The Top 50 Best Colleges in the US is College Raptor’s most prestigious rankings list. Updated annually, these schools are celebrated for their rich histories, stunning campuses, excellent academics, and vibrant student life. The institutions on this list are known for both academic excellence and impressive extracurricular opportunities, making them “dream schools” for students around the world. Use these rankings as a jumping-off point for you to create your own personalized rankings using our college match tool.
Each of these rankings is based on an analysis of data about the school’s selectivity, financial health, graduation rates, student success, and more. We’ve outlined our full methodology here.
| Rank | Institution | Undergraduates | Acceptance Rate | SAT Score | Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price | Median Starting Salary | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pennsylvania | 10013 | 5.4 | 1,500 – 1,570 | 26017 | 90555 |
#1
University of Pennsylvania
|
| 2 | Swarthmore College | 1623 | 7.46 | 1,490 – 1,560 | 17930 | 56211 |
#2
Swarthmore College
|
| 3 | Carnegie Mellon University | 7824 | 11.66 | 1,500 – 1,570 | 32964 | 105360 |
#3
Carnegie Mellon University
|
| 4 | Haverford College | 1431 | 12.37 | 1,460 – 1,550 | 22828 | 53353 |
#4
Haverford College
|
| 5 | Villanova University | 7006 | 26.98 | 1,410 – 1,510 | 37946 | 84905 |
#5
Villanova University
|
| 6 | Grove City College | 2341 | 72.32 | 1,150 – 1,370 | 24184 | 63721 |
Grove City College
|
| 7 | Bucknell University | 3920 | 28.93 | 1,180 – 1,400 | 38486 | 78852 |
Bucknell University
|
| 8 | Lafayette College | 2775 | 31.45 | 1,370 – 1,490 | 34728 | 80614 |
Lafayette College
|
| 9 | Lehigh University | 5911 | 25.93 | 1,380 – 1,500 | 33289 | 88810 |
Lehigh University
|
| 10 | Bryn Mawr College | 1368 | 29.43 | 1,300 – 1,500 | 39383 | 53102 |
#10
Bryn Mawr College
|
| 11 | Gettysburg College | 2104 | 38.9 | 1,240 – 1,460 | 35729 | 57274 |
Gettysburg College
|
| 12 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | 20418 | 58.08 | 1,300 – 1,460 | 24338 | 54240 |
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
|
| 13 | Dickinson College | 2311 | 42.09 | 1,340 – 1,460 | 40242 | 57110 |
Dickinson College
|
| 14 | Franklin and Marshall College | 1808 | 28.19 | 1,330 – 1,470 | 37475 | 62544 |
Franklin and Marshall College
|
| 15 | Muhlenberg College | 1788 | 64.01 | 1,250 – 1,400 | 31814 | 53265 |
Muhlenberg College
|
| 16 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 42604 | 60.56 | 1,250 – 1,430 | 27450 | 55620 |
#16
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
|
| 17 | Saint Joseph's University | 4828 | 86.39 | 1,140 – 1,330 | 36392 | 66438 |
#17
Saint Joseph's University
|
| 18 | University of Scranton | 3613 | 81.2 | 1,160 – 1,280 | 32100 | 62921 |
#18
University of Scranton
|
| 19 | Duquesne University | 5371 | 83.56 | 1,180 – 1,360 | 35125 | 62627 |
Duquesne University
|
| 20 | Messiah University | 2618 | 78.97 | 1,130 – 1,360 | 29882 | 50192 |
#20
Messiah University
|
| 21 | Allegheny College | 1171 | 54.52 | 1,180 – 1,360 | 27929 | 45603 |
Allegheny College
|
| 22 | Ursinus College | 1502 | 91.77 | 1,220 – 1,390 | 31625 | 54542 |
#22
Ursinus College
|
| 23 | Geneva College | 1147 | 80.35 | 1,000 – 1,220 | 22145 | 46107 |
Geneva College
|
| 24 | Elizabethtown College | 1903 | 77.87 | 1,110 – 1,320 | 27019 | 54833 |
Elizabethtown College
|
| 25 | Washington & Jefferson College | 1306 | 80.64 | 1,040 – 1,280 | 26051 | 52082 |
Washington & Jefferson College
|
| 26 | Saint Francis University | 2450 | 79.16 | 1,050 – 1,250 | 27421 | 56920 |
Saint Francis University
|
| 27 | Juniata College | 1242 | 78.91 | 1,080 – 1,310 | 28925 | 48571 |
Juniata College
