Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

Humid summers and cold winters are typical in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Keystone State, where the Declaration of Independence and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, were drafted, is also known for the Carnegie Museums, National Aviary, and for creating the first zoo in the nation. There are a variety of colleges in Pennsylvania, including Bible colleges, private baccalaureate institutions, for-profit schools, doctoral colleges, and the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, which includes more than 30 colleges and universities. Pennsylvania is also home to several specialized institutions and a Talmudical college. The oldest institution in the state is the University of Pennsylvania, which also debuted the country’s first medical college in 1874. Chemical manufacturing, coal mining, and food products are key areas of Pennsylvania’s economy, while other major industries include broadcasting and telecommunication, as well as administrative and support services. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Hersheypark, and the Liberty Bell are prime attractions.

How Were the Top Schools in Pennsylvania Chosen?

Appily determines “Best Colleges” based on publicly-available information from the US Department of Education. Several factors include, but are not limited to, data about admitted students’ academic calibers, students’ expected career outcomes after graduation, and colleges’ investments toward making their institution accessible to all students.

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College of Art & Design is an independent, nonprofit organization offering baccalaureates for women and co-educational degrees at the graduate level. Founded in 1848, Moore was the first women’s art school in the nation. The college features a Writer...

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I cannot believe how much I have learned so far at Moore. I must say that the first year is absolutely critical. I saw the improvement within the first semester. The teachers are great. They are all accomplished artists themselves, therefore...

” – Rachel from Clayton, NJ
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Originally founded as Keystone State Normal School, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is a 4-year public school in eastern Pennsylvania. Kutztown is home to colleges of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, and Visual & Performing Arts...

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I have been warmly welcomed and feel that I will be given a great education at this institution.

” – Donielle from Shoemakersville, PA
The University of the Arts

The University of the Arts is a private visual and performing arts institution. It was founded in 1876 and is one of the oldest art schools in the nation. Popular majors include dance, illustration, and music performance. The university provides an...

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My major is photography and in high school that was the only art class that I took with the exception of crafts. At University of the Arts I am learning all different forms of art that I wouldn't be able to learn anywhere else.

” – Brittney from Warminster, PA
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As one of the first yeshivas founded in America, Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia is a Haredi Orthodox Jewish institution of higher learning. Talmudical Yeshiva is home to a beit midrash featuring a Talmudic Studies program. In addition to...

Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus

At IUP, you’ll find yourself at the heart of a community as unique as you are. Where students and professors come from a few miles down the road, from more than 50 different countries around the world, and from everywhere in between. Here, learning...

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All of my professors push me to do my best. They offer help at any time of the day. I never used to enjoy Chemistry, let alone do well in it, I was very scared that I wouldn't be able to make it as a physical therapy major. My Chem 111 Professor made...

” – Laura from PA
Chestnut Hill College

Chestnut Hill College is a coeducational college with “selective” admissions. Founded in 1924 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Institute for Forgiveness & Reconciliation is an homage towards their mission of “unity and love for all without...

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Chestnut Hill College is a place where students are very close to students, the class size average is 20-25 students per class. The teachers are very available and that can help the students to imporve their skill by getting assistance from teachers...

” – Luis from Burbank, CA
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The Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is an art school located in Lancaster. PCA&D guides young and aspiring artists and awards degrees in a number of disciplines ranging from illustration to photography to digital media. Students are also...

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Look for the Technology Requirements. It will be a Laptop and Camera requirement. Many colleges are trying to have their students up to date with technology so they can progress in the changing work world and environment. The tech requirements are...

” – Chalkley from Lancaster, PA
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Cabrini University is a liberal arts institution with close ties to the Roman Catholic Church. Campus is based in Philadelphia, PA, and calls its core curriculum “Justice Matters,” and courses are rooted in social justice. It was one of the first...

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Professors at Cabrini College do everything they can to help students succeed. There are plenty of resources, such as the library, writing center, and math resource center, available to students all the time. The campus is fairly small so students...

” – Crystal from Newark, DE
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Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary is a Roman Catholic seminary in the Philadelphia metro area dedicated to training Catholic priests and church leaders. As part of its Priestly Formation program, Saint Charles Borromeo offers a bachelor’s degree in...

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Founded in 1868, Keystone College is a private school situated in the Endless Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania. The school offers a Keystone Promise which guarantees that students will be employed within six months of graduating if they fulfill...

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At Keystone, you aren't just another student. The professors are always there to help you and will remember your face. Couldn't ask anymore from a college!

” – Olivia from Montrose, PA
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Founded in 1837, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is the first historically black university in the nation and a member of the Thurgood Marshall Fund. This public institution is home to a planetarium and aquaponics greenhouse, and features a...

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By attending you have a lot of learning experiences whether its in the class room or on campus. Being there i learned that no matter what problem you have there will always be someone there to help.

” – Rachael from Virginia
Pennsylvania College of Technology

Pennsylvania College of Technology is an applied technology college and part of the Pennsylvania State University system. Penn College operates a main campus in Williamsport, PA, as well as four satellite campuses in the northern region of the state...

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This schools professors know what they're talking about. I have learned a lot in just my first semester! Every major has a ton of hands on training.

” – Kyle from Sunbury, PA
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Bryn Athyn College is a 4-year Christian institution that pairs study of the liberal arts with spiritual inquiry rooted in the New Church, a sect of Christianity that respects all faiths. All classes in Bryn Athyn’s 18 liberal arts majors are based...

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Bryn Athyn is a small school, with a spiritual basis. The school is attempting to expand through athletics, but is still trying to retain their core values. The school is part of a very tight knit community

” – Andrew from Exton, PA
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences

Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences is a private institution established in the city of Lancaster. The college offers academic programs in a variety of health-related fields and teaches with a preference for hands-on learning. PA College is...

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This college couldn't be more perfect for me! They have bent over backwards to accommodate everything i have asked them to do for me. There is always someone there to reassure you along the way!

” – Carol from Hershey, PA
Mount Aloysius College

Founded by the Religious Sisters of Mercy, Mount Aloysius College is a Catholic school in west central Pennsylvania. MAC students, known as Mounties, are able to choose from over 70 undergraduate degree-granting majors. As a Catholic college, MAC...

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I have learned a lot in just my first semester at Mount Aloysius. The teachers are highly qualified, and they are easy to go to if there are any questions. Just completing my first semester I have learned different crucial aspects of the business...

” – April from Wyalusing, PA
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

Pennsylvania State University-World Campus is the internet hub for all Penn State online classes. Penn State World confers degrees and certificates in over 150 academic programs entirely online. In addition, Penn State World does not require students...

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The School of Health Sciences at Reading Hospital is a medical institution in eastern Pennsylvania affiliated with Alvernia University. The school is home to eight academic programs in subjects ranging from Emergency Medical Services to Surgical...

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

Established in 2001, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is a private, 4-year institution located in the state of Pennsylvania. Academic courses at HU operate on a trimester calendar and utilize each of the college’s many state-of-the-art...

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Students in the forensics field do a pig dig where a class murders a dead pig and buries it. they then go out to find a pig body from the previous year's class to analyze it and find a cause of death. this is just an example of how much this school...

” – Laura from Monongahela, PA
Harcum College

Founded in 1915, Harcum College is a residential institution offering a variety of associate degree options. Situated in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, 12 miles south of Philadelphia, it was the first college in the state to confer associate degrees and...

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The UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing is a patient-centered nurse training academy affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. UPMC Shadyside’s nursing curriculum is based on principles of quality and safety and is available in full...