Best colleges in Pennsylvania

East Coast Education

Watch your university prospects rise with the sun each day

You can find "the sweetest place on Earth" right here in Pennsylvania. But, you'll need more than its famous Hershey Chocolate to get your college degree. If you're looking for top-ranked liberal arts colleges, a more-than-impressive public university system or a private university, come on over to Pennsylvania. You'll have 234 colleges and universities to choose from. Those who come to the Keystone State enjoy a wide variety of majors, with the arts and sciences taking the top spots. Graduates go on to start careers at successful companies, like 21st Century Media, EB Games, Kappa Publishing Group and many more.

On the weekends, students can explore the Pocono Mountains, Dutch country roads, and plenty of American history in Philadelphia and Gettysburg. Anything in Philly is great, but it's always good to step off the beaten path from time to time. Start with Bulls Head Public House in Lititz, with their Beer Menu Bible. of course, be sure to develop your own cheesesteak addiction by hanging out at Pat's, Geno's or Jim's. Go hoarse cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles or the 76ers, or get lost in a chocolate dream at Hershey Park. Pennsylvania is ready to welcome anyone looking to revolutionize the way they see the world while getting a great education at the same time.

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Best Four Year Universities in Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Image by @moonizzang

Founded in 1740 in downtown Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania is a private academic institution with a current undergraduate enrollment of roughly 25,000. The school was initially founded by Benjamin Franklin before the Declaration of Independence was drafted, making it one of only nine universities to be chartered in that era. Penn's tuition and fees total over $55,000 annually, and the school ranks among the top universities in the nation. 

The university is in an urban setting with a historic gothic campus that includes a walled-in student housing complex located just north of the Schuylkill River and blocks from Rittenhouse Square. Classes follow a semester-based academic calendar, and the current student-faculty ratio is 6:1, one of the smallest ratios for a top university in the nation. 

The University of Pennsylvania is home to internationally recognized colleges including the Annenberg School for Communication, The Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology, and the Wharton School of Business. UPenn has academic partnerships worldwide with schools such as King’s College London, the University of Barcelona, and even in Australia at the University of Queensland. During their stay at UPenn, students can participate in a range of social clubs like the famous Penn Glee Club, or work at The Daily Pennsylvanian, the student-run newspaper. Notable alumni include former President of the United States Donald Trump, author Noam Chomsky, and architect of the Louvre Pyramid, I.M. Pei.

Carnegie Mellon University offers 328 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 5,061 students graduated with students earning 3,233 Master's degrees, 1,465 Bachelor's degrees, 327 Doctoral degrees, and 36 Certificates.

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Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College offers 91 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 418 students graduated with students earning 418 Bachelor's degrees.

Haverford College
Haverford, PA

Haverford College offers 41 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 324 students graduated with students earning 324 Bachelor's degrees.

Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University offers 80 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2020, 869 students graduated with students earning 850 Bachelor's degrees, and 19 Master's degrees.

Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University offers 196 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2020, 1,905 students graduated with students earning 1,260 Bachelor's degrees, 522 Master's degrees, 103 Doctoral degrees, and 20 Certificates.

Lafayette College
Easton, PA

Lafayette College offers 39 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 603 students graduated with students earning 603 Bachelor's degrees.

Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College offers 55 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 535 students graduated with students earning 358 Bachelor's degrees, 94 Master's degrees, 75 Certificates, and 8 Doctoral degrees.

Villanova University
Villanova, PA

Villanova University offers 163 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 3,445 students graduated with students earning 1,791 Bachelor's degrees, 1,261 Master's degrees, 202 Doctoral degrees, and 191 Certificates.

Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA

Gettysburg College offers 44 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2020, 584 students graduated with students earning 584 Bachelor's degrees.

Best Community Colleges in Pennsylvania

Rosedale Technical College offers 12 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2020, 183 students graduated with students earning 146 Associate's degrees, and 37 Certificates.

Commonwealth Technical Institute offers 14 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a small suburb. In 2020, 127 students graduated with students earning 76 Certificates, and 51 Associate's degrees.

Institute of Medical Careers offers 11 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2020, 260 students graduated with students earning 164 Certificates, and 96 Associate's degrees.

Penn Commercial Business/Technical School offers 14 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2020, 105 students graduated with students earning 82 Certificates, and 23 Associate's degrees.

Laurel Business Institute offers 20 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a small suburb. In 2020, 123 students graduated with students earning 66 Certificates, and 57 Associate's degrees.

Great Lakes Institute of Technology offers 13 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a midsize suburb. In 2020, 145 students graduated with students earning 119 Certificates, and 26 Associate's degrees.

Erie Institute of Technology Inc offers 5 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a midsize suburb. In 2020, 83 students graduated with students earning 63 Certificates, and 20 Associate's degrees.

Triangle Tech Inc-Greensburg offers 4 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2020, 62 students graduated with students earning 62 Associate's degrees.

Triangle Tech Inc-Dubois
Falls Creek, PA

Triangle Tech Inc-Dubois offers 3 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2020, 48 students graduated with students earning 48 Associate's degrees.

Lansdale School of Business
North Wales, PA

Lansdale School of Business offers 19 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2020, 41 students graduated with students earning 31 Associate's degrees, and 10 Certificates.

List of all colleges in Pennsylvania

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
University of Pennsylvania Logo University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
5/5
18 : 1 26,552
Carnegie Mellon University Logo Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA
5/5
11 : 1 13,519
Swarthmore College Logo Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA
5/5
6 : 1 1,437
Haverford College Logo Haverford College Haverford, PA
5/5
8 : 1 1,307
Bucknell University Logo Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA
5/5
9 : 1 3,726