These are the best colleges in PA, new report says. See which schools came out on top
Where can you find the best colleges and universities in Pennsylvania? You might get a better idea by browsing the latest rankings published by Niche, a website offering data and ratings on K-12 schools and colleges across the U.S.
Niche annually develops its rankings using user-generated reviews and data from sources such as the U.S. Department of Education and the National Center for Education Statistics. The Pittsburgh-headquartered school search platform ranks colleges through the following major categories:
- An academics grade, which is based on acceptance rate, quality of professors and student and alumni surveys on academics
- A value grade, which incorporates average loan amounts, alumni earnings and student surveys on value
- A professors grade, which evaluates the number of awards won by faculty, the student-to-faculty ratio and student surveys on professor quality
Colleges and universities are also graded on their campuses, diversity, student life, local areas, safety and student surveys on overall experience.
In total, Niche breaks down its overall grades for colleges and universities using the following overarching segments and weights:
- Academics grade: 40%
- Value grade: 27.5%
- Professors grade: 7.5%
- Campus grade: 5%
- Diversity grade: 5%
- Student life grade: 5%
- Student surveys on overall experience: 5%
- Local area grade: 2.5%
- Safety grade: 2.5%
Some schools are not included in Niche rankings if they are missing significant data points the platform would use to compile each year’s report, according to the website’s methodology report. Colleges and universities that meet all required factors and instruct 500 or more full-time undergraduate students are considered eligible for a Niche-provided grade and numerical ranking.
Penn State, whose flagship campus sits in Centre County, checked in as the No. 9 university in Pennsylvania for 2025. The university received an overall “A” grade and received high praise for its academics, campus and diversity. Its lowest grade was a B- for value, perhaps as tuition remains on the rise, even for in-state students.
Elsewhere, two Pennsylvania universities landed on Niche’s 2025 Best Colleges in America rankings. The University of Pennsylvania checked in at No. 6 overall, while Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh followed behind at No. 23.
Niche released its full ratings and rankings for the 2025 academic year in August, and the top 25 schools all received at least an overall “B” grade. Here’s a brief look at how the top-ranked performing schools compare this year.
25. Allegheny College
Location: Meadville, Pa.
Grades: B overall, B+ academics, B value, A- diversity, C campus, C+ athletics, B+ party scene, A- professors, C- location, C+ dorms, C campus food, B- student life and C+ safety
Up in northwestern Pennsylvania, this college ranks as the No. 9 liberal arts college in the Keystone State, according to Niche. Allegheny College boasts a 70% acceptance rate, instructs 1,153 students and has an overall net price of $26,719 per year, which Niche considers the average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship money.
24. West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Location: West Chester, Pa.
Grades: B overall, B academics, B+ value, B diversity, B campus, B athletics, A party scene, B professors, B+ location, B dorms, C+ campus food, A- student life and B safety
Roughly 12,586 undergraduate students study at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, which Niche ranked the No. 5 public university in the commonwealth. The school offers an 88% acceptance rate and an overall net price of about $22,973 annually.
23. Marywood University
Location: Scranton, Pa.
Grades: B overall, B academics, B+ value, B- diversity, B campus, C athletics, C party scene, B professors, A- location, B+ dorms, C+ campus food, B- student life and B+ safety
Considered the 48th-best Catholic college in the U.S., Marywood University offers rolling admission and instructs a student body of about 1,710 undergraduates. The school offers an 81% acceptance rate and a net price of about $22,504 per year, according to Niche data.
22. Duquesne University
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: B overall, B academics, B value, B diversity, B campus, B+ athletics, B party scene, B+ professors, A+ location, C+ dorms, C+ campus food, A- student life and B safety
This private Catholic university is located in the heart of Pittsburgh and instructs about 5,016 undergraduate students while offering an 88% acceptance rate, Niche reports. The platform estimates a net price of about $33,919 each year for students who attend Duquesne.
21. Saint Francis University
Location: Loretto, Pa.
Grades: B overall, B academics, B+ value, B- diversity, C+ campus, B+ athletics, B- party scene, B+ professors, C location, C dorms, C+ campus food, B student life and A safety
Considered the oldest Catholic-Franciscan college in the U.S., Saint Francis University offers a 73% acceptance rate and instructs about 1,490 undergraduate students. Niche estimates a $27,459 net price tag for each year of study.
