by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Pennsylvania, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights 275 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated graduate schools 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.
Your ideal graduate school depends on your goals. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Pennsylvania. Based in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,686. Graduates go on to earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $16,155.
You'll be in good company at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, which ranked #2 this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a public school based in University Park, PA. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790.
You'll be in good company at Carnegie Mellon University, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. Median early-career earnings reach $89,327. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete a degree here.
Villanova University came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Pennsylvania. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit school based in Villanova, PA. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,776. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,601 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Lehigh University earned it the #5 place in Pennsylvania. Set in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lehigh University posts a six-year graduation rate of 88%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,980. Median early-career earnings reach $70,321. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete a degree here.
Lafayette College landed the #6 spot in Pennsylvania 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. Median early-career earnings reach $59,513. Typical student debt is $16,931.
Bucknell University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lewisburg, PA. Bucknell University posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. Students from in state pay about $67,812 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,331 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,951.
Swarthmore College did well this year, earning the #8 position. Swarthmore College is a private not-for-profit school based in Swarthmore, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Students from in state pay about $65,494 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $66,971. Swarthmore College students take on a median of $19,500 in debt.
Franklin And Marshall College did well this year, earning the #9 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lancaster, PA. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $70,794 in tuition and fees. Franklin And Marshall College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,020. Graduates carry a median of $20,411 in student loans.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,926. Typical student debt is $24,958.
Saint Josephs University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Philadelphia, PA, Saint Josephs University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,260. Median early-career earnings reach $65,421. The median student debt is $26,426.
Drexel University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. The median student debt is $28,838.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #13 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Set in West Chester, PA, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,775, compared with $22,599 for out-of-state students.
Dickinson College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Carlisle, PA. Dickinson College graduates 80% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,650. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,014 to complete a degree here.
Duquesne University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Duquesne University is a private not-for-profit school based in Pittsburgh, PA. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,986. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,826. The median student debt is $26,297.
Thomas Jefferson University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,243. Thomas Jefferson University students take on a median of $32,256 in debt.
University Of Scranton did well this year, earning the #17 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Scranton, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,777. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,861. Typical student debt is $26,500.
Haverford College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Haverford College is a private not-for-profit school based in Haverford, PA. About 90% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,398.
Temple University landed the #19 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. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,642 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans.
Elizabethtown College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Set in Elizabethtown, PA, Elizabethtown College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,950. Median early-career earnings reach $57,397. Graduates carry a median of $26,599 in student loans.
Gettysburg College placed #21 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Located in Gettysburg, PA, Gettysburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,640. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,376 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,309.
Lebanon Valley College placed #22 among the best graduate schools in Pennsylvania. Lebanon Valley College is a private not-for-profit school based in Annville, PA. Lebanon Valley College posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. In-state tuition and fees run about $52,080. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,801. Students borrow a median of $26,767 to complete a degree here.
Widener University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #23 position. Widener University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit school based in Chester, PA. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $55,730. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,864. Widener University Main Campus students take on a median of $26,561 in debt.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania did well this year, earning the #24 position. Based in Bloomsburg, PA, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,046, with out-of-state students paying around $22,870.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Set in University Park, PA, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a public institution. About 34% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,356.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.