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Small Colleges in Pennsylvania

50 schools in Pennsylvania. See our methodology.

Swarthmore College manages something few schools can claim: a 94.1% graduation rate while accepting just 6.9% of applicants, making it the most selective small college in Pennsylvania. The state's 168 small colleges under 5,000 students span an enormous range, from specialized institutions like the Curtis Institute of Music with 106 students to full liberal arts colleges approaching 4,000 enrollment. Net prices vary dramatically, from $15,372 to $40,690, yet earnings potential ranges even wider, stretching from $31,912 to $93,807 annually. Pennsylvania's economy creates particularly strong opportunities for small college graduates. UPMC's healthcare network, Comcast's technology operations, and the state's pharmaceutical sector actively recruit from institutions like Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences in Lancaster, where health science graduates earn $69,731 annually. Liberal arts colleges such as Haverford and Lafayette produce graduates earning over $79,000, reflecting strong connections to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh's finance sectors. The PA State Grant program helps make these opportunities accessible, though costs remain significant at top-tier institutions. Technical schools like Triangle Tech locations across the state offer more affordable pathways, with graduates earning solid middle-class wages in Pennsylvania's manufacturing and energy sectors.
50
Schools
$23,994
Avg. Net Price
$56,811
Avg. Earnings
73.0%
Avg. Graduation Rate

Small Colleges in Pennsylvania

College listings
# School Enrollment Net Price Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 1,627 $18,686 94.1% 6.9%
2 1,421 $25,210 89.4% 14.2%
3 3,818 $40,429 86.2% 32.6%
4 2,746 $32,496 88.1% 33.6%
5 106 94.7% 9.7%
6 100 $23,919 80.0%
7 83 $20,857 94.3%
8 183 $19,173 84.1%
9 94 $22,044 75.0%
10 1,346 $40,690 85.6% 30.8%
11 591 $31,389 58.9%
12 1,904 $39,061 86.0% 36.2%
13 1,548 $37,208 67.0% 45.7%
14 63 $24,252 72.7%
15 57 $16,244 85.7%
16 64 $22,625 76.9%
17 2,157 $32,191 83.4% 34.9%
18 1,265 $29,464 64.5% 69.7%
19 87 $24,539 69.6%
20 405 $15,372 80.2% 74.6%
21 79 $20,698 66.7%
22 200 $26,922 81.7%
23 90 $20,789 58.6%
24 132 $12,882 74.4%
25 4,742 $35,487 79.8% 88.7%
26 2,209 $30,086 82.7% 56.3%
27 4,254 $26,084 50.4%
28 1,154 $25,544 71.4% 88.1%
29 223 $17,147 72.7% 64.6%
30 199 $17,585 62.6%
31 1,815 $26,198 77.1% 81.1%
32 1,141 $27,141 58.5% 58.4%
33 1,449 $9,964 60.0% 91.1%
34 390 $10,086 79.4% 84.0%
35 3,589 $30,528 80.8% 84.4%
36 369 92.3% 75.0%
37 721 $19,279 38.9% 34.0%
38 1,525 $19,173 72.8% 73.1%
39 822 $25,754 53.1%
40 1,777 $30,314 80.2% 65.5%
41 159 $19,532 57.5%
42 719 $7,454 40.9%
43 1,934 $18,952 53.4% 97.4%
44 1,264 $23,331 72.1% 73.4%
45 112 $18,131 95.0%
46 1,081 $25,157 60.5% 75.6%
47 3,708 $28,163 68.2% 88.9%
48 2,318 $27,686 78.5% 79.4%
49 4,179 $23,553 51.6% 87.8%
50 2,298 $12,251 60.4% 77.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Swarthmore College so selective compared to other small Pennsylvania colleges?

Swarthmore accepts only 6.9% of applicants while maintaining a 94.1% graduation rate among its 1,627 students. This combination of extreme selectivity and academic success, plus graduates earning $80,257 annually, creates intense competition for admission spots at this Quaker-founded institution.

How do technical colleges compare to liberal arts schools for career earnings?

Technical graduates from Triangle Tech locations earn $51,953-$53,788 annually with much lower debt burdens, while liberal arts graduates from schools like Lafayette College earn $91,410. The 168 small colleges show earnings spanning $31,912 to $93,807, reflecting different career paths.

Is the Curtis Institute of Music worth considering despite its tiny size?

Curtis enrolls just 106 students but maintains a 94.7% graduation rate, the highest among Pennsylvania's small colleges. The Philadelphia-based conservatory accepts only 9.66% of applicants, making it nearly as selective as Swarthmore while specializing entirely in musical performance and composition.

Does Pennsylvania offer financial aid specifically for small college students?

The PA State Grant program provides need-based aid for Pennsylvania residents attending in-state colleges. With net prices ranging from $15,372 to $40,690 among the state's 168 small colleges, state grants help bridge affordability gaps, particularly at higher-cost liberal arts institutions.

Where do graduates from Pennsylvania's small colleges typically find employment?

UPMC's healthcare network, Comcast's technology operations, and pharmaceutical companies actively recruit from Pennsylvania's small colleges. Finance sectors in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh also hire heavily from liberal arts graduates, explaining why schools like Haverford produce alumni earning $79,966 annually.

What explains the huge variation in graduation rates among small Pennsylvania colleges?

Graduation rates span from 58.9% to 94.7% across the state's small colleges. Highly selective institutions like Swarthmore and Curtis Institute achieve rates above 94%, while technical schools and less selective colleges typically graduate 70-85% of students, reflecting different student populations and academic approaches.

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See our methodology for details on rankings and data sources.