Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Pennsylvania
Colleges ranked by six-year graduation rate, from federal data.
Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Pennsylvania118 schools
118 schools qualify, ranked by graduation rate. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Pennsylvania.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Has a graduation rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by graduation rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- 97% graduate
- 11,611 undergraduates
- 2
Curtis Institute of Music
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit#1 in Pennsylvania
- 96% graduate
- 106 undergraduates
- 3
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- 94% graduate
- 7,289 undergraduates
- 4
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 92% graduate
- 1,644 undergraduates
- 5
Villanova University
Villanova, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- 92% graduate
- 7,063 undergraduates
- 6
Haverford College
Haverford, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 90% graduate
- 1,424 undergraduates
- 7
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- 88% graduate
- 5,811 undergraduates
- 8
Lafayette College
Easton, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- 88% graduate
- 2,764 undergraduates
- 9
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- 86% graduate
- 3,846 undergraduates
- 10
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- 86% graduate
- 42,223 undergraduates
- 11
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- 86% graduate
- 25,171 undergraduates
- 12
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 84% graduate
- 1,911 undergraduates
- 13
Grove City College
Grove City, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for graduation
- 83% graduate
- 2,365 undergraduates
- 14
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 83% graduate
- 2,216 undergraduates
- 15
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for graduation
- 82% graduate
- 1,788 undergraduates
- 16
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 82% graduate
- 1,349 undergraduates
- 17
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA · Private nonprofitTop 10% for graduation
- 82% graduate
- 2,241 undergraduates
- 18
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for graduation
- 80% graduate
- 3,666 undergraduates
- 19
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 80% graduate
- 2,204 undergraduates
- 20
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- 79% graduate
- 4,828 undergraduates
- 21
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- 78% graduate
- 13,589 undergraduates
- 22
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- 77% graduate
- 5,226 undergraduates
- 23
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA · Private nonprofitTop 13% for graduation
- 76% graduate
- 1,857 undergraduates
- 24
- 25
Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, PA · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- 75% graduate
- 2,586 undergraduates
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | About $29,000 | $15,715 | $111,371 | 97% |
| Curtis Institute of Music | — | — | — | 96% |
| Carnegie Mellon University | About $32,000 | $21,750 | $114,862 | 94% |
| Swarthmore College | About $23,000 | $17,500 | $80,257 | 92% |
| Villanova University | About $44,000 | $25,874 | $100,423 | 92% |
| Haverford College | About $25,000 | $13,621 | $79,966 | 90% |
| Lehigh University | About $37,000 | $21,960 | $105,584 | 88% |
| Lafayette College | About $34,000 | $16,000 | $91,410 | 88% |
| Bucknell University | About $41,000 | $27,000 | $93,807 | 86% |
| Pennsylvania State University | About $33,000 | $25,000 | $63,435 | 86% |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | About $30,000 | $24,250 | $66,125 | 86% |
| Franklin and Marshall College | About $36,000 | $19,000 | $76,124 | 84% |
| Grove City College | — | — | — | 83% |
| Gettysburg College | About $31,000 | $26,999 | $71,517 | 83% |
| Muhlenberg College | About $29,000 | $25,455 | $69,107 | 82% |
| Bryn Mawr College | About $32,000 | $25,000 | $75,217 | 82% |
| Susquehanna University | About $29,000 | $27,000 | $61,723 | 82% |
| University of Scranton | About $33,000 | $27,000 | $74,652 | 80% |
| Dickinson College | About $38,000 | $19,000 | $70,204 | 80% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | About $30,000 | $25,500 | $86,881 | 79% |
| Drexel University | About $39,000 | $25,325 | $84,648 | 78% |
| Duquesne University | About $38,000 | $26,244 | $74,742 | 77% |
| Elizabethtown College | About $27,000 | $27,000 | $62,399 | 76% |
| Temple University | About $28,000 | $24,395 | $63,727 | 75% |
| Messiah University | About $27,000 | $25,621 | $54,064 | 75% |
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 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3