Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Pennsylvania
Colleges that compete in NCAA Division I athletics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Pennsylvania15 schools
15 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Pennsylvania.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Competes in NCAA Division I (the school's athletics association, from federal and association data).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 97% graduate
- 2
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 88% graduate
- 3
Villanova University
Villanova, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 92% graduate
- 4
Lafayette College
Easton, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 88% graduate
- 5
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 86% graduate
- 6
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 86% graduate
- 7
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 86% graduate
- 8
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 78% graduate
- 9
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 79% graduate
- 10
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 77% graduate
- 11
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA · PublicTop 14% for graduation
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 75% graduate
- 12
Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 74% graduate
- 13
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 66% graduate
- 14
Mercyhurst University
Erie, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 60% graduate
- 15
La Salle University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 57% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | $28,699 | $15,715 | $111,371 | 97% |
| Lehigh University | $36,931 | $21,960 | $105,584 | 88% |
| Villanova University | $43,756 | $25,874 | $100,423 | 92% |
| Lafayette College | $34,433 | $16,000 | $91,410 | 88% |
| Bucknell University | $40,766 | $27,000 | $93,807 | 86% |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | $30,434 | $24,250 | $66,125 | 86% |
| Pennsylvania State University | $32,875 | $25,000 | $63,435 | 86% |
| Drexel University | $38,509 | $25,325 | $84,648 | 78% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | $29,689 | $25,500 | $86,881 | 79% |
| Duquesne University | $37,730 | $26,244 | $74,742 | 77% |
| Temple University | $28,198 | $24,395 | $63,727 | 75% |
| Saint Francis University | $23,526 | $27,000 | $62,101 | 74% |
| Robert Morris University | $23,003 | $26,950 | $62,105 | 66% |
| Mercyhurst University | $19,444 | $25,305 | $47,452 | 60% |
| La Salle University | $19,409 | $25,000 | $67,416 | 57% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 10
- Arizona 5
- Arkansas 5
- California 26
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 6
- District of Columbia 4
- Florida 14
- Georgia 6
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 13
- Indiana 11
- Iowa 4
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 8
- Louisiana 12
- Maryland 9
- Massachusetts 9
- Michigan 7
- Mississippi 6
- Missouri 6
- Nebraska 3
- New Jersey 8
- New York 23
- North Carolina 19
- Ohio 13
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 4
- Rhode Island 4
- South Carolina 12
- Tennessee 12
- Texas 26
- Utah 7
- Virginia 14
- Washington 5
- Wisconsin 4