2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania
117
Colleges
$70,950
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.
After analyzing 117 schools in Pennsylvania, we came up with our list of those that offered the highest quality education. 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.
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:
Our analysis found University of Pennsylvania to be the best school for overall quality in Pennsylvania in this year’s ranking. University of Pennsylvania is a large private not-for-profit school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 9,822 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UPenn is $103,246 during the early years of their career.
Full University of Pennsylvania Report
Out of the 117 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Carnegie Mellon University landed the #2 spot on the list. Carnegie Mellon University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that handed out 5,381 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% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon is $99,998 during the early years of their career.
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Out of the 117 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Lehigh University landed the #3 spot on the list. Lehigh is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It awarded 2,158 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Lehigh is $95,033 during the early years of their career.
Full Lehigh University Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Villanova University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list. 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 impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Villanova is $90,613 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Villanova University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Swarthmore College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list. Swarthmore is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. It awarded 481 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student-to-faculty rate of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore is $72,637 during the early years of their career.
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Bucknell University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #6. Bucknell is located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,093 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The 4-year grad rate at the school is 85%. That’s impressive when you compare it to the national rate of 33%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell is $88,154 during the early years of their career.
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Haverford College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list. Haverford is located in Haverford, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 365 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The impressive student-to-faculty rate of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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
Lafayette College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 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.
The student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% 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
University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #9. Pitt is a public institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9,832 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. During the early years of their career, graduates from Pitt make an average of $57,961 a year.
Read full report on University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus
With a ranking of #10, Saint Joseph’s University did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list. St. Joe’s is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,392 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from St. Joe’s is $73,428 during the early years of their career.
Full Saint Joseph’s University Report
Thomas Jefferson University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #11. Thomas Jefferson University is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,771 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, 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 $67,807 during the early years of their career..
Full Thomas Jefferson University Report
Drexel University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. Drexel is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,793 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Drexel go into careers with an average salary of $76,378 during the early years of their career.
Full Drexel University Report
Temple University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. 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.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $56,800 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Temple University
Dickinson College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking.Carlisle, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 627 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. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $69,562 during the early years of their career..
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Gettysburg College did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 717 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $65,926 during the early years of their career..
Full Gettysburg College Report
Muhlenberg College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 662 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, 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 $68,629 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Muhlenberg College
With a ranking of #17, Bryn Mawr College did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list. Located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 475 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Bryn Mawr make an average of $65,774 a year.
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University of Scranton ranked #18 on this year’s Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list. Located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 1,496 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The 4-year grad rate at the school is 77%. That’s impressive when you compare it to the national rate of 33%. During the early years of their career, graduates from University of Scranton make an average of $69,236 a year.
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With a ranking of #19, Franklin and Marshall College did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list. Franklin and Marshall College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania that handed out 699 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. During the early years of their career, graduates from Franklin and Marshall make an average of $72,227 a year.
Full Franklin and Marshall College Report
Duquesne University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #20. Duquesne is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,751 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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
West Chester University of Pennsylvania landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the fairly large public school awarded 4,936 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students 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% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from WCUPA go into careers with an average salary of $53,418 during the early years of their career.
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Arcadia University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. Arcadia is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Glenside, Pennsylvania. 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% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,008 during the early years of their career..
Full Arcadia University Report
Messiah University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking, coming in at #23. Messiah is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 959 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Messiah make an average of $48,883 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Messiah University
Lancaster Bible College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 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.
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With a ranking of #25, Ursinus College did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania list. Ursinus is located in Collegeville, Pennsylvania and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 385 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Ursinus make an average of $66,257 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Ursinus College
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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