20. Slippery Rock University
Location: Slippery Rock, Pa.
Grades: B+ overall, B academics, B+ value, B diversity, B+ campus, B athletics, A- party scene, B professors, C+ location, A dorms, B+ campus food, A- student life and A- safety
This university checks in as the No. 5 public university in Pennsylvania. Slippery Rock instructs about 6,345 undergraduate students and offers a 74% acceptance rate. Niche estimates an annual net price of $17,873 for the school’s students.
19. University of Scranton
Location: Scranton, Pa.
Grades: B+ overall, B academics, B+ value, B diversity, A- campus, C athletics, A- party scene, B professors, B+ location, B+ dorms, A- campus food, A- student life and B safety
Ranked by Niche as the No. 29 Catholic college in the U.S., the University of Scranton instructs more than 3,600 undergraduate students and offers an 84% acceptance rate. The school boasts a net price of about $35,526 per year, Niche estimates.
18. Gettysburg College
Location: Gettysburg, Pa.
Grades: B+ overall, A- academics, B value, A- diversity, B- campus, C+ athletics, A- party scene, B professors, B- location, B- dorms, A- campus food, B student life and B- safety
This smaller liberal arts college offers a 56% acceptance rate and instructs a student body of about 2,300 undergraduate students. Niche estimates a net price of about $33,882 per year at Gettysburg College.
17. Muhlenberg College
Location: Allentown, Pa.
Grades: B+ overall, B+ academics, B+ value, B+ diversity, A- campus, C+ athletics, B party scene, B- professors, B location, A- dorms, A campus food, B student life and B- safety
Roughly 1,747 full-time undergraduate students study at this private liberal arts college in northeastern Pennsylvania. Muhlenberg offers a 66% acceptance rate and a net price of about $32,926 year per, Niche reports.
16. Dickinson College
Location: Carlisle, Pa.
Grades: B+ overall, A academics, B+ value, A diversity, C campus, C athletics, C+ party scene, B+ professors, B- location, C dorms, D+ campus food, C- student life and C+ safety
You’ll find just a 35% acceptance rate at this school, which instructs roughly 2,100 undergraduate students. Dickinson, ranked the No. 6 liberal arts college in Pennsylvania, offers a net price of about $37,610 per year.
15. Saint Joseph’s University
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.
Grades: B+ overall, B+ academics, B+ value, A- diversity, B- campus, B+ athletics, B+ party scene, A- professors, A- location, B- dorms, C- campus food, A- student life and B+ safety
Yet another Catholic college, Saint Joseph’s offers an 89% acceptance rate and instructs about 4,600 undergraduate students. Niche estimates the school costs a net price of about $33,777 per year.
14. Thomas Jefferson University
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.
Grades: A- overall, B+ academics, A- value, A diversity, B- campus, C+ athletics, C party scene, A professors, B+ location, C+ dorms, C+ campus food, C+ student life and A safety
This private research university officially combined with the former Philadelphia University in 2017. Today, Thomas Jefferson University offers an 89% acceptance rate, instructs about 3,334 undergraduate students and costs about $28,110 per year, according to Niche’s net price estimate.
13. Bryn Mawr College
Location: Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Grades: A- overall, A academics, C value, A diversity, B campus, B- party scene, B+ professors, A- location, A- dorms, B+ campus food, A- student life and B+ safety
Considered one of the best women’s colleges in the country, Bryn Mawr College instructs roughly 1,400 undergraduate students. The school boasts a net price of about $39,072 per year and offers a 31% acceptance rate.
12. Lafayette College
Location: Easton, Pa.
Grades: A- overall, A academics, B value, A diversity, C+ campus, B+ athletics, B+ party scene, B+ professors, B+ location, C+ dorms, C campus food, B+ student life and B safety
Out in eastern Pennsylvania, Lafayette College instructs about 2,700 full-time undergraduate students and offers a 34% acceptance rate, Niche reports. The school’s annual net price is about $37,186, according to Niche estimates.
11. Temple University
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.
