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2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

109 Colleges
$70,573 Avg Salary*
71% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

It's not easy to decide which college to attend when you have so many options available. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Pennsylvania Colleges ranking - to help you make that decision.

We analyzed 109 colleges and universities across Pennsylvania to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. Our ranking is based on over 20 objective factors, including post graduate earnings, freshman retention, and graduation rate. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.

Get more details on our ranking methodology.

Custom Rankings

Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.

Associate Degree Rankings Undergrad Rankings
Bachelor's Degree Rankings Undergrad Rankings
Master's Degree Rankings Grad School Rankings
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You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!

Top Colleges in Pennsylvania

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Our 2024 rankings named University of Pennsylvania the best school in Pennsylvania in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree. UPenn is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 9,822 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Bachelor’s degree students at the school tend to finish their degree on-time. The 4-year graduation rate is 86%, which is impressive compared to the national rate of 33%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $103,246 during the early years of their career..

Full University of Pennsylvania Report

2
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carnegie Mellon University. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list.Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 5,381 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon make an average of $99,998 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Carnegie Mellon University

3
Swarthmore crest
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Swarthmore College. The school came in at #3 in Pennsylvania on this year’s overall quality ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 481 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore make an average of $72,637 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Swarthmore College

4
Bucknell crest
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

Out of the 109 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Bucknell University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 1,093 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $88,154 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on Bucknell University

5
Villanova crest
Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Villanova University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Pennsylvania. Villanova is a private not-for-profit institution located in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4,100 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. During the early years of their career, graduates from Villanova make an average of $90,613 a year.

Read More…

6
Lehigh crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Lehigh University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. Lehigh is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,158 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

Bachelor’s degree students at the school tend to finish their degree on-time. The 4-year graduation rate is 80%, which is impressive compared to the national rate of 33%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Lehigh make an average of $95,033 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Lehigh University Report

7

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list.Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 9,832 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $57,961 during the early years of their career..

Read More…

8
Thomas Jefferson University crest
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #8, Thomas Jefferson University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 2,771 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $67,807 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on Thomas Jefferson University

9
Lafayette crest
Lafayette College
Easton, Pennsylvania

Lafayette College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Easton, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 720 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Lafayette go into careers with an average salary of $84,939 during the early years of their career.

Full Lafayette College Report

10
Drexel crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Drexel University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list. Drexel is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 6,793 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Drexel is $76,378 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Drexel University

11
Temple crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #11, Temple University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list. Temple is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10,225 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Temple go into careers with an average salary of $56,800 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Temple University

12
St. Joe's crest
Saint Joseph's University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Saint Joseph’s University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 2,392 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $73,428 during the early years of their career..

Full Saint Joseph’s University Report

13
Haverford crest
Haverford College
Haverford, Pennsylvania

Haverford College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 365 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty rate of 8 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Haverford is $69,192 during the early years of their career.

Full Haverford College Report

14
Duquesne crest
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Duquesne University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. Duquesne University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that handed out 2,751 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Duquesne go into careers with an average salary of $66,207 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Duquesne University

15
WCUPA crest
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania

West Chester University of Pennsylvania came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a fairly large public school located in West Chester, Pennsylvania that handed out 4,936 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from WCUPA is $53,418 during the early years of their career.

Full West Chester University of Pennsylvania Report

16
University of Scranton crest
University of Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania

University of Scranton landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 1,496 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Bachelor’s degree students at the school tend to finish their degree on-time. The 4-year graduation rate is 79%, which is impressive compared to the national rate of 33%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from University of Scranton go into careers with an average salary of $69,236 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on University of Scranton

17
Widener crest
Widener University
Chester, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #17, Widener University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list. Located in Chester, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,731 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $62,030 during the early years of their career..

Full Widener University Report

18
Gettysburg crest
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Gettysburg College landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. Gettysburg is located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 717 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg make an average of $65,926 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Gettysburg College Report

19

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 452 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $49,663 during the early years of their career..

Read More…

20
Arcadia crest
Arcadia University
Glenside, Pennsylvania

Arcadia University landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. Arcadia is a private not-for-profit institution located in Glenside, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,119 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Arcadia make an average of $52,008 a year.

Read More…

21
Muhlenberg crest
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pennsylvania

Muhlenberg College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 662 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg make an average of $68,629 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Muhlenberg College Report

22
Dickinson crest
Dickinson College
Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Dickinson College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. Dickinson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania that handed out 627 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $69,562 during the early years of their career..

Full Dickinson College Report

23
Lancaster Bible College crest
Lancaster Bible College
Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Lancaster Bible College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list. Lancaster Bible College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It awarded 515 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Lancaster Bible College make an average of $39,435 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Lancaster Bible College Report

24
Bryn Mawr crest
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Bryn Mawr College landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 475 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Bryn Mawr is $65,774 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

25
Ursinus crest
Ursinus College
Collegeville, Pennsylvania

Ursinus College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #25. Ursinus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Collegeville, Pennsylvania that handed out 385 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school boasts an average 4-year graduation rate of 77%, which is excellent when compared to the national rate of 33%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Ursinus go into careers with an average salary of $66,257 during the early years of their career.

Full Ursinus College Report

Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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