Best colleges in the Philadelphia area
Colleges within 40 miles of Philadelphia, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges in the Philadelphia area30 schools
30 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Campus within 40 miles of the center of Philadelphia (straight-line distance from the school’s coordinates).
- 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
- 2
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#1 in New Jersey
- Net price $6,128 a year
- 98% graduate
- 3
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Net price $28,699 a year
- 97% graduate
- 4
Haverford College
Haverford, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $25,314 a year
- 90% graduate
- 5
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $23,149 a year
- 92% graduate
- 6
Villanova University
Villanova, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- Net price $43,756 a year
- 92% graduate
- 7
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $31,759 a year
- 82% graduate
- 8
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ · PublicTop 7% for graduation
- Net price $27,646 a year
- 86% graduate
- 9
- 10
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- Net price $38,509 a year
- 78% graduate
- 11
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- Net price $29,689 a year
- 79% graduate
- 12
Ursinus College
Collegeville, PA · Private nonprofitTop 12% for earnings
- Net price $30,536 a year
- 73% graduate
- 13
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for earnings
- Net price $28,928 a year
- 69% graduate
- 14
Immaculata University
Immaculata, PA · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- Net price $24,258 a year
- 71% graduate
- 15
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Net price $18,745 a year
- 67% graduate
- 16
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA · PublicTop 14% for graduation
- Net price $28,198 a year
- 75% graduate
- 17
- 18
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, PA · PublicTop 20% for graduation
- Net price $23,331 a year
- 71% graduate
- 19
Widener University
Chester, PA · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Net price $25,759 a year
- 68% graduate
- 20
Walnut Hill College
Philadelphia, PA · Private for-profitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Net price $32,351 a year
- 58% graduate
- 21
Moore College of Art and Design
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Net price $43,086 a year
- 57% graduate
- 22
Arcadia University
Glenside, PA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Net price $29,466 a year
- 67% graduate
- 23
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- Net price $24,792 a year
- 61% graduate
- 24
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
Bryn Athyn, PA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Net price $20,586 a year
- 68% graduate
- 25
Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- Net price $13,143 a year
- 61% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curtis Institute of Music | — | — | — | 96% |
| Princeton University | $6,128 | $10,320 | $110,066 | 98% |
| University of Pennsylvania | $28,699 | $15,715 | $111,371 | 97% |
| Haverford College | $25,314 | $13,621 | $79,966 | 90% |
| Swarthmore College | $23,149 | $17,500 | $80,257 | 92% |
| Villanova University | $43,756 | $25,874 | $100,423 | 92% |
| Bryn Mawr College | $31,759 | $25,000 | $75,217 | 82% |
| The College of New Jersey | $27,646 | $23,250 | $73,323 | 86% |
| University of Delaware | $17,799 | $24,572 | $72,950 | 81% |
| Drexel University | $38,509 | $25,325 | $84,648 | 78% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | $29,689 | $25,500 | $86,881 | 79% |
| Ursinus College | $30,536 | $27,000 | $73,721 | 73% |
| Thomas Jefferson University | $28,928 | $14,744 | $77,449 | 69% |
| Immaculata University | $24,258 | $27,000 | $75,701 | 71% |
| Rutgers University-Camden | $18,745 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 67% |
| Temple University | $28,198 | $24,395 | $63,727 | 75% |
| Rowan University | $22,408 | $20,500 | $59,988 | 67% |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | $23,331 | $23,500 | $61,258 | 71% |
| Widener University | $25,759 | $27,000 | $70,920 | 68% |
| Walnut Hill College | $32,351 | $18,765 | $36,689 | 58% |
| Moore College of Art and Design | $43,086 | $26,000 | $37,839 | 57% |
| Arcadia University | $29,466 | $27,000 | $58,336 | 67% |
| Rider University | $24,792 | $26,130 | $62,208 | 61% |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | $20,586 | $22,250 | $40,457 | 68% |
| Holy Family University | $13,143 | $25,125 | $62,235 | 61% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.