by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Pennsylvania, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **40** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 40 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Widener University Main Campus earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Pennsylvania. Widener University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit school based in Chester, PA. Widener University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Students from in state pay about $55,730 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $60,864. Students borrow a median of $26,561 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned it the #2 place in Pennsylvania. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,926. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students take on a median of $24,958 in debt.
Thomas Jefferson University came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Pennsylvania. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Thomas Jefferson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $47,355 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,243. Thomas Jefferson University students take on a median of $32,256 in debt.
Out of the 40 colleges in Pennsylvania in this year's ranking, Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Lancaster, PA. Students from in state pay about $9,050 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,859 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $9,915.
You'll be in good company at Pennsylvania State University World Campus, which ranked #5 this year. Based in University Park, PA, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a public institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,356.
Williamson College Of The Trades did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Media, PA, Williamson College Of The Trades is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,611 in tuition and fees.
Elizabethtown College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Elizabethtown, PA, Elizabethtown College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Students from in state pay about $37,950 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,397. Typical student debt is $26,599.
The Commonwealth Medical College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Scranton, PA, The Commonwealth Medical College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,751. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,758.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Bloomsburg, PA, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania graduates 56% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,046, compared with $22,870 for out-of-state students.
Alvernia University did well this year, earning the #10 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Reading, PA. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $45,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,960 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $31,900 in student loans.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Williamsport, PA, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,940, compared with $25,680 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,133. Typical student debt is $24,371.
Gannon University landed the #12 spot in Pennsylvania this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Erie, PA. About 67% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $40,656 in tuition and fees. Gannon University graduates report median early-career earnings of $73,658. Students borrow a median of $26,934 to complete a degree here.
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Set in California, PA, Pennsylvania Western University is a public institution. Pennsylvania Western University graduates 52% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,436, while out-of-state students pay about $16,054.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Mont Alto did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Mont Alto, PA, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Mont Alto is a public institution. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Mont Alto graduates 28% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,408, with out-of-state students paying around $24,134.
Saint Francis University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Saint Francis University is a private not-for-profit school based in Loretto, PA. Saint Francis University posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,388. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,097. Students borrow a median of $30,729 to complete a degree here.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Dubois landed the #16 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Dubois is a public school based in DuBois, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. Students from in state pay about $14,408 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,134.
Waynesburg University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Waynesburg University is a private not-for-profit school based in Waynesburg, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. In-state tuition and fees average $30,480. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,588. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks placed #18 among the best colleges in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks is a public school based in Reading, PA. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Berks posts a six-year graduation rate of 30%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,972, while out-of-state students pay about $26,958.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Hazleton did well this year, earning the #19 position. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Hazleton is a public school based in Hazleton, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 21%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,208, while out-of-state students pay about $25,392.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Shenango did well this year, earning the #20 position. Located in Sharon, PA, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Shenango is a public institution. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Shenango graduates 30% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,024, with out-of-state students paying around $23,560.
La Salle University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Philadelphia, PA, La Salle University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $37,800 in tuition and fees. La Salle University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,618. Students borrow a median of $25,462 to complete a degree here.
Holy Family University placed #22 among the best colleges in Pennsylvania. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Holy Family University is a private not-for-profit institution. Holy Family University graduates 60% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,330. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $59,355. Typical student debt is $26,562.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington landed the #23 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Located in Abington, PA, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,268, while out-of-state students pay about $25,664.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Schuylkill placed #24 among the best colleges in Pennsylvania. Based in Schuylkill Haven, PA, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Schuylkill is a public institution. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Schuylkill graduates 29% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,208, while out-of-state students pay about $25,392.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State New Kensington ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in New Kensington, PA, Pennsylvania State University Penn State New Kensington is a public institution. Pennsylvania State University Penn State New Kensington posts a six-year graduation rate of 22%. Students from in state pay about $14,408 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,134 for out-of-state students.
These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.