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.

Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College offers 106 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb.

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Carnegie Mellon University offers 381 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city.

Haverford College
Haverford, PA

Haverford College offers 50 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb.

Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University offers 221 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city.

Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University offers 82 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a faraway town.

Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College offers 54 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb.

Franklin and Marshall College offers 42 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city.

Lafayette College
Easton, PA

Lafayette College offers 40 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb.

Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA

Gettysburg College offers 45 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a outlying town.

Best Community Colleges in Pennsylvania

Williamson College of the Trades offers 5 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb.

Penn Commercial Business/Technical School offers 12 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb.

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology offers 28 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a small city.

Rosedale Technical College offers 12 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb.

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology offers 23 degree programs. It's a very small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area.

Orleans Technical College
Philadelphia, PA

Orleans Technical College offers 11 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large city.

Commonwealth Technical Institute offers 14 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a small suburb.

Triangle Tech Inc-Sunbury offers 4 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a outlying rural area.

Vet Tech Institute
Pittsburgh, PA

Vet Tech Institute offers 1 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city.

Laurel Business Institute offers 18 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a faraway town.

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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
20 : 1 29,109
Swarthmore College Logo Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA
5/5
6 : 1 1,623
Carnegie Mellon University Logo Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA
5/5
11 : 1 15,888
Haverford College Logo Haverford College Haverford, PA
5/5
8 : 1 1,431
Lehigh University Logo Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA
5/5
13 : 1 7,692