by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Pennsylvania, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **103** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 103 colleges using more than 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.
The best college for you depends on what you want to study. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
Looking to pit your favorite colleges against each other? Check out College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
University Of Pennsylvania tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges in Pennsylvania. This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. University Of Pennsylvania posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. University Of Pennsylvania graduates report median early-career earnings of $99,682. Graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
A rank of #2 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the top colleges in Pennsylvania. Located in University Park, PA, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a public institution. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790.
You'll be in good company at Carnegie Mellon University, which ranked #3 this year. Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit school based in Pittsburgh, PA. About 94% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Carnegie Mellon University graduates report median early-career earnings of $89,327. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Villanova University, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Villanova, PA, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,776. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,601 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Lehigh University earned it the #5 place in Pennsylvania. Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bethlehem, PA. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $64,980. Early-career graduates earn a median of $70,321. Typical student debt is $23,008.
Lafayette College landed the #6 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Located in Easton, PA, Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit institution. Lafayette College graduates 88% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,648. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $59,513. Typical student debt is $16,931.
Bucknell University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Lewisburg, PA, Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. 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. The median 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. Swarthmore College graduates 92% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,494. Median early-career earnings reach $66,971. Swarthmore College students take on a median of $19,500 in debt.
Franklin And Marshall College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lancaster, PA. Franklin And Marshall College graduates 84% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,794. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,020. The median student debt is $20,411.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Set in Pittsburgh, PA, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,926. Typical student debt is $24,958.
Saint Josephs University placed #11 among the best colleges in Pennsylvania. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Saint Josephs University is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Josephs University graduates 79% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $53,260. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $65,421. Saint Josephs University students take on a median of $26,426 in debt.
Drexel University landed the #12 spot in Pennsylvania this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. Drexel University graduates 78% of students within six years. 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. Drexel University students take on a median of $28,838 in debt.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,775, while out-of-state students pay about $22,599.
Dickinson College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Dickinson College is a private not-for-profit school based in Carlisle, PA. Dickinson College posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. In-state tuition and fees average $65,650. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,937 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $19,014.
Duquesne University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Duquesne University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,986. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,826. Students borrow a median of $26,297 to complete a degree here.
Thomas Jefferson University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Thomas Jefferson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $47,355. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,243 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $32,256 in student loans.
University Of Scranton landed the #17 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Located in Scranton, PA, University Of Scranton is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Scranton posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. In-state tuition and fees average $53,777. University Of Scranton graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,861. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete a degree here.
Haverford College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Haverford, PA, Haverford College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. In-state tuition and fees average $70,398.
Temple University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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 landed the #20 spot in Pennsylvania this year. Set in Elizabethtown, PA, Elizabethtown College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,950. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,397 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,599.
Gettysburg College placed #21 among the best colleges in Pennsylvania. Located in Gettysburg, PA, Gettysburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. Gettysburg College graduates 82% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,640. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,376 early in their careers. Gettysburg College students take on a median of $26,309 in debt.
Lebanon Valley College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Annville, PA, Lebanon Valley College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $52,080. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,801. Lebanon Valley College students take on a median of $26,767 in debt.
Widener University Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Chester, PA, Widener University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $55,730. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,864 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,561 in student loans.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Located in Bloomsburg, PA, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,046, while out-of-state students pay about $22,870.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in University Park, PA. About 34% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,356.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.