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 | 9989 | 4.92 | 1,510 – 1,580 | 23570 | 79800 |
#1
University of Pennsylvania
|
| 2 | Swarthmore College | 1631 | 7.52 | 1,490 – 1,560 | 22469 | 56000 |
#2
Swarthmore College
|
| 3 | Curtis Institute of Music | 109 | 4.4 | -- | 23686 | 40000 |
Curtis Institute of Music
|
| 4 | Carnegie Mellon University | 7728 | 11.07 | 1,500 – 1,570 | 35552 | 79700 |
Carnegie Mellon University
|
| 5 | Villanova University | 6933 | 28.14 | 1,410 – 1,510 | 37201 | 67500 |
Villanova University
|
| 6 | Haverford College | 1420 | 13.31 | 1,460 – 1,550 | 26535 | 53400 |
Haverford College
|
| 7 | Lehigh University | 5986 | 28.96 | 1,380 – 1,500 | 34154 | 64700 |
Lehigh University
|
| 8 | Bucknell University | 3928 | 32.2 | 1,330 – 1,470 | 39003 | 61400 |
Bucknell University
|
| 9 | Bryn Mawr College | 1288 | 28.15 | 1,300 – 1,500 | 33221 | 50500 |
Bryn Mawr College
|
| 10 | Lafayette College | 2675 | 31.16 | 1,370 – 1,490 | 38442 | 58800 |
Lafayette College
|
| 11 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | 21388 | 59.45 | 1,300 – 1,460 | 25223 | 58500 |
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
|
| 12 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 42604 | 60.56 | 1,250 – 1,430 | 27889 | 61900 |
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
|
| 13 | Franklin and Marshall College | 1778 | 31.63 | 1,330 – 1,470 | 43987 | 57900 |
Franklin and Marshall College
|
| 14 | Grove City College | 2247 | 66.7 | 1,150 – 1,400 | 25289 | 59900 |
Grove City College
|
| 15 | Muhlenberg College | 1737 | 71.99 | 1,280 – 1,430 | 34739 | 55200 |
Muhlenberg College
|
| 16 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | 4999 | 92.96 | 1,190 – 1,360 | 31205 | 61500 |
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
|
| 17 | University of Scranton | 3689 | 80.06 | 1,170 – 1,330 | 34234 | 59900 |
University of Scranton
|
| 18 | Dickinson College | 2140 | 41.49 | 1,330 – 1,460 | 38483 | 50700 |
Dickinson College
|
| 19 | Drexel University | 12318 | 69.9 | 1,250 – 1,440 | 42801 | 64300 |
#19
Drexel University
|
| 20 | Messiah University | 2722 | 81.07 | 1,130 – 1,360 | 29408 | 53800 |
#20
Messiah University
|
| 21 | Susquehanna University | 2220 | 79.08 | 1,100 – 1,310 | 26444 | 55300 |
#21
Susquehanna University
|
| 22 | Duquesne University | 5382 | 86.39 | 1,190 – 1,360 | 37917 | 59500 |
Duquesne University
|
| 23 | Elizabethtown College | 1935 | 88.92 | 1,110 – 1,320 | 27760 | 59900 |
Elizabethtown College
|
| 24 | Gettysburg College | 2104 | 38.9 | 1,290 – 1,460 | 32769 | 55600 |
Gettysburg College
|
| 25 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | 4047 | 97.6 | 1,120 – 1,320 | 23788 | 63400 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
|
| 26 | Ursinus College | 1378 | 92.85 | 1,220 – 1,390 | 32158 | 54600 |
Ursinus College
|
| 27 | Allegheny College | 1125 | 58.77 | 1,190 – 1,370 | 26420 | 53400 |
Allegheny College
|
| 28 | Thomas Jefferson University | 3772 | 80.98 | 1,170 – 1,340 | 29325 | 67400 |
Thomas Jefferson University
|
| 29 | Juniata College | 1276 | 79.41 | 1,130 – 1,330 | 24580 | 52600 |
Juniata College
|
| 30 | DeSales University | 2172 | 77.09 | 1,100 – 1,270 | 31732 | 63400 |
DeSales University
|
| 31 | Temple University | 21031 | 86.22 | 1,030 – 1,240 | 28088 | 61900 |
Temple University
|
| 32 | Lebanon Valley College | 1834 | 80.8 | 1,140 – 1,310 | 27995 | 60200 |
Lebanon Valley College
|
| 33 | Moravian University | 2125 | 73.66 | 1,080 – 1,290 | 31743 | 58500 |
Moravian University
|
| 34 | Saint Francis University | 2567 | 76.82 | 1,060 – 1,240 | 28326 | 63700 |
Saint Francis University
|
| 35 | Robert Morris University | 4325 | 89.89 | 1,050 – 1,240 | 23933 | 60600 |
Robert Morris University
|
| 36 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 14657 | 75.83 | 1,110 – 1,280 | 22546 | 61300 |
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
|
| 37 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | 7088 | 74.48 | 980 – 1,200 | 18252 | 57400 |
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
|
| 38 | Geneva College | 1299 | 95.56 | 1,020 – 1,270 | 23528 | 57600 |
Geneva College
|
| 39 | Saint Vincent College | 1157 | 78.63 | 1,030 – 1,240 | 23758 | 54300 |
Saint Vincent College
|
| 40 | Moore College of Art and Design | 535 | 56.46 | 1,200 – 1,390 | 43626 | 54600 |
Moore College of Art and Design
|
| 41 | Seton Hill University | 1502 | 79.53 | 1,020 – 1,250 | 23056 | 53000 |
