Pennsylvania Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate of the 78 Pennsylvania colleges that have competitive admission is 71.15% for the academic year 2024-2025. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is lower by 1.62%. The acceptance rate at 32 Pennsylvania colleges increased and the rate of 46 colleges decreased.

University of Pennsylvania has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 5.40%. Swarthmore College (7.46%) and Carnegie Mellon University (11.66%) are following it in the list of Tightest Pennsylvania Colleges to Get In.

This ranking is only based on acceptance rates and more admission stats such as SAT and ACT scores are helpful to measure the chances to get in more accurately.

University of Pennsylvania stays at first place of the lowest acceptance rate ranking since last year. Swarthmore College also maintained its second place in the ranking.

The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $67,214 and graduate tuition & fees is $39,125 for the academic year 2024-2025.

We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.

Comparison between Tightest Pennsylvania Colleges To Get In

Table. Tightest Pennsylvania Colleges To Get In Comparison
School NameAcceptance RateYieldSAT ScoreUndergraduate Tuition & FeesTotal PopulationGraduation RateStudents to Faculty Ratio
1
-		University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate, 4-year 5.40%
0.47%		67.98%1,550$68,68629,10997.00%8 to 1
2
-		Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PAPrivate, 4-year 7.46%
0.52%		43.79%1,540$65,4941,62392.00%7 to 1
3
-		Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate, 4-year 11.66%
0.26%		45.67%1,540$65,63615,88894.00%5 to 1
4
-		Haverford College Haverford, PAPrivate, 4-year 12.37%
0.54%		42.62%1,510$70,3981,43190.00%8 to 1
5
1		Lehigh University Bethlehem, PAPrivate, 4-year 25.93%
3.33%		28.38%1,440$64,9807,69288.00%10 to 1
6
1		Villanova University Villanova, PAPrivate, 4-year 26.98%
1.86%		27.73%1,450$67,77610,04192.00%10 to 1
7
2		Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster, PAPrivate, 4-year 28.19%
3.64%		17.13%1,375$70,7941,80884.00%9 to 1
8
2		Bucknell University Lewisburg, PAPrivate, 4-year 28.93%
3.08%		30.11%1,400$67,8123,96986.00%9 to 1
9
2		Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, PAPrivate, 4-year 29.43%
1.63%		31.54%1,390$65,9201,67982.00%8 to 1
10
2		Lafayette College Easton, PAPrivate, 4-year 31.45%
0.02%		21.77%1,430$64,6482,77588.00%10 to 1
Average20.78%35.67%1,463$67,2147,60289.30%8 to 1