Why This Matters
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145 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES IN PENNSYLVANIA
According to College Navigator, the four-year colleges in Pennsylvania include 39 public and 106 private non-profit options.
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$15,547 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
For the 2022-23 school year, the average in-state tuition for public four-year colleges in Pennsylvania is $15,547, according to College Board.
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$15,330 AVERAGE FINANCIAL AID
In the U.S., full-time undergraduate students attending college in 2021-22 received an average of $15,330 per year in financial aid.
Our Research
This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar colleges in Pennsylvania. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
The colleges on our list are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) — this organization examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of postsecondary education programs in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission standards, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the resources and services provided for on-campus students. Then, we used this information to calculate the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Online College Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
The Top 50 Colleges in Pennsylvania
Discover More Options
What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Pennsylvania
Before settling down to study in a new state, you should consider the employment opportunities in the area. As of May 2022, these five industries employ the greatest number of Pennsylvanians: office and administrative support occupations, transportation and material moving, sales, food preparation and serving, and healthcare practitioners.
For workers in Pennsylvania who have earned a bachelor’s degree, the top five fastest-growing careers in the state are information security analysts, medical and health services managers, software developers, operations research analysts, and actuaries. Many of these jobs are in competitive industries, so more qualified candidates have an edge over their peers.
To get an idea of specific career choices available to college graduates, here are some examples of Pennsylvania’s largest employers: Pennsylvania State University, Philadelphia International Airport, Highmark Health, G & D Construction, and Vanguard.
What’s Next?
When researching colleges in Pennsylvania, it’s important to consider your financial aid options. The following resources will help you find grants, scholarships, and loan programs available to undergraduate students in Pennsylvania.
- Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). PHEAA is a student aid organization that offers a state grant program, low-cost student loans, and college planning resources.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Provided by the U.S. Department of Education, FAFSA is the main form students use to apply for financial aid for college. To determine if you’re eligible for aid, submit a completed FAFSA form online.
- CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder. This tool will show you available scholarships, grants, and loans and can be filtered by state and degree type. It includes information such as dollar amounts, how to apply, qualifications, deadlines, and contact details.