POPULATION (2021): 13 million
CAPITAL: Harrisburg
LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN PENNSYLVANIA: Penn State University
LARGEST PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN PENNSYLVANIA: University of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, known as “The Keystone State” was one of the first colonies (the 2nd, to be exact!), and like the other original colonies, there are several colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, and many of them have been running since before the country was a country.
Pennsylvania has several large cities, with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh topping the list, but there is also an abundance of wooded wilderness, and no matter where you are in the state, a nice mountain drive isn’t far away. Here is a closer look at the college landscape in the northeastern state of Pennsylvania.
Universities in Pennsylvania- 4-Year Colleges and Online
Penn State is the most recognizable college in PA, with much thanks to successful sports programs, but its location in the center of the state makes it unique for a large university. A lot of the other 4-year colleges and universities on this list are much closer to the big cities.
Public Universities in Pennsylvania
In addition to Penn State’s main campus, several other PSU campuses throughout the state offer 4-year degrees, and they are:
- Pennsylvania College of Technology (Williamsport)
- Penn State – Erie
- Penn State – Harrisburg
- Penn State – Altoona
- Penn State – Abington
- Penn State