Colleges in Pennsylvania

More than 100 four-year, degree-granting institutions for which U.S. News has information are located throughout Pennsylvania, including a mix of large research universities, midsize colleges, small liberal arts schools and several specialty schools. Among the specialty schools in Pennsylvania are art schools, seminaries and health sciences institutions. Many colleges and universities in Pennsylvania are located in the major cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, the latter being the fifth-largest city in the U.S. Dozens of top colleges and universities in Pennsylvania are publicly funded, including Pennsylvania State University–University Park, one of the largest universities in the U.S. with more than 39,000 undergraduate students.

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Dickinson College

Carlisle, PA
#41 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)

Only a few days after the Revolutionary War came to a close, Dickinson College was chartered in Carlisle, Pa. Today, Dickinson students have more than 130 student clubs and organizations to choose from, including about a dozen fraternities and sororities. About a quarter of all students join a Greek organization. The Dickinson Red Devils compete in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference, and the school has a particularly competitive rivalry with Franklin and Marshall College in nearby Lancaster, Pa. Intramural sports, like sand volleyball and badminton, are a popular draw for students, too. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors and some seniors must live on campus, though housing options differ by class standing. First-year students are assigned to dormitories; sophomores and juniors live in suites; and seniors can either move into campus apartments or apply to move off campus. Freshmen also have the option to register for a learning community, a group of students with a similar interest who live and take at least two of the same classes together.
The campus town of Carlisle is a historic community of 20,000 residents. To get around town, students may rent from a small fleet of college-owned, red bicycles. The campus is 25 miles away from the state’s capital, Harrisburg; 95 miles from Baltimore; and 125 miles from Philadelphia. For a semester or a year away from Carlisle, students can choose from more than 40 study abroad programs, many of which are led by Dickinson faculty. more

$51,180 Tuition and Fees
2,420 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Arcadia University

Glenside, PA
#42 in Regional Universities North (tie)

A private school in eastern Pennsylvania, Arcadia University offers small class sizes and many study abroad opportunities. On campus, students can check out more than 90 clubs and the Grey Towers Castle, which has been declared a National Historic Landmark. more

$40,920 Tuition and Fees
2,640 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA
#44 in National Universities (tie)

Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, Pa., 50 miles north of Philadelphia and 75 miles west of New York City. The Lehigh Mountain Hawks are members of the Patriot League, and compete in 25 NCAA Division I sports. Their biggest athletic rivalry is Lafayette College, located less than 20 miles away. A third of the student body is involved in fraternities and sororities. All freshmen are required to live on campus, and sophomores are also required to live on campus in a residence hall or Greek housing. Lehigh’s main campus is located on the wooded slope of South Mountain, and half of the campus is preserved as open space. more

$48,320 Tuition and Fees
5,075 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Misericordia University

Dallas, PA
#44 in Regional Universities North (tie)

Founded in 1924, Misericordia University is a private institution. Misericordia University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective. more

$30,740 Tuition and Fees
2,400 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Seton Hill University

Greensburg, PA
#44 in Regional Universities North (tie)

Founded in 1883, Seton Hill University is a private institution. The school has 55.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Seton Hill University is 14:1. more

$32,420 Tuition and Fees
1,620 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster, PA
#47 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)

More than 200 years ago, Benjamin Franklin donated 200 English pounds to start the school now known as Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. These days, the institution is a well-regarded liberal arts college home to top-notch research and innovative student programming. One unique component of life as an F&M student is the "Harry Potter"-esque living situation. All first-year students are assigned to one of five college houses, known as Bonchek, Brooks, Weis, New and Ware. Each house is overseen by faculty members called dons and prefects. In each College House, students live together, share meals and plan and attend events. First-year students must live in their college house. Sophomores, juniors and seniors can choose to as well. In addition to activities through the college houses, students can choose from more than 100 clubs and organizations, including nearly a dozen fraternities and sororities. The Greek system draws more males than females; about 30 percent of men join, compared to about 35 percent of women. The F&M Diplomats sports teams are members of the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference and are especially competitive in men’s basketball and women’s lacrosse. Academic and extracurricular life stops each Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. for Common Hour, a small window of time for students and faculty to attend a campuswide lecture, movie snippet or event.
The tree-lined campus is in walking distance of downtown Lancaster’s main attractions. Stores and restaurants stay open late for First Friday, a lively celebration at the end of the first week of each month. On Third Fridays, art galleries and performance centers typically host shows. Students can also check out a Barnstormers game at the city’s baseball stadium or shop for groceries and crafts in Central Market, the country’s oldest continually operating farmer’s market. For a more metropolitan experience, Philadelphia is about 1.5 hours away. more

