Pennsylvania is home to more than 250 colleges and universities, making it one of the most college-dense states in the country. The options span every category: large public research universities, small liberal arts colleges, specialized art and music schools, religious institutions, and 15 community colleges spread across the state. Whether you’re looking for an affordable public option or an elite private university, Pennsylvania has a deep bench.
Public Universities: Two Distinct Systems
Pennsylvania’s public higher education is split into two tiers that often confuse prospective students. The first is the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), a network of 14 university campuses funded and governed by the state. These schools generally offer the most affordable tuition for Pennsylvania residents and serve a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs. The PASSHE universities are:
- Cheyney University
- Commonwealth University (with campuses at Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield)
- East Stroudsburg University
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
- Kutztown University
- Millersville University
- PennWest (with campuses at California, Clarion, and Edinboro)
- Shippensburg University
- Slippery Rock University
- West Chester University
Several of these schools recently consolidated into multi-campus universities. Commonwealth University merged the former Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield campuses, while PennWest combined California, Clarion, and Edinboro. Each campus still operates with its own location and student life, but they share administration, which helped keep tuition stable.
The second tier consists of four “state-related” universities. These schools receive some state funding but operate more independently and typically charge higher tuition. They are Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), Temple University, and Lincoln University. Penn State and Pitt are major research institutions with national reputations, extensive graduate programs, and large athletic programs. Penn State alone operates more than 20 campuses across the state, with University Park as its flagship.
Penn State Tuition as a Benchmark
Because state-related universities set their own tuition, costs vary significantly. Penn State’s University Park campus publishes some of the most detailed rate schedules in the state. For the fall 2026 semester, in-state undergraduate tuition starts at $20,878 per academic year for lower-division students (freshmen and sophomores). Upper-division students pay more depending on their major: $22,520 for most programs, $24,794 for science and technology fields, and $26,778 for business, engineering, and nursing.
Out-of-state students face roughly double those figures. Lower-division non-residents pay $44,574 per year, and upper-division rates climb as high as $52,656 for business, engineering, and nursing majors. Penn State’s branch campuses charge less than University Park, which makes starting at a satellite campus and transferring a common cost-saving strategy. PASSHE universities generally charge well below these figures, making them the budget-friendly public option for students who want a four-year degree without the research-university price tag.
Private Research Universities
Pennsylvania punches above its weight in private higher education. The University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school in Philadelphia, is one of the most selective universities in the world, known for its Wharton School of Business, its medical school, and strong programs across engineering and the liberal arts. Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh is a top-tier research institution with particular strength in computer science, engineering, robotics, and the arts. Drexel University, also in Philadelphia, is known for its co-op program that builds paid work experience into a five-year degree.
Other well-regarded private research universities include Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Villanova University outside Philadelphia, and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. These schools typically carry sticker prices above $50,000 per year, though institutional financial aid can reduce the actual cost significantly for many students.
Liberal Arts Colleges
The state has an unusually strong collection of small liberal arts colleges, many of them nationally ranked. Swarthmore College, located just outside Philadelphia, consistently ranks among the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Haverford College and Bryn Mawr College sit nearby and participate in a consortium that allows students to cross-register for classes at all three schools (plus the University of Pennsylvania).
Other notable liberal arts options include Lafayette College in Easton, Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Dickinson College in Carlisle, Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Gettysburg College, and Muhlenberg College in Allentown. These schools typically enroll between 1,500 and 4,000 students, offer small class sizes, and focus heavily on undergraduate teaching. Many have strong pre-med, pre-law, or graduate school placement rates.
Community Colleges
Pennsylvania operates 15 public community colleges spread throughout the state. These two-year schools offer associate degrees, workforce certifications, and transfer pathways to four-year universities at a fraction of the cost. Because they were established under state law to serve specific geographic areas, each college is closely tied to its surrounding county or region. The full list:
- Bucks County Community College
- Butler County Community College
- Community College of Allegheny County
- Community College of Beaver County
- Community College of Philadelphia
- Delaware County Community College
- Erie County Community College
- Harrisburg Area Community College
- Lehigh Carbon Community College
- Luzerne County Community College
- Montgomery County Community College
- Northampton Community College
- Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
- Reading Area Community College
- Westmoreland County Community College
Community colleges receive funding from the state and their local sponsoring counties, which helps keep tuition low. Many students use them to complete general education requirements before transferring to a PASSHE school or a state-related university, saving thousands of dollars in the process. They also serve adult learners, career changers, and students who want hands-on credentials in fields like nursing, welding, IT, and criminal justice.
Specialized and Religious Institutions
Pennsylvania has a wide range of schools that don’t fit neatly into the categories above. The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia is one of the most selective conservatories in the world, offering full-tuition scholarships to every admitted student. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, also in Philadelphia, is the oldest art school in the country. Thomas Jefferson University focuses on health sciences and design.
Religious-affiliated colleges have a strong presence as well. St. Joseph’s University, La Salle University, and Villanova are Catholic institutions in the Philadelphia area. Messiah University near Harrisburg and Grove City College in the western part of the state serve students looking for a Christian-oriented education. Eastern University, Arcadia University, and Ursinus College each bring distinct missions and academic cultures to the private college landscape.
Choosing Among Hundreds of Options
With so many institutions, narrowing down your search starts with a few practical questions. If cost is the top priority, PASSHE schools and community colleges offer the lowest tuition for residents. If you want a large campus with Division I athletics and extensive research opportunities, Penn State, Pitt, and Temple are the primary public options. If you prefer a smaller, discussion-based classroom experience and can manage higher tuition (or qualify for strong financial aid), the liberal arts colleges are worth exploring.
Location matters too. The Philadelphia metro area alone contains dozens of colleges and universities. Pittsburgh has a concentrated higher education corridor anchored by Pitt, Carnegie Mellon, and Duquesne. Smaller college towns like State College (Penn State), Lewisburg (Bucknell), and Carlisle (Dickinson) offer a more traditional campus-town feel. Many PASSHE campuses sit in mid-sized towns throughout the central and western parts of the state, giving students a lower cost of living alongside lower tuition.