Top 2022 Colleges in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's 354 Colleges and Universities

Many colleges in Pennsylvania are located in major cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania has many types of schools from specialized art schools to large research universities. Let’s look at some NCES stats about the Keystone state:

  • Pennsylvania is home to 166 four year college. 27% of them are public state universities.
  • There are 188 two year or less colleges. 30% of which are public community colleges.
  • Over the past 5 years, Pennsylvania has seen a small 7.7% drop in students. In 2017, 717,289 students were enrolled in college.
  • In total, 165,658 degrees were awarded for the 2016 - 2017 school year. Thus, about 56% of those awards were bachelor's degrees.

Salary Breakdown

According to the College Scorecard alums from Univeristy of Pennsylvania earn the highest average salary. 10 years after graduating, the average salary is over $150,000. Meanwhile, the 2017 mean annual wage in Pennsylvania is $50,030. You do the math!

Pennsylvania's Tuition Program

Pennsylvania offers a 529 savings plan you can invest in called PA 529. This plan covers college expenses in Pennsylvania such as tuition, books, fees, room and board. PA 529 has two investment plans that you can choose from. There are several tax advantages with a 529 savings plan. For example, your investments grow tax free over the years.

Also, you pay no income tax on qualified withdrawals. Tax deductions range from $15,000 to $30,000 based on your filing status. Many other states such as New Jersey have their own 529 savings plan. It's a great way to invest and save money for colleges in Pennsylvania.

Top Colleges in Pennsylvania

Top Pennsylvania colleges ranked by total number of students.

#1
Pennsylvania State University, University Park PA
46,810
Total Number of Students
$14,138 / $30,862
Tuition & Fees
50%
Acceptance Rate
#2
Temple University, Philadelphia PA
39,740
Total Number of Students
$16,970 / $29,066
Tuition & Fees
57%
Acceptance Rate
#3
28,673
Total Number of Students
$19,080 / $32,052
Tuition & Fees
60%
Acceptance Rate
#4
25,860
Total Number of Students
$55,584
Tuition & Fees
9%
Acceptance Rate
#5
Drexel University, Philadelphia PA
26,634
Total Number of Students
$53,244
Tuition & Fees
72%
Acceptance Rate

All Colleges in Pennsylvania

Thousands of students have rated these colleges in Pennsylvania. Discover what they have to say. Find out about campus life, academics and more!

Source for school statistics and data is the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.