Grades: A- overall, A- academics, B value, A diversity, B+ campus, A athletics, A+ party scene, A professors, B location, B+ dorms, A- campus food, A+ student life and B- safety
This Philadelphia school is considered the No. 3 public university in Pennsylvania. Roughly 22,026 undergraduate students study at Temple, which offers an 80% acceptance rate and an annual net price of about $23,935, according to Niche estimates.
10. Bucknell University
Location: Lewisburg, Pa.
Grades: A- overall, A academics, B value, B+ diversity, B campus, B+ athletics, A- party scene, A- professors, B- location, B dorms, B- campus food, A- student life and B safety
You’ll find a 33% acceptance rate at Bucknell University, which instructs about 3,733 full-time undergraduate students. Niche estimates a high nest price of about $39,965 per year.
9. Penn State
Location: University Park, Pa.
Grades: A overall, A academics, B- value, A diversity, A campus, A+ athletics, A+ party scene, A- professors, A- location, B+ dorms, A campus food, A+ student life and B+ safety
Pennsylvania’s premier land-grant university offers a 55% acceptance rate for applicants. Penn State’s flagship campus instructs more than 40,000 full-time undergraduate students and boasts a net price of about $26,747 per year, according to Niche estimates.
8. Drexel University
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.
Grades: A overall, A academics, A- value, A+ diversity, B- campus, B+ athletics, B+ party scene, A+ professors, A+ location, C- dorms, C+ campus food, A student life and B- safety
This Philadelphia school is known for its renowned engineering programs. According to Niche, Drexel University offers an 80% acceptance rate, instructs about 12,500 full-time undergraduate students and costs about $39,267 per year, estimates say.
7. University of Pittsburgh
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A overall, A+ academics, B value, A diversity, A- campus, A athletics, A+ party scene, A+ professors, A+ location, B+ dorms, C+ campus food, A+ student life and B safety
Considered the top public university in Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh offers a 49% acceptance rate and instructs about 19,300 full-time undergraduate students. Niche estimates an annual net price of about $24,286.
6. Haverford College
Location: Haverford, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A- value, A+ diversity, B- campus, B- athletics, B+ party scene, A- professors, A- location, B dorms, C+ campus food, A- student life and B safety
Haverford College ranks as the No. 12 liberal arts college across the U.S. According to Niche, the school holds an acceptance rate of just 14% while instructing about 1,419 full-time undergraduate students and offering a net price of about $23,476 per year.
5. Villanova University
Location: Villanova, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A- value, B+ diversity, B campus, A+ athletics, A- party scene, A professors, A- location, B dorms, C+ campus food, A student life and B- safety
This private Catholic university is located just outside of Philadelphia. The school instructs about 7,100 undergraduate students while offering a 23% acceptance rate and a net price of about $34,837 per year.
4. Lehigh University
Location: Bethlehem, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A value, A diversity, B campus, B+ athletics, A party scene, A professors, B- location, B+ dorms, B campus food, A student life and B- safety
Lehigh University accepts roughly 37% of its applicants and instructs about 5,624 full-time undergraduate students. Niche estimates the school offers a net price of about $30,453 per yet.
3. Swarthmore College
Location: Swarthmore, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A value, A+ diversity, B campus, B- athletics, B- party scene, A professors, A- location, A- dorms, C+ campus food, A- student life and B safety
This strongly competitive liberal arts college accepts just about 7% of its applicants, according to Niche estimates. Swarthmore College instructs roughly 1,625 undergraduate students and offers a net price of about $20,715 per year.
2. Carnegie Mellon University
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A value, A+ diversity, B campus, C athletics, B party scene, A+ professors, A location, B- dorms, B- campus food, A student life and B+ safety
Just about 11% of all applicants are accepted to Carnegie Mellon University, which instructs nearly 7,000 full-time undergraduate students. Niche estimates the school offers a net price of about $33,499 per year.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.
Grades: A+ overall, A+ academics, A+ value, A+ diversity, A- campus, B+ athletics, A party scene, A+ professors, A+ location, A- dorms, C+ campus food, A+ student life and B+ safety
Not to be confused with Penn State, the University of Pennsylvania ranks as the best college for business programs in the U.S. According to Niche, the Ivy League school accepts about 7% of its applicants and instructs roughly 10,412 full-time undergraduate students. Penn requires a net price of about $26,123 per year, Niche estimates.
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