Christian Colleges in Pennsylvania
| # | School | Affiliation | Enrollment | Net Price | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 7,005 | $44,876 | 92.4% |
| 2 |
Lafayette College
Easton, Pennsylvania
|
Presbyterian Church (USA) | 2,746 | $32,496 | 88.1% |
| 3 |
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 1,548 | $37,208 | 67.0% |
| 4 |
Immaculata University
Immaculata, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 1,265 | $29,464 | 64.5% |
| 5 |
Saint Joseph's University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 4,742 | $35,487 | 79.8% |
| 6 |
Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 1,141 | $27,141 | 58.5% |
| 7 |
University of Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 3,589 | $30,528 | 80.8% |
| 8 |
Saint Francis University
Loretto, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 1,525 | $19,173 | 72.8% |
| 9 |
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 5,216 | $34,978 | 75.5% |
| 10 |
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pennsylvania
|
Evangelical Lutheran | 1,777 | $30,314 | 80.2% |
| 11 |
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 1,264 | $23,331 | 72.1% |
| 12 |
Waynesburg University
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
|
Presbyterian Church (USA) | 1,081 | $25,157 | 60.5% |
| 13 |
Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
|
Interdenominational | 2,318 | $27,686 | 78.5% |
| 14 |
Holy Family University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 2,298 | $12,251 | 60.4% |
| 15 |
Gannon University
Erie, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 2,467 | $23,206 | 69.5% |
| 16 |
Misericordia University
Dallas, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 1,632 | $24,829 | 69.2% |
| 17 |
DeSales University
Center Valley, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 2,113 | $30,465 | 71.0% |
| 18 |
Marywood University
Scranton, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 1,821 | $22,222 | 72.5% |
| 19 |
Moravian University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
|
Moravian | 1,970 | $29,843 | 71.1% |
| 20 |
Lebanon Valley College
Annville, Pennsylvania
|
United Methodist | 1,670 | $28,132 | 72.5% |
| 21 |
Alvernia University
Reading, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 2,042 | $28,329 | 58.5% |
| 22 |
Westminster College
New Wilmington, Pennsylvania
|
Presbyterian Church (USA) | 1,051 | $20,800 | 65.9% |
| 23 |
Seton Hill University
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 1,581 | $22,558 | 71.0% |
| 24 |
Eastern University
Saint Davids, Pennsylvania
|
American Baptist | 1,978 | $25,885 | 56.0% |
| 25 |
La Salle University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 1,966 | $21,409 | 57.9% |
| 26 |
Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary-Overbrook
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 41 | $38,775 | 44.4% |
| 27 |
Geneva College
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
|
Reformed Presbyterian | 1,000 | $21,043 | 61.5% |
| 28 |
Allegheny College
Meadville, Pennsylvania
|
United Methodist | 1,209 | $21,900 | 66.5% |
| 29 |
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
|
Evangelical Lutheran | 2,120 | $26,539 | 74.1% |
| 30 |
Cabrini University
Radnor, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 645 | $24,051 | 50.5% |
| 31 |
Rosemont College
Rosemont, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 466 | $20,356 | 43.5% |
| 32 |
Mount Aloysius College
Cresson, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 1,123 | $20,748 | 55.6% |
| 33 |
Clarks Summit University
Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania
|
Baptist | 331 | $21,873 | 54.2% |
| 34 |
University of Valley Forge
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
|
Assemblies of God | 471 | $27,499 | 56.1% |
| 35 |
Lycoming College
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
|
United Methodist | 1,049 | $19,258 | 59.6% |
| 36 |
Albright College
Reading, Pennsylvania
|
United Methodist | 1,296 | $21,664 | 42.2% |
| 37 |
Grove City College
Grove City, Pennsylvania
|
Undenominational | 2,221 | 79.7% | |
| 38 |
La Roche University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 786 | $21,972 | 57.7% |
| 39 |
King's College
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 1,519 | $23,281 | 60.1% |
| 40 |
Carlow University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 1,336 | $20,822 | 55.2% |
| 41 |
Neumann University
Aston, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 1,574 | $28,714 | 46.1% |
| 42 |
Mercyhurst University
Erie, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 2,217 | $27,263 | 58.7% |
| 43 |
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
|
Other (not classified) | 273 | $19,600 | 46.3% |
| 44 |
Wilson College
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
|
Presbyterian Church (USA) | 745 | $21,241 | 51.8% |
| 45 |
Chestnut Hill College
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | 931 | $29,944 | 56.1% |
| 46 |
Thiel College
Greenville, Pennsylvania
|
Evangelical Lutheran | 773 | $22,746 | 43.5% |
| 47 |
Manor College
Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
|
Other (not classified) | 462 | $16,521 | 24.4% |
| 48 |
Saint Vincent Seminary
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
|
Roman Catholic | |||
| 49 |
Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
|
Other (not classified) | |||
| 50 |
Lancaster Theological Seminary
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
|
United Church of Christ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Villanova University stand out among Pennsylvania's Christian colleges?
Villanova maintains the most selective admissions with a 23.4% acceptance rate and produces the highest-earning graduates at $100,423 annually. The university's 92.4% graduation rate leads all Christian institutions in the state, while its 7,005 students make it one of the largest faith-based universities in Pennsylvania.
How affordable are Christian colleges in Pennsylvania compared to other states?
Net prices range from $12,251 at Holy Family University to $44,876 at Villanova, creating options for various budgets. Thirteen institutions charge under $30,000 annually, while Pennsylvania State Grant funding helps residents reduce costs further across all 56 Christian colleges statewide.
Where do graduates from Pennsylvania's Christian colleges typically find employment?
Many graduates enter Pennsylvania's healthcare systems like UPMC, pharmaceutical companies, and financial services firms in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences specifically prepares students for the state's medical sector, while graduates from institutions like Lafayette College often pursue careers in regional finance and technology companies.
What graduation rates can students expect at Pennsylvania's Christian colleges?
Graduation rates span from 58.5% at Gwynedd Mercy University to 92.4% at Villanova University. Ten institutions maintain graduation rates above 75%, including Lafayette College at 88.1% and University of Scranton at 80.8%, indicating strong student support and academic preparation across the sector.
How competitive is admission to Christian colleges in Pennsylvania?
Acceptance rates vary significantly, from Villanova's selective 23.4% to Saint Joseph's University's accessible 88.7%. Most institutions accept between 65% and 85% of applicants, with 45 of the 56 colleges maintaining acceptance rates above 50%, providing multiple entry points for prospective students.
Does enrollment size affect the quality of education at Pennsylvania's Christian colleges?
Both large and small Christian colleges achieve strong outcomes in Pennsylvania. Villanova serves 7,005 students with a 92.4% graduation rate, while smaller Saint Vincent College enrolls 1,264 students and maintains a 72.1% graduation rate, showing that institutional size doesn't determine academic success.
Related
See our methodology for details on rankings and data sources.