The Best Pennsylvania Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in Pennsylvania for 2025

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in Pennsylvania as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment under 3,000. Small colleges allow students a more intimate and personalized experience where it's more likely you will get to know your professors. Leading the list for 2025 is Haverford College. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Pennsylvania small Public Private 4 year

50 results

Haverford College
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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

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Swarthmore College
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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

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Franklin and Marshall College
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F
Lancaster, PA

Franklin and Marshall College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

#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

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Gettysburg College
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G
Gettysburg, PA

Gettysburg College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,895enrollment
  • $35,729net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1460SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • NAAvg 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

#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

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Muhlenberg College
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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

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Allegheny College
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A
Meadville, PA

Allegheny College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,231enrollment
  • $27,929net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Ursinus College
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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

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Moravian University
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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

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Washington & Jefferson College
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W
Washington, PA

Washington & Jefferson College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

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Elizabethtown College
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E
Elizabethtown, PA
 

Elizabethtown College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Private 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

#22 Best Private 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

#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

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Juniata College
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J
Huntingdon, PA

Juniata College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#24 Best Private 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

#25 Best Private 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

#26 Best Private 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

#27 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

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

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