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Most selective colleges in Pennsylvania

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

The short answer

The most selective four-year colleges in Pennsylvania are Penn (4.9% admitted), Swarthmore (7.5% admitted) and Carnegie Mellon (11% admitted), by acceptance rate.

Selective here means a low acceptance rate: the share of applicants the college admitted. A low rate says how many people a college turns away, not how good a fit it is for you. Each row also shows the average price after grants.

The list (25 of 99)

Four-year colleges in Pennsylvania with 500 or more undergraduates, lowest acceptance rate first. The list shows 25 of the 99 colleges with an acceptance rate on file. Rates come from each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2025) for 14 colleges and IPEDS (fall 2024) for 11 colleges.

  1. University of Pennsylvania 4.9% admitted Philadelphia, PA · Average price after grants: $29,577 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  2. Swarthmore College 7.5% admitted Swarthmore, PA · Average price after grants: $17,392 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  3. Carnegie Mellon University 11% admitted Pittsburgh, PA · Average price after grants: $35,780 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  4. Haverford College 13% admitted Haverford, PA · Average price after grants: $31,075 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  5. Central Penn College 19% admitted Summerdale, PA · Average price after grants: $15,056 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  6. Villanova University 28% admitted Villanova, PA · Average price after grants: $41,536 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  7. Lehigh University 29% admitted Bethlehem, PA · Average price after grants: $25,272 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  8. Bryn Mawr College 29% admitted Bryn Mawr, PA · Average price after grants: $44,593 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  9. Lafayette College 31% admitted Easton, PA · Average price after grants: $35,879 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  10. Franklin and Marshall College 32% admitted Lancaster, PA · Average price after grants: $33,445 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  11. Bucknell University 32% admitted Lewisburg, PA · Average price after grants: $50,021 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  12. Gettysburg College 40% admitted Gettysburg, PA · Average price after grants: $33,015 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  13. Saint Joseph's University – Lancaster 41% admitted Lancaster, PA · Average price after grants: $29,148 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  14. Dickinson College 42% admitted Carlisle, PA · Average price after grants: $28,634 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  15. Moravian University 54% admitted Bethlehem, PA · Average price after grants: $35,264 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  16. Penn State 55% admitted University Park, PA · Average price after grants: $33,675 a year in-state, about $56,067 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  17. Lancaster Bible College 56% admitted Lancaster, PA · Average price after grants: $24,806 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  18. Moore College of Art and Design 56% admitted Philadelphia, PA · Average price after grants: $44,587 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  19. Alvernia University 58% admitted Reading, PA · Average price after grants: $27,122 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  20. Allegheny College 59% admitted Meadville, PA · Average price after grants: $23,895 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  21. University of Pittsburgh 59% admitted Pittsburgh, PA · Average price after grants: $29,362 a year in-state, about $50,058 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
  22. Marywood University 61% admitted Scranton, PA · Average price after grants: $21,059 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  23. Saint Vincent College 62% admitted Latrobe, PA · Average price after grants: $23,122 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  24. Chatham University 62% admitted Pittsburgh, PA · Average price after grants: $25,502 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  25. Lincoln University 66% admitted Lincoln University, PA · Average price after grants: $13,517 a year in-state, about $20,731 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the most selective colleges in Pennsylvania?

The most selective four-year colleges in Pennsylvania are Penn (4.9% admitted), Swarthmore (7.5% admitted) and Carnegie Mellon (11% admitted), by acceptance rate.

How many colleges on this list admit fewer than half of applicants?

14 of the 25 colleges listed admitted fewer than half of their 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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