by our College Data Analytics TeamUniversity Of Pennsylvania ranks #1 of 120 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 82% six-year graduation rate and $83,135 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Pennsylvania, it can be hard to know where to start. We have ranked **120** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 120 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.
University Of Pennsylvania leads the 120 ranked colleges in Pennsylvania, followed by Carnegie Mellon University (#2) and Lehigh University (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Pennsylvania. Based in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Early-career graduates earn a median of $99,682. Graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Carnegie Mellon University, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $89,327. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Lehigh University, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $64,980. Lehigh University graduates report median early-career earnings of $70,321. Lehigh University students take on a median of $23,008 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Lafayette College, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Easton, PA, Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit institution. Lafayette College posts a six-year graduation rate of 88%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,648. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $59,513. Lafayette College students take on a median of $16,931 in debt.
Villanova University came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Pennsylvania. This private not-for-profit school is set in Villanova, PA. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,776. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,601 early in their careers. Villanova University students take on a median of $26,184 in debt.
Bucknell University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lewisburg, PA. Bucknell University posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,812. Median early-career earnings reach $64,331. Bucknell University students take on a median of $25,951 in debt.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #7 in this year's ranking. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public school based in Pittsburgh, PA. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,926. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students take on a median of $24,958 in debt.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #8 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a public school based in University Park, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,523 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,266 in student loans.
Franklin And Marshall College landed the #9 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Located in Lancaster, PA, Franklin And Marshall College is a private not-for-profit institution. Franklin And Marshall College posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,794. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,020 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $20,411.
Saint Josephs University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Saint Josephs University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $53,260. Graduates go on to earn a median of $65,421 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,426.
Swarthmore College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Swarthmore, PA, Swarthmore College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,494. Swarthmore College graduates report median early-career earnings of $66,971. Swarthmore College students take on a median of $19,500 in debt.
Dickinson College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Carlisle, PA, Dickinson College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,650. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,937. Typical student debt is $19,014.
Drexel University placed #13 among the best colleges in Pennsylvania. This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete a degree here.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in West Chester, PA, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania graduates 70% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,775, while out-of-state students pay about $22,599.
Haverford College placed #15 among the best colleges in Pennsylvania. Based in Haverford, PA, Haverford College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,398.
Duquesne University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Duquesne University is a private not-for-profit school based in Pittsburgh, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,986. Duquesne University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,826. Graduates carry a median of $26,297 in student loans.
Thomas Jefferson University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Thomas Jefferson University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,355. Median early-career earnings reach $64,243. Typical student debt is $32,256.
University Of Scranton came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in Scranton, PA, University Of Scranton is a private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $53,777 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,861. Typical student debt is $26,476.
Gettysburg College placed #19 among the best colleges in Pennsylvania. This private not-for-profit school is set in Gettysburg, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,640. Median early-career earnings reach $43,376. Gettysburg College students take on a median of $26,309 in debt.
Temple University landed the #20 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,642. Typical student debt is $26,259.
Elizabethtown College placed #21 among the best colleges in Pennsylvania. Elizabethtown College is a private not-for-profit school based in Elizabethtown, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Students from in state pay about $37,950 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,397 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,599.
Widener University Main Campus came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Based in Chester, PA, Widener University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Students from in state pay about $55,730 in tuition and fees. Widener University Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,864. The median student debt is $26,561.
Muhlenberg College landed the #23 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Set in Allentown, PA, Muhlenberg College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,805. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,641. Muhlenberg College students take on a median of $26,259 in debt.
Lebanon Valley College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Annville, PA, Lebanon Valley College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Students from in state pay about $52,080 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,801 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,767.
Messiah College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Messiah College is a private not-for-profit school based in Mechanicsburg, PA. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,240. Median early-career earnings reach $48,957. The median student debt is $26,195.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 120 in Pennsylvania. 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), 2027 edition. Rankings consider 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.