|
| 28 | Saint Vincent College | 1284 | 61.73 | -- | 23857 | 47267 |
Saint Vincent College
|
| 29 | Drexel University | 13169 | 79.44 | 1,250 – 1,440 | 42342 | 69063 |
Drexel University
|
| 30 | Temple University | 21428 | 80.45 | 1,130 – 1,370 | 29641 | 50860 |
Temple University
|
| 31 | Thomas Jefferson University | 3772 | 80.98 | 1,170 – 1,340 | 29097 | 64335 |
Thomas Jefferson University
|
| 32 | Westminster College | 1136 | 92.56 | 1,130 – 1,250 | 21089 | 43938 |
Westminster College
|
| 33 | Lebanon Valley College | 1720 | 83.77 | 1,140 – 1,310 | 28640 | 54021 |
Lebanon Valley College
|
| 34 | Moravian University | 1992 | 54.17 | 1,080 – 1,290 | 30720 | 53471 |
#34
Moravian University
|
| 35 | Misericordia University | 1721 | 88.71 | 1,090 – 1,260 | 25090 | 55910 |
Misericordia University
|
| 36 | Curtis Institute of Music | 106 | 6.95 | -- | 21615 | 31201 | |
| 37 | DeSales University | 2172 | 77.09 | 1,090 – 1,260 | 30524 | 52721 |
DeSales University
|
| 38 | Marywood University | 1834 | 60.58 | 1,070 – 1,250 | 24712 | 47000 |
Marywood University
|
| 39 | Susquehanna University | 2185 | 78.71 | 1,100 – 1,310 | 27258 | 51535 |
Susquehanna University
|
| 40 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 14449 | 78.16 | 1,110 – 1,280 | 21684 | 51013 |
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
|
| 41 | Robert Morris University | 3769 | 90.57 | 1,080 – 1,280 | 26215 | 54449 |
Robert Morris University
|
| 42 | University of the Arts | 1072 | 78.2 | 930 – 1,170 | 44510 | 27011 |
University of the Arts
|
| 43 | Lycoming College | 807 | 74.07 | 1,080 – 1,300 | 20733 | 43713 |
Lycoming College
|
| 44 | Immaculata University | 1652 | 85.78 | 1,160 – 1,330 | 29499 | 56416 |
Immaculata University
|
| 45 | Arcadia University | 2030 | 80.22 | 1,090 – 1,280 | 26994 | 44004 |
Arcadia University
|
| 46 | Widener University | 2811 | 84.02 | 1,050 – 1,260 | 30720 | 63375 |
Widener University
|
| 47 | King's College | 1568 | 93.05 | 1,080 – 1,280 | 25608 | 51734 |
King's College
|
| 48 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | 6853 | 71.47 | 980 – 1,200 | 18407 | 45398 |
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
|
| 49 | Chatham University | 1555 | 61.96 | 1,080 – 1,320 | 29051 | 48709 |
Chatham University
|
| 50 | Moore College of Art and Design | 390 | 60.51 | 1,070 – 1,270 | 44371 | 30512 |
Moore College of Art and Design
|
| 51 | Seton Hill University | 1597 | 75.79 | 1,050 – 1,250 | 23732 | 43700 |
Seton Hill University
|
| 52 | Mercyhurst University | 2274 | 81.02 | 1,080 – 1,300 | 26962 | 39565 |
Mercyhurst University
|
| 53 | Gwynedd Mercy University | 1301 | 89.63 | 1,040 – 1,190 | 26733 | 65976 |
Gwynedd Mercy University
|
| 54 | Cairn University-Langhorne | 846 | 88.17 | 1,000 – 1,160 | 27603 | 37077 |
Cairn University-Langhorne
|
| 55 | York College of Pennsylvania | 3308 | 94.2 | 1,030 – 1,240 | 21036 | 50940 |
York College of Pennsylvania
|
| 56 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 3244 | 96.83 | 1,130 – 1,320 | 20964 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
|
| 57 | Cedar Crest College | 886 | 99.13 | 980 – 1,210 | 23036 | 48295 |
#57
Cedar Crest College
|
| 58 | Waynesburg University | 1088 | 91.69 | 980 – 1,220 | 22837 | 48994 |
Waynesburg University
|
| 59 | Gannon University | 2768 | 74.16 | 1,060 – 1,290 | 23942 | 55319 |
Gannon University
|
| 60 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | 9967 | 94.75 | 970 – 1,190 | 18004 | 44053 |
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
|
| 61 | Wilkes University | 1956 | 91.46 | 1,030 – 1,280 | 28508 | 54128 |
Wilkes University
|
| 62 | La Salle University | 2675 | 95.52 | 900 – 1,110 | 20119 | 53701 |
La Salle University
|
