Pennsylvania Colleges with low acceptance rates

Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate in Pennsylvania for 2025

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 6% of the 59,465 students who applied and rejected 94%.

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

16 results

University of Pennsylvania
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P
Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

6% Acceptance Rate

#23 Best Colleges in America

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

Applications Due Jan 5

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Curtis Institute of Music
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C
Philadelphia, PA
 

Curtis Institute of Music

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

7% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 159enrollment
  • $21,615net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Dec 18

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Swarthmore College
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S
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

7% Acceptance Rate

#13 Best Value Colleges in America

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

Applications Due Jan 4

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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

  • 15,596enrollment
  • $32,964net price
  • 1500-1570SAT 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

13% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,424enrollment
  • $22,828net 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

25% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

29% Acceptance Rate

#5 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

Applications Due Jan 1

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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

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

31% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

32% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,892enrollment
  • $38,486net price
  • 1300-1450SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.62Avg 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

32% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,911enrollment
  • $37,475net price
  • 1298-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • NAAvg 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

43% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 2,217enrollment
  • $40,242net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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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

44% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,770enrollment
  • $33,565net price
  • 1050-1220SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 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

46% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 323enrollment
  • $30,437net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.13Avg GPA

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Gettysburg College
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G
Gettysburg, PA

Gettysburg College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,895enrollment
  • $35,729net price
  • 1240-1460SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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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

50% Acceptance Rate

#25 Best Public Universities in America

  • 34,525enrollment
  • $24,338net price
  • 1270-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

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