The most selective colleges in Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania is the most selective four-year college in Pennsylvania, admitting 5.4% of applicants (Fall 2024).

College	City	Admission rate	Applicants	Average net price
University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	5.4%	59,465	$29,577
Swarthmore College	Swarthmore	7.5%	14,287	$17,392
Carnegie Mellon University	Pittsburgh	12%	33,707	$35,780
Haverford College	Haverford	12%	6,391	$31,075
Lehigh University	Bethlehem	26%	18,415	$25,272
Villanova University	Villanova	27%	23,127	$41,536
Franklin and Marshall College	Lancaster	28%	9,231	$33,445
Bucknell University	Lewisburg	29%	11,010	$50,021
Bryn Mawr College	Bryn Mawr	29%	3,278	$44,593
Lafayette College	Easton	32%	9,874	$35,879
Gettysburg College	Gettysburg	39%	7,123	$33,015
Dickinson College	Carlisle	42%	7,185	$28,634
Moravian University	Bethlehem	54%	5,115	$35,264
Allegheny College	Meadville	55%	5,045	$23,895
Moore College of Art and Design	Philadelphia	56%	1,322	$44,587

See all colleges in Pennsylvania.

How we got these numbers

Figures come from two U.S. Department of Education sources, the College Scorecard (released 2026-10-15) and the IPEDS Admissions survey. Data years:

• Admission rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
• Applicants: Fall 2023, reported in IPEDS ADM2023
• Average net price: AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

Colleges with fewer than 500 applicants are excluded from selectivity rankings because their admission rates say little about selectivity. Full details on our data page.

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