| 63 | Point Park University | 2337 | 96.91 | 1,030 – 1,260 | 25477 | 36906 | |
| 64 | Holy Family University | 2650 | 71.04 | 910 – 1,150 | 13016 | 55285 |
Holy Family University
|
| 65 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | 4421 | 85.55 | 980 – 1,220 | 23344 | 45010 |
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
|
| 66 | Eastern University | 2500 | 90.96 | 1,020 – 1,190 | 21900 | 41580 |
Eastern University
|
| 67 | Alvernia University | 2050 | 62.32 | 980 – 1,140 | 26166 | 49938 |
Alvernia University
|
| 68 | Lancaster Bible College Capital Seminary & Graduate School | 1778 | 95.19 | 1,010 – 1,220 | 22872 | 36747 |
Lancaster Bible College Capital Seminary & Graduate School
|
| 69 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | 5823 | 86.19 | 1,060 – 1,240 | 20860 | 44813 |
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
|
| 70 | Chestnut Hill College | 972 | 79.13 | 900 – 1,090 | 28583 | 45221 |
Chestnut Hill College
|
| 71 | Pennsylvania Western University | 7586 | 94.33 | 960 – 1,180 | 19579 | 38474 |
#71
Pennsylvania Western University
|
| 72 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | 6306 | 90.75 | 1,120 – 1,310 | 21856 | 43309 |
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
|
| 73 | La Roche University | 1986 | 77.61 | 1,060 – 1,240 | 24638 | 45308 |
La Roche University
|
| 74 | Carlow University | 1355 | 86.96 | 980 – 1,180 | 20561 | 44876 |
Carlow University
|
| 75 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus | 7353 | 90.77 | 980 – 1,190 | 17665 | 42278 |
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
|
| 76 | Delaware Valley University | 1768 | 93.26 | 1,090 – 1,270 | 28401 | 41324 |
Delaware Valley University
|
| 77 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly | 405 | 95.47 | 1,120 – 1,250 | 18780 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly
|
| 78 | University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | 1809 | 94.84 | 990 – 1,230 | 17909 | 54240 |
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
|
| 79 | Pennsylvania State University-World Campus | 8012 | 100 | 1,020 – 1,260 | 21171 | 55620 | |
| 80 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | 4047 | 97.6 | 1,120 – 1,320 | 22406 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
|
| 81 | University of Valley Forge | 517 | 61.2 | 930 – 1,190 | 27854 | 35671 |
University of Valley Forge
|
| 82 | Wilson College | 1180 | 95.32 | 960 – 1,120 | 21567 | 37049 |
Wilson College
|
| 83 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 4894 | 85.96 | 1,000 – 1,180 | 15318 | 44290 |
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
|
| 84 | Thiel College | 831 | 71.89 | 950 – 1,180 | 22490 | 40686 |
Thiel College
|
| 85 | Mount Aloysius College | 2942 | 90.4 | 940 – 1,110 | 20570 | 45211 | |
| 86 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton | 800 | 98.56 | 1,100 – 1,270 | 18239 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
|
| 87 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington | 420 | 95.29 | 1,110 – 1,270 | 19294 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington
|
| 88 | Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 246 | 82.91 | 980 – 1,260 | 19204 | 32083 |
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
|
| 89 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre | 315 | 96.99 | 1,100 – 1,330 | 16275 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
|
| 90 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks | 1880 | 98.67 | 1,090 – 1,280 | 22450 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
|
| 91 | Lincoln University | 1545 | 65.72 | 820 – 960 | 12910 | 32865 |
Lincoln University
|
| 92 | Albright College | 1328 | 86.15 | 950 – 1,150 | 22116 | 45391 |
