2024 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania holds a few gems among its public, private, and religious institutions, including Penn State University, nicknamed one of the “Public Ivies” for the exceptional quality of its academics. Beyond academics, Penn State holds several national titles for football, boxing, and other sports. One of only nine colleges founded before the Declaration of Independence was signed, the University of Pennsylvania is known just as much for its Ivy League status as its social scene. To keep with the state’s historic theme, Pennsylvania is also home to the nation’s oldest art school and museum – The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

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18 Results

#1 in Pennsylvania | #6 in Liberal Arts

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Economic score 1.50

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,595

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $80,257

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 97%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#2 in Pennsylvania | #20 in Liberal Arts

Lafayette College

Easton, Pennsylvania

Economic score 2.39

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $36,995

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $91,410

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 89%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#3 in Pennsylvania | #28 in Liberal Arts

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

Economic score 2.59

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $42,198

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $93,807

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 88%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#4 in Pennsylvania | #29 in Liberal Arts

Haverford College

Haverford, Pennsylvania

Economic score 2.60

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,464

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $79,966

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 92%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#5 in Pennsylvania | #34 in Liberal Arts

Gettysburg College

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Economic score 2.87

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $28,320

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $71,517

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 84%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#6 in Pennsylvania | #36 in Liberal Arts

Muhlenberg College

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Economic score 3.01

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $27,729

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $69,107

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 85%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#7 in Pennsylvania | #40 in Liberal Arts

Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Economic score 3.20

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $33,802

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $76,124

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 85%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#8 in Pennsylvania | #42 in Liberal Arts

Dickinson College

Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Economic score 3.21

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $30,345

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $70,204

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 84%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#9 in Pennsylvania | #47 in Liberal Arts

Washington & Jefferson College

Washington, Pennsylvania

Economic score 3.61

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $25,625

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $67,918

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 68%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#10 in Pennsylvania | #59 in Liberal Arts

Ursinus College

Collegeville, Pennsylvania

Economic score 3.92

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $31,493

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $73,721

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 74%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#11 in Pennsylvania | #68 in Liberal Arts

Albright College

Reading, Pennsylvania

Economic score 4.20

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,038

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $58,700

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 62%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#12 in Pennsylvania | #71 in Liberal Arts

Allegheny College

Meadville, Pennsylvania

Economic score 4.35

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $24,838

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $62,069

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 73%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#13 in Pennsylvania | #76 in Liberal Arts

Susquehanna University

Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

Economic score 4.48

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $27,370

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $61,723

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 75%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#14 in Pennsylvania | #79 in Liberal Arts

Lycoming College

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Economic score 4.54

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,549

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $56,210

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 60%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#15 in Pennsylvania | #82 in Liberal Arts

Saint Vincent College

Latrobe, Pennsylvania

Economic score 4.65

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $22,109

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $59,982

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 73%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#16 in Pennsylvania | #89 in Liberal Arts

Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Economic score 4.77

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $41,833

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $75,217

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 84%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#17 in Pennsylvania | #107 in Liberal Arts

Westminster College

New Wilmington, Pennsylvania

Economic score 5.77

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,969

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $53,861

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 95%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#18 in Pennsylvania | #114 in Liberal Arts

Juniata College

Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

Economic score 6.10

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $25,378

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $56,918

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 74%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

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