Most selective colleges in Pennsylvania
Colleges that admit the smallest share of applicants.
Most selective colleges in Pennsylvania60 schools
60 schools qualify, ranked by admission rate. 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 an admission rate from federal data (College Scorecard). Average SAT scores are shown where the college reports them.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by admission rate, lowest first. Selectivity measures demand for places, not the quality of teaching.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
- 2
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Admits 5%
- Average SAT 1553
- 3
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Admits 7%
- Average SAT 1534
- 4
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Admits 12%
- Average SAT 1546
- 5
Haverford College
Haverford, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Admits 12%
- Average SAT 1513
- 6
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Admits 26%
- Average SAT 1440
- 7
Villanova University
Villanova, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for earnings
- Admits 27%
- Average SAT 1460
- 8
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 28%
- Average SAT 1392
- 9
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 3% for earnings
- Admits 29%
- Average SAT 1410
- 10
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 29%
- Average SAT 1396
- 11
Lafayette College
Easton, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Admits 31%
- Average SAT 1424
- 12
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 39%
- Average SAT 1379
- 13
- 14
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 42%
- Average SAT 1391
- 15
- 16
Moravian University
Bethlehem, PA · Private nonprofitTop 18% for graduation
- Admits 54%
- Average SAT 1183
- 17
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Admits 55%
- Average SAT 1275
- 18
Moore College of Art and Design
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Admits 56%
- Average SAT 1282
- 19
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- Admits 58%
- Average SAT 1370
- 20
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- Admits 61%
- Average SAT 1337
- 21
- 22
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, PA · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- Admits 62%
- Average SAT 1116
- 23
Chatham University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Admits 62%
- Average SAT 1198
- 24Tie
- 24Tie
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% |
| Swarthmore College | $23,149 | $17,500 | $80,257 | 92% |
| Carnegie Mellon University | $31,944 | $21,750 | $114,862 | 94% |
| Haverford College | $25,314 | $13,621 | $79,966 | 90% |
| Lehigh University | $36,931 | $21,960 | $105,584 | 88% |
| Villanova University | $43,756 | $25,874 | $100,423 | 92% |
| Franklin and Marshall College | $36,425 | $19,000 | $76,124 | 84% |
| Bucknell University | $40,766 | $27,000 | $93,807 | 86% |
| Bryn Mawr College | $31,759 | $25,000 | $75,217 | 82% |
| Lafayette College | $34,433 | $16,000 | $91,410 | 88% |
| Gettysburg College | $31,490 | $26,999 | $71,517 | 83% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster | $42,478 | $25,500 | $86,881 | 69% |
| Dickinson College | $37,607 | $19,000 | $70,204 | 80% |
| Walnut Hill College | $32,351 | $18,765 | $36,689 | 58% |
| Moravian University | $30,670 | $26,793 | $61,860 | 72% |
| Allegheny College | $22,940 | $27,000 | $62,069 | 73% |
| Moore College of Art and Design | $43,086 | $26,000 | $37,839 | 57% |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | $30,434 | $24,250 | $66,125 | 86% |
| Pennsylvania State University | $32,875 | $25,000 | $63,435 | 86% |
| Marywood University | $23,388 | $26,186 | $55,817 | 72% |
| Saint Vincent College | $23,510 | $27,000 | $59,982 | 69% |
| Chatham University | $29,954 | $23,250 | $52,410 | 63% |
| Widener University | $25,759 | $27,000 | $70,920 | 68% |
| Misericordia University | $37,485 | $26,973 | $64,313 | 72% |
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 57
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 20
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 12
- Wisconsin 15