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Easiest colleges to get into in Pennsylvania

Updated Federal and Common Data Set numbers, each with its year

The short answer

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in Pennsylvania are Geneva College (open admission), Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (open admission) and Penn State Berks (99%), by the share of applicants admitted.

A high acceptance rate means the college admits most people who apply. Open-admission colleges admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. Each row also shows the average price after grants, so you can weigh the two.

The list (25 of 101)

Four-year colleges in Pennsylvania with 500 or more undergraduates, open-admission colleges first, then the highest acceptance rate. The list shows 25 of the 101 colleges with an acceptance rate or open admission on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024).

  1. Geneva College Open admission Beaver Falls, PA · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $19,090 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  2. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Open admission Cheyney, PA · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $12,255 a year in-state, about $20,507 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  3. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks 99% admitted Reading, PA · Average price after grants: $19,570 a year in-state, about $30,820 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  4. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton 99% admitted Dunmore, PA · Average price after grants: $12,204 a year in-state, about $22,636 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  5. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto 98% admitted Mont Alto, PA · Average price after grants: $16,748 a year in-state, about $26,710 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  6. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona 98% admitted Altoona, PA · Average price after grants: $21,714 a year in-state, about $32,964 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  7. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine 98% admitted Media, PA · Average price after grants: $18,053 a year in-state, about $28,485 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  8. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg 98% admitted Middletown, PA · Average price after grants: $16,753 a year in-state, about $28,003 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  9. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley 97% admitted Center Valley, PA · Average price after grants: $12,029 a year in-state, about $22,461 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  10. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York 97% admitted York, PA · Average price after grants: $12,374 a year in-state, about $22,806 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  11. Point Park University 97% admitted Pittsburgh, PA · Average price after grants: $26,028 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  12. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College 97% admitted Erie, PA · Average price after grants: $23,165 a year in-state, about $34,415 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  13. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington 97% admitted Abington, PA · Average price after grants: $14,429 a year in-state, about $25,075 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  14. La Salle University 97% admitted Philadelphia, PA · Average price after grants: $19,758 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  15. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill 97% admitted Schuylkill Haven, PA · Average price after grants: $15,199 a year in-state, about $25,631 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  16. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton 96% admitted Hazleton, PA · Average price after grants: $14,209 a year in-state, about $24,641 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  17. University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg 95% admitted Greensburg, PA · Average price after grants: $17,075 a year in-state, about $29,057 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  18. University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown 95% admitted Johnstown, PA · Average price after grants: $16,375 a year in-state, about $28,367 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  19. Pennsylvania Western University 94% admitted California, PA · Average price after grants: $17,839 a year in-state, about $22,770 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  20. Delaware Valley University 93% admitted Doylestown, PA · Average price after grants: $28,226 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  21. Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania 93% admitted Bloomsburg, PA · Average price after grants: $17,468 a year in-state, about $29,834 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  22. King's College 93% admitted Wilkes-Barre, PA · Average price after grants: $21,439 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  23. Westminster College 93% admitted New Wilmington, PA · Average price after grants: $19,484 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  24. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania 92% admitted East Stroudsburg, PA · Average price after grants: $21,084 a year in-state, about $29,622 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  25. Wilson College 92% admitted Chambersburg, PA · Average price after grants: $20,699 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the easiest colleges to get into in Pennsylvania?

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in Pennsylvania are Geneva College (open admission), Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (open admission) and Penn State Berks (99%), by the share of applicants admitted.

How many of these colleges have open admission?

2 of the 25 colleges listed have open admission: they admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. The others admitted 92% to 99% of applicants.

How recent are these acceptance rates?

Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.

Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.

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