Haverford College
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H
Haverford, PA

Haverford College

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

14% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Value in Pennsylvania

  • 1,421enrollment
  • $23,476net price
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Villanova University
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V
Villanova, PA

Villanova University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

23% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

Applications Due Jan 15

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Bryn Mawr College
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B
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

Applications Due Jan 15

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Bucknell University
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B
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

Applications Due Jan 15

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Lafayette College
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L
Easton, PA

Lafayette College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

Applications Due Jan 15

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Dickinson College
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D
Carlisle, PA

Dickinson College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

35% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 2,137enrollment
  • $37,610net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Franklin and Marshall College
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F
Lancaster, PA

Franklin and Marshall College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

36% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

Applications Due Jan 15

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Lehigh University
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L
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

37% Acceptance Rate

#5 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

Applications Due Jan 1

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Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
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P
Lancaster, PA
 

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

44% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 245enrollment
  • $26,649net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.13Avg GPA

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Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences
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P
Lancaster, PA

Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,775enrollment
  • $33,047net price
  • 1050-1220SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
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P
Pittsburgh, PA

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

49% Acceptance Rate

#24 Best Public Universities in America

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

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