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.

Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US*Wikipedia, "Colleges and universities in Pennsylvania", "Companies based in Pennsylvania" *www.pa.gov *taglineguru.com

Best Four Year Universities in Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
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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 104 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 404 students graduated with students earning 404 Bachelor's degrees.

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Carnegie Mellon University offers 314 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 4,776 students graduated with students earning 2,765 Master's degrees, 1,588 Bachelor's degrees, 361 Doctoral degrees, and 62 Certificates.

Haverford College
Haverford, PA

Haverford College offers 46 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 304 students graduated with students earning 304 Bachelor's degrees.

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 2022, 661 students graduated with students earning 661 Bachelor's degrees.

Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University offers 211 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 1,865 students graduated with students earning 1,191 Bachelor's degrees, 506 Master's degrees, 116 Doctoral degrees, and 52 Certificates.

Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College offers 56 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 481 students graduated with students earning 295 Bachelor's degrees, 101 Master's degrees, 74 Certificates, and 11 Doctoral degrees.

Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University offers 84 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2022, 889 students graduated with students earning 881 Bachelor's degrees, and 8 Master's degrees.

Franklin and Marshall College offers 41 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 546 students graduated with students earning 546 Bachelor's degrees.

Villanova University
Villanova, PA

Villanova University offers 174 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 3,513 students graduated with students earning 1,761 Bachelor's degrees, 1,249 Master's degrees, 270 Certificates, and 233 Doctoral degrees.

Best Community Colleges in Pennsylvania

Penn Commercial Business/Technical School offers 11 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 151 students graduated with students earning 112 Certificates, and 39 Associate's degrees.

Williamson College of the Trades offers 6 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 65 students graduated with students earning 65 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 2022, 128 students graduated with students earning 64 Associate's degrees, and 64 Certificates.

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. In 2022, 120 students graduated with students earning 113 Certificates, and 7 Associate's degrees.

Rosedale Technical College offers 12 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 224 students graduated with students earning 164 Associate's degrees, and 60 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 2022, 67 students graduated with students earning 42 Certificates, and 25 Associate's degrees.

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology offers 27 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a small city. In 2022, 434 students graduated with students earning 412 Associate's degrees, and 22 Certificates.

Institute of Medical Careers offers 16 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 349 students graduated with students earning 217 Certificates, and 132 Associate's degrees.

Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc offers 3 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 95 students graduated with students earning 81 Associate's degrees, and 14 Certificates.

Triangle Tech Inc-Bethlehem offers 5 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a small city. In 2022, 76 students graduated with students earning 76 Associate's degrees.

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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 28,201
Swarthmore College Logo Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA
5/5
6 : 1 1,625
Carnegie Mellon University Logo Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA
5/5
12 : 1 16,002
Haverford College Logo Haverford College Haverford, PA
5/5
8 : 1 1,421
Lafayette College Logo Lafayette College Easton, PA
5/5
10 : 1 2,729