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.
*Wikipedia, "Colleges and universities in Pennsylvania", "Companies based in Pennsylvania" *www.pa.gov *taglineguru.comBest Four Year Universities in Pennsylvania
Swarthmore College offers 89 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 395 students graduated with students earning 395 Bachelor's degrees.
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 330 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 4,957 students graduated with students earning 3,103 Master's degrees, 1,487 Bachelor's degrees, 322 Doctoral degrees, and 45 Certificates.
Haverford College offers 39 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 321 students graduated with students earning 321 Bachelor's degrees.
Lehigh University offers 201 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 1,794 students graduated with students earning 1,145 Bachelor's degrees, 536 Master's degrees, 107 Doctoral degrees, and 6 Certificates.
Lafayette College offers 39 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 615 students graduated with students earning 615 Bachelor's degrees.
Bucknell University offers 80 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2019, 882 students graduated with students earning 864 Bachelor's degrees, and 18 Master's degrees.
Bryn Mawr College offers 55 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 495 students graduated with students earning 334 Bachelor's degrees, 82 Master's degrees, 71 Certificates, and 8 Doctoral degrees.
Franklin and Marshall College offers 42 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 542 students graduated with students earning 542 Bachelor's degrees.
Villanova University offers 208 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 3,532 students graduated with students earning 1,801 Bachelor's degrees, 1,304 Master's degrees, 223 Doctoral degrees, 202 Certificates, and 2 Associate's degrees.
Best Community Colleges in Pennsylvania
Orleans Technical College offers 7 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2019, 315 students graduated with students earning 310 Certificates, and 5 Associate's degrees.
The Workforce Institute's City College offers 3 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2019, 9 students graduated with students earning 8 Associate's degrees, and 1 Certificate.
Rosedale Technical College offers 11 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 255 students graduated with students earning 162 Associate's degrees, and 93 Certificates.
Triangle Tech Inc-Greensburg offers 4 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 66 students graduated with students earning 66 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 2019, 102 students graduated with students earning 80 Certificates, and 22 Associate's degrees.
Commonwealth Technical Institute offers 14 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a small suburb. In 2019, 143 students graduated with students earning 92 Certificates, and 51 Associate's degrees.
Triangle Tech Inc-Sunbury offers 3 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2019, 42 students graduated with students earning 42 Associate's degrees.
Bidwell Training Center Inc offers 7 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2019, 88 students graduated with students earning 75 Certificates, and 13 Associate's degrees.
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 2019, 79 students graduated with students earning 79 Associate's degrees.
Laurel Business Institute offers 19 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a small suburb. In 2019, 143 students graduated with students earning 96 Certificates, and 47 Associate's degrees.
List of all colleges in Pennsylvania
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA | 7 : 1 | 1,594 | |
|
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | 18 : 1 | 26,675 | |
|
Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | 11 : 1 | 14,180 | |
|
Haverford College Haverford, PA | 8 : 1 | 1,317 | |
|
Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA | 13 : 1 | 6,953 | |
|
Lafayette College Easton, PA | 10 : 1 | 2,662 | |
|
Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA | 9 : 1 | 3,697 | |
|
Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, PA | 11 : 1 | 1,723 | |
|
Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster, PA | 8 : 1 | 2,315 | |
|
Villanova University Villanova, PA | 15 : 1 | 10,848 | |
|
Dickinson College Carlisle, PA | 9 : 1 | 2,133 | |
|
Gettysburg College Gettysburg, PA | 10 : 1 | 2,370 | |
|
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA | 18 : 1 | 32,686 | |
|
Muhlenberg College Allentown, PA | 12 : 1 | 2,251 | |
|
Allegheny College Meadville, PA | 12 : 1 | 1,775 | |
|
Curtis Institute of Music Philadelphia, PA | 43 : 1 | 173 | |
|
University of the Sciences Philadelphia, PA | 14 : 1 | 2,285 | |
|
Juniata College Huntingdon, PA | 13 : 1 | 1,429 | |
|
Ursinus College Collegeville, PA | 12 : 1 | 1,472 | |
|
Orleans Technical College Philadelphia, PA | 29 : 1 | 292 | |