Albright College
|
| 93 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | 4264 | 74.23 | 1,040 – 1,220 | 24650 | 47995 |
Pennsylvania College of Technology
|
| 94 | Neumann University | 1658 | 81.28 | 850 – 1,100 | 29298 | 48556 |
Neumann University
|
| 95 | Pennsylvania College of Art and Design | 414 | 99.24 | -- | 30437 | 23638 |
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
|
| 96 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill | 624 | 96.64 | 1,010 – 1,220 | 20317 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill
|
| 97 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington | 2884 | 96.77 | 1,080 – 1,270 | 17561 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington
|
| 98 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine | 1236 | 98.11 | 1,090 – 1,320 | 21739 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine
|
| 99 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver | 482 | 95.65 | 1,100 – 1,290 | 19329 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver
|
| 100 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley | 866 | 97.37 | 1,130 – 1,320 | 19070 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
|
| 101 | Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia | 120 | 75.51 | -- | 11018 | 53468 |
Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia
|
| 102 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto | 581 | 98.21 | 980 – 1,290 | 20294 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto
|
| 103 | Keystone College | 894 | 84.8 | 900 – 1,170 | 21461 | 36653 |
Keystone College
|
| 104 | Rosemont College | 484 | 74.51 | 980 – 1,190 | 19297 | 40852 |
Rosemont College
|
| 105 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois | 350 | 97.12 | 990 – 1,210 | 18960 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois
|
| 106 | University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg | 1305 | 95.21 | 1,050 – 1,260 | 17196 | 54240 |
University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg
|
| 107 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona | 2371 | 98.08 | 1,080 – 1,300 | 22506 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
|
| 108 | University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | 1002 | 88.98 | 1,020 – 1,210 | 17015 | 54240 |
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
|
| 109 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton | 502 | 96.41 | 1,100 – 1,310 | 19920 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton
|
| 110 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York | 675 | 97.41 | 1,060 – 1,250 | 19159 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York
|
| 111 | Central Penn College | 806 | 29.39 | 660 – 910 | 18681 | 40798 |
Central Penn College
|
| 112 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny | 352 | 96.47 | 1,080 – 1,280 | 14933 | 55620 |
#112
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny
|
| 113 | Clarks Summit University | 345 | 90.1 | 900 – 1,180 | 23070 | 35009 |
Clarks Summit University
|
| 114 | Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 724 | 79.13 | 850 – 1,080 | 8460 | 28568 |
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
|
| 115 | Harrisburg University of Science and Technology | 718 | 81.78 | -- | 14882 | 34365 |
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
|
| 116 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango | 265 | 92.2 | 1,180 – 1,180 | 14895 | 55620 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango
|
| 117 | Peirce College | 790 | 92.16 | -- | 12905 | 41647 |
Peirce College
|
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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