Colleges where the most freshmen return in Pennsylvania
Colleges ranked by first-year retention: the share of full-time freshmen who come back for a second year.
Colleges where the most freshmen return in Pennsylvania62 schools
62 schools qualify, ranked by first-year retention. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Pennsylvania.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has a first-year retention rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by retention rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Curtis Institute of Music
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit#1 in Pennsylvania
- 100% of freshmen return
- 96% graduate
- 2
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- 99% of freshmen return
- 97% graduate
- 3
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- 98% of freshmen return
- 94% graduate
- 4
Villanova University
Villanova, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- 95% of freshmen return
- 92% graduate
- 5
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 94% of freshmen return
- 92% graduate
- 6
Haverford College
Haverford, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 94% of freshmen return
- 90% graduate
- 7
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- 94% of freshmen return
- 88% graduate
- 8
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- 94% of freshmen return
- 86% graduate
- 9
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- 93% of freshmen return
- 86% graduate
- 10
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 92% of freshmen return
- 82% graduate
- 11
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- 92% of freshmen return
- 86% graduate
- 12
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 92% of freshmen return
- 80% graduate
- 13
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 91% of freshmen return
- 83% graduate
- 14
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 90% of freshmen return
- 84% graduate
- 15
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for graduation
- 90% of freshmen return
- 82% graduate
- 16
Lafayette College
Easton, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- 90% of freshmen return
- 88% graduate
- 17
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- 90% of freshmen return
- 78% graduate
- 18
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- 89% of freshmen return
- 79% graduate
- 19
Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, PA · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- 89% of freshmen return
- 75% graduate
- 20
Grove City College
Grove City, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for graduation
- 88% of freshmen return
- 83% graduate
- 21
Ursinus College
Collegeville, PA · Private nonprofitTop 12% for earnings
- 87% of freshmen return
- 73% graduate
- 22
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA · Private nonprofitTop 10% for graduation
- 86% of freshmen return
- 82% graduate
- 23
Walnut Hill College
Philadelphia, PA · Private for-profitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 86% of freshmen return
- 58% graduate
- 24
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for graduation
- 85% of freshmen return
- 80% graduate
- 25
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- 85% of freshmen return
- 69% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curtis Institute of Music | — | — | — | 96% |
| University of Pennsylvania | $28,699 | $15,715 | $111,371 | 97% |
| Carnegie Mellon University | $31,944 | $21,750 | $114,862 | 94% |
| Villanova University | $43,756 | $25,874 | $100,423 | 92% |
| Swarthmore College | $23,149 | $17,500 | $80,257 | 92% |
| Haverford College | $25,314 | $13,621 | $79,966 | 90% |
| Lehigh University | $36,931 | $21,960 | $105,584 | 88% |
| Bucknell University | $40,766 | $27,000 | $93,807 | 86% |
| Pennsylvania State University | $32,875 | $25,000 | $63,435 | 86% |
| Bryn Mawr College | $31,759 | $25,000 | $75,217 | 82% |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | $30,434 | $24,250 | $66,125 | 86% |
| Dickinson College | $37,607 | $19,000 | $70,204 | 80% |
| Gettysburg College | $31,490 | $26,999 | $71,517 | 83% |
| Franklin and Marshall College | $36,425 | $19,000 | $76,124 | 84% |
| Muhlenberg College | $28,905 | $25,455 | $69,107 | 82% |
| Lafayette College | $34,433 | $16,000 | $91,410 | 88% |
| Drexel University | $38,509 | $25,325 | $84,648 | 78% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | $29,689 | $25,500 | $86,881 | 79% |
| Messiah University | $26,502 | $25,621 | $54,064 | 75% |
| Grove City College | — | — | — | 83% |
| Ursinus College | $30,536 | $27,000 | $73,721 | 73% |
| Susquehanna University | $28,819 | $27,000 | $61,723 | 82% |
| Walnut Hill College | $32,351 | $18,765 | $36,689 | 58% |
| University of Scranton | $32,568 | $27,000 | $74,652 | 80% |
| Pennsylvania College of Art and Design | $30,083 | $27,000 | $33,301 | 69% |
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 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 63
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 8
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 31
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15