Seton Hill University
|
| 42 | Chatham University | 1555 | 61.96 | 1,080 – 1,320 | 31280 | 61400 |
Chatham University
|
| 43 | Lancaster Bible College Capital Seminary & Graduate School | 1793 | 55.89 | 1,070 – 1,280 | 25940 | 57100 |
Lancaster Bible College Capital Seminary & Graduate School
|
| 44 | Gannon University | 2768 | 74.16 | 1,060 – 1,290 | 23123 | 57700 |
Gannon University
|
| 45 | Marywood University | 1936 | 78.78 | 1,060 – 1,260 | 26217 | 60300 |
Marywood University
|
| 46 | Carlow University | 2303 | 87.68 | 960 – 1,170 | 21002 | 65700 |
Carlow University
|
| 47 | King's College | 1559 | 91.93 | 1,070 – 1,270 | 23689 | 60500 |
King's College
|
| 48 | Immaculata University | 1889 | 86.56 | 1,160 – 1,330 | 24708 | 60900 |
Immaculata University
|
| 49 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 3211 | 95.94 | 1,130 – 1,320 | 23764 | 58800 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
|
| 50 | York College of Pennsylvania | 3369 | 73.74 | 1,030 – 1,280 | 20096 | 56500 |
York College of Pennsylvania
|
| 51 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | 6229 | 89.42 | 1,120 – 1,310 | 22134 | 59400 |
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
|
| 52 | Arcadia University | 2163 | 74.48 | 1,070 – 1,270 | 30037 | 58900 |
Arcadia University
|
| 53 | Mercyhurst University | 2214 | 77.5 | 990 – 1,190 | 25946 | 55100 |
Mercyhurst University
|
| 54 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | 4526 | 100 | -- | 23675 | 59600 |
Pennsylvania College of Technology
|
| 55 | Washington & Jefferson College | 1517 | 80.64 | 1,010 – 1,270 | 22702 | 59700 |
Washington & Jefferson College
|
| 56 | Holy Family University | 2808 | 74.56 | 910 – 1,150 | 14072 | 67700 |
Holy Family University
|
| 57 | Misericordia University | 1721 | 88.71 | 1,060 – 1,230 | 26747 | 61300 |
Misericordia University
|
| 58 | La Salle University | 2368 | 82.33 | 1,050 – 1,270 | 18069 | 63600 |
La Salle University
|
| 59 | Gwynedd Mercy University | 1816 | 91.64 | 1,030 – 1,190 | 27960 | 70500 |
Gwynedd Mercy University
|
| 60 | Westminster College | 1110 | 91.67 | 1,040 – 1,260 | 20394 | 54700 |
Westminster College
|
| 61 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | 5823 | 86.19 | 1,020 – 1,210 | 20551 | 59900 |
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
|
| 62 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | 4371 | 86.5 | 890 – 1,310 | 23772 | 60000 |
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
|
| 63 | Waynesburg University | 1032 | 89.81 | 950 – 1,240 | 18667 | 57600 |
Waynesburg University
|
| 64 | Point Park University | 2498 | 98.4 | 1,030 – 1,250 | 26502 | 55900 |
Point Park University
|
| 65 | Lycoming College | 1014 | 77.02 | 1,080 – 1,300 | 20492 | 58000 |
Lycoming College
|
| 66 | Cedar Crest College | 870 | 84.07 | 1,000 – 1,230 | 23691 | 64300 |
Cedar Crest College
|
| 67 | Wilkes University | 2055 | 93.97 | 1,030 – 1,260 | 28511 | 60800 |
Wilkes University
|
| 68 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | 7425 | 91.47 | 980 – 1,190 | 17626 | 59300 |
#68
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
|
| 69 | Delaware Valley University | 1680 | 92.68 | 1,100 – 1,320 | 28975 | 57400 |
Delaware Valley University
|
| 70 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto | 586 | 95.77 | 980 – 1,300 | 19675 | 63200 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto
|
| 71 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly | 352 | 89.9 | 1,060 – 1,350 | 15112 | 66500 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly
|
| 72 | Alvernia University | 2192 | 58.06 | 1,100 – 1,290 | 28645 | 60900 |
Alvernia University
|
| 73 | Eastern University | 3053 | 91.01 | 1,020 – 1,190 | 27422 | 59600 |
Eastern University
|
| 74 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton | 739 | 94.69 | 1,070 – 1,310 | 17536 | 65400 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
|
| 75 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver | 475 | 94.18 | 1,100 – 1,290 | 18581 | 67200 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver
|
| 76 | Widener University | 2975 | 70.93 | 1,080 – 1,290 | 26778 | 62300 | |
| 77 | Cairn University-Langhorne | 736 | 92.19 | 1,000 – 1,160 | 23273 | 54900 |
Cairn University-Langhorne
|
| 78 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington | 384 | 87.39 | 1,080 – 1,360 | 19504 | 66900 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington
|
| 79 | Thiel College | 830 | 71.89 | 950 – 1,180 | 22545 | 58500 |
Thiel College
|
| 80 | Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 620 | 100 | -- | 14207 | 61100 |
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
|
| 81 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois | 375 | 93.19 | 1,100 – 1,270 | 17880 | 68000 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois
|
| 82 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks | 1709 | 96.53 | 1,090 – 1,280 | 23721 | 66300 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
|
| 83 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 5130 | 86.45 | 1,010 – 1,180 | 18610 | 61200 |
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
|
| 84 | Pennsylvania State University-World Campus | 8051 | 91.17 | 1,120 – 1,350 | 19314 | 63900 |
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
|
| 85 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill | 653 | 79.72 | 1,020 – 1,230 | 19039 | 64700 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill
|
| 86 | University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg | 1312 | 92.98 | 1,050 – 1,260 | 18365 | 65400 |
University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg
|
| 87 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley | 898 | 95.24 | 1,110 – 1,340 | 19066 | 66800 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
|
| 88 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny | 308 | 90.53 | 1,080 – 1,280 | 15574 | 67900 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny
|
| 89 | University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | 1094 | 89.17 | 1,020 – 1,210 | 15830 | 65200 |
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
|
| 90 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington | 2710 | 93.74 | 1,080 – 1,270 | 19232 | 64000 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington
|
| 91 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton | 504 | 90.95 | 1,090 – 1,290 | 17512 | 67100 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton
|
| 92 | Wilson College | 1379 | 92.11 | 930 – 1,180 | 21748 | 59600 |
Wilson College
|
| 93 | La Roche University | 1972 | 66.38 | 930 – 1,190 | 24108 | 58400 |
La Roche University
|
| 94 | Albright College | 1210 | 94.08 | 950 – 1,150 | 20587 | 62000 |
Albright College
|
| 95 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York | 625 | 95.22 | 1,060 – 1,260 | 18887 | 66500 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York
|
| 96 | Lincoln University | 1424 | 64.31 | 820 – 960 | 14473 | 58900 |
Lincoln University
|
| 97 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona | 2280 | 96.75 | 1,080 – 1,300 | 21618 | 65600 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
|
| 98 | University of Valley Forge | 503 | 54.68 | 840 – 1,100 | 27083 | 57000 |
University of Valley Forge
|
| 99 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre | 232 | 97.13 | 1,090 – 1,330 | 16621 | 63500 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
|
| 100 | Neumann University | 1579 | 92.9 | 910 – 1,100 | 28469 | 64600 |
Neumann University
|
| 101 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine | 1078 | 96.46 | 1,080 – 1,310 | 22710 | 67500 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine
|
| 102 | Central Penn College | 671 | 18.46 | 660 – 910 | 17263 | 62900 |
Central Penn College
|
| 103 | Chestnut Hill College | 868 | 74.46 | 900 – 1,090 | 28588 | 62100 |
#103
Chestnut Hill College
|
| 104 | Harrisburg University of Science and Technology | 707 | 87.35 | -- | 15984 | 61800 |
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
|
| 105 | University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | 1829 | 94.5 | 990 – 1,230 | 18452 | 61700 | |
| 106 | Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 111 | 90.03 | 1,060 – 1,300 | 20728 | 55600 |
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
|
| 107 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango | 264 | 89.86 | 960 – 1,070 | 18383 | 63200 |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango
|
| 108 | Keystone College | 676 | 73.85 | 910 – 1,130 | 21952 | 57300 |
Keystone College
|
| 109 | Manor College | 569 | 94.86 | 730 – 940 | 13684 | 60900 |
#109
Manor College
|
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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