The Economic Times claims that fall admission in 2022 saw twice as many students apply to universities and colleges in the state of Pennsylvania compared to 2021. An education from one of the universities on the Pennsylvania list could open many doors for your career. and future lifestyle.
Best Public Colleges and Universities in Pennsylvania
1. University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Acceptance Rate: 6%
Middle 50% SAT: 1460-1570
Middle 50% ACT: 33-35
Penn is an Ivy League school, consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the country. One of the university's best-known schools is the Wharton School of Business, whose alumni list is headed by Elon Musk and Warren Buffett. While Penn boasts of having world-class educational programs, it is also often referred to as 'Social Ivy' due to its vibrant student body. With its urban location in Philadelphia, Penn gives students access to lively bars, restaurants, museums, art galleries, and parks. While some see Penn as a safety ivy, others see it as a unique school that promotes a healthy balance between academics and social life.
2. Swarthmore College
Location: Swarthmore, PA
Acceptance Rate: 9%
Middle 50% SAT: 1400-1530
Middle 50% ACT: 31-34
Swarthmore is a private liberal arts college that was originally founded by Quakers but lost its religious affiliation a century ago. The university is known for its quirky and busy student population. Since Swarthmore's student body is small, the university fosters a close-knit community. Swarthmore students have the unique opportunity to design their own majors and course plans if they choose. Another unique opportunity offered to students is to participate in the Tri-College and Quaker Consortium. Through the consortium, Swarthmore students also can take classes at Haverford College, Bryn Mawr College, and the University of Pennsylvania.
3. Haverford College
Location: Haverford, PA
Acceptance Rate: 18%
Middle 50% SAT: 1370-1510
Middle 50% ACT: 32-35
Haverford is another liberal arts college that is part of the Tri-College and Quaker Consortium. Within the consortium, Haverford and Bryn Mawr have a particularly strong relationship because they share many resources (such as a newspaper and a radio station) and also combine their academic programs. At Haverford, students benefit from a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, with 60% of faculty residing on the Haverford campus. Additionally, Haverford is known for its Honor Code and dedication to meeting 100% of the demonstrated financial need of accepted students.
4. Carnegie Mellon University
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Acceptance Rate: 17%
Middle 50% SAT: 1460-1560
Middle 50% ACT: 33-35
Carnegie Mellon is simultaneously an influential school in technical fields, such as engineering and computer science, and creative fields, such as theater and architecture. Due to the school's multifaceted academic success, it is characterized by a diverse student body, both in terms of race and ethnicity, student background, personality, and programs of study. That said, the common traits among all CMU students include passion and drive. CMU has name recognition with employers in most industries and graduates generally have great opportunities after receiving their CMU degree.
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Acceptance Rate: 45%
Middle 50% SAT: 1280-1420
Middle 50% ACT: 29-34
Leh is a prestigious private research university that excels in science, engineering and business. While the school has a lower enrollment than other research universities, students have access to coursework, tutoring, coursework, and other resources offered by larger research universities. Collaboration between the university's five schools allows Leh students to easily explore a variety of interests: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, P.C. Rossin Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Education and Faculty of Health. Leh has something for everyone.
6. Lafayette College
Location: Easton, PA
Acceptance Rate: 41%
Middle 50% SAT: 1330-1440
Middle 50% ACT: 30-33
Lafayette College offers students an excellent private liberal arts education, though its academic potential shines through in its engineering and science programs. The school's location gives students access to major metropolitan areas such as New York City and Philadelphia, but its location is only the beginning of the school's resources. Lafayette students are also connected to an extensive alumni network and can easily find best job opportunities, including research opportunities. The school has a very high medical school acceptance rate and a best freshman retention rate (indicating student satisfaction).
7. Bryn Mawr College
Location: Bryn Mawr, PA
Acceptance Rate: 38%
Middle 50% SAT: 1260-1470
Middle 50% ACT: 26-32
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,301
Bryn Mawr is the third and final (and exclusively female!) part of the Tri-College and Quaker Consortium. Like the other schools in the consortium, Bryn Mawr has deep academics and its small student body fosters a close-knit community. Some of the Bryn Mawr ladies say that college feels like big witchcraft, they even have a traditional relationship week called Hell Week. Bryn Mawr is a small college town, but it's only twenty minutes from Philadelphia, so students have easy access to the larger city.