Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Pennsylvania
Colleges ranked by instructional spending for each full-time-equivalent student.
Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Pennsylvania62 schools
62 schools qualify, ranked by teaching spending per student. 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 instructional spending per full-time-equivalent student from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by instructional spending per student, 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
- $92,076 on teaching per student
- 2 students per faculty member
- 2
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- $67,953 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
- 3
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $46,961 on teaching per student
- 7 students per faculty member
- 4
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- $41,024 on teaching per student
- 5 students per faculty member
- 5
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for earnings
- $32,364 on teaching per student
- 12 students per faculty member
- 6
Haverford College
Haverford, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- $29,284 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
- 7
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $26,652 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
- 8
Lafayette College
Easton, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- $25,883 on teaching per student
- 10 students per faculty member
- 9
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- $24,840 on teaching per student
- 10 students per faculty member
- 10
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- $24,614 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 11
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- $22,377 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 12
Walnut Hill College
Philadelphia, PA · Private for-profitVery good: Compass grade B+
- $21,729 on teaching per student
- 20 students per faculty member
- 13
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- $21,712 on teaching per student
- 13 students per faculty member
- 14
Villanova University
Villanova, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- $21,398 on teaching per student
- 10 students per faculty member
- 15
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Williamsport, PA · PublicVery good: Compass grade B+
- $20,672 on teaching per student
- 14 students per faculty member
- 16
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $20,636 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 17
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for graduation
- $20,619 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 18
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $19,764 on teaching per student
- 11 students per faculty member
- 19
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA · PublicTop 14% for graduation
- $18,465 on teaching per student
- 12 students per faculty member
- 20
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- $17,999 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
- 21
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington, PA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- $17,584 on teaching per student
- 11 students per faculty member
- 22
Grove City College
Grove City, PA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for graduation
- $16,618 on teaching per student
- 13 students per faculty member
- 23
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- $16,449 on teaching per student
- 12 students per faculty member
- 24
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
Bryn Athyn, PA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- $15,919 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
- 25
Lycoming College
Williamsport, PA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $15,750 on teaching per student
- 10 students per faculty member
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 | About $29,000 | $15,715 | $111,371 | 97% |
| Swarthmore College | About $23,000 | $17,500 | $80,257 | 92% |
| Carnegie Mellon University | About $32,000 | $21,750 | $114,862 | 94% |
| Thomas Jefferson University | About $29,000 | $14,744 | $77,449 | 69% |
| Haverford College | About $25,000 | $13,621 | $79,966 | 90% |
| Bryn Mawr College | About $32,000 | $25,000 | $75,217 | 82% |
| Lafayette College | About $34,000 | $16,000 | $91,410 | 88% |
| Lehigh University | About $37,000 | $21,960 | $105,584 | 88% |
| Bucknell University | About $41,000 | $27,000 | $93,807 | 86% |
| Drexel University | About $39,000 | $25,325 | $84,648 | 78% |
| Walnut Hill College | About $32,000 | $18,765 | $36,689 | 58% |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | About $30,000 | $24,250 | $66,125 | 86% |
| Villanova University | About $44,000 | $25,874 | $100,423 | 92% |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | About $25,000 | $23,961 | $52,567 | 53% |
| Franklin and Marshall College | About $36,000 | $19,000 | $76,124 | 84% |
| Muhlenberg College | About $29,000 | $25,455 | $69,107 | 82% |
| Dickinson College | About $38,000 | $19,000 | $70,204 | 80% |
| Temple University | About $28,000 | $24,395 | $63,727 | 75% |
| Allegheny College | About $23,000 | $27,000 | $62,069 | 73% |
| Washington & Jefferson College | About $25,000 | $27,000 | $67,918 | 70% |
| Grove City College | — | — | — | 83% |
| Duquesne University | About $38,000 | $26,244 | $74,742 | 77% |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | About $21,000 | $22,250 | $40,457 | 68% |
| Lycoming College | About $19,000 | $27,000 | $56,210 | 60% |
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 64
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 47
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 20
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15