$52,290 Tuition and Fees
2,249 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Pennsylvania State University--University Park

University Park, PA
#50 in National Universities (tie)

There is rarely a dull moment on the Pennsylvania State University—University Park campus, also known as Happy Valley. With around 950 clubs and organizations, there are broad opportunities to get involved in campus life. The school mascot is the Nittany Lion, and teams compete in the Division I Big 10 Conference. The football team plays in Beaver Stadium, which is one of the largest arenas in North America with room for more than 107,000 fans. Penn State is home to a thriving Greek system with nearly 90 sororities and fraternities. About 15,000 students volunteer in THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Students raise money for pediatric cancer research and awareness throughout the year and participate in a 46-hour dance marathon - no sitting or sleeping allowed. Freshmen must live in one of five housing areas on campus. Across the street from campus is State College, a bustling small town with an array of coffee shops, restaurants, shops and bars populated mostly by students. Surrounded by mountains, the school is also close to skiing, snowboarding and hiking opportunities. more

$32,382 (out-of-state), $17,900 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
40,742 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Villanova University

Villanova, PA
#50 in National Universities (tie)

Named for the Spanish Augustinian St. Thomas of Villanova, the university is still affiliated with the Augustinian Order. Located just outside Philadelphia, Villanova has five schools, four of which serve undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate programs include those in the School of Business and School of Law. Students can join a variety of student organizations, such as the Blue Key Society, which gives admissions tours and hosts prospective student days, and Rays of Sunshine, the student community service office. They can also participate in about two dozen fraternities and sororities. The Villanova Wildcats – known for their successful men's basketball program – mainly compete in the NCAA Division I Big East Conference. Incoming freshmen are guaranteed housing for their first three years. Villanova is also home to the famous Liberty Bell's twin, known as the "Sister Bell." more

$49,280 Tuition and Fees
6,994 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Gannon University

Erie, PA
#51 in Regional Universities North (tie)

Located in northwestern Pennsylvania, Gannon University upholds its Catholic mission through both the Campus Ministry and the Center for Social Concerns, which coordinates community service projects. Gannon students can also join Division II sports teams and Greek life. more

$30,042 Tuition and Fees
3,115 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Gettysburg College

Gettysburg, PA
#51 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)

Thirty years before gunshots would ring across campus, the school now known as Gettysburg College was founded in Pennsylvania. The school is adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park, site of a pivotal Civil War matchup between the Union and Confederate armies and where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address. Today, the town of Gettysburg is a popular tourist landmark, so students at Gettysburg College have plenty of dining, shopping and entertainment options to check out. On campus, there are about 120 student clubs and organizations, and Gettysburg has nearly 20 fraternities and sororities, which more than 40 percent of students join. Freshmen must live on campus, and will be assigned a room near others in the same First-Year Seminar or writing course. Ninety percent of all students opt to live on campus, and sophomores, juniors and seniors are assigned housing through a lottery system. Living on campus puts students in close proximity to The Attic, the school’s night club.
Athletes play on the Gettysburg Bullets in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference. For a different kind of workout, students can go on hiking, kayaking and climbing trips run through Gettysburg Recreational Activity Board. GRAB, as it is known for short, also coordinates student- and faculty-led expedition trips around the world, including sea kayaking in Alaska and hiking the Austrian Alps. GRAB trips are open to Gettysburg students, alumni, parents of students and faculty members. For closer trips from campus, students can get to Baltimore in an hour, Washington in an hour and a half and Philadelphia in two hours. more

$50,860 Tuition and Fees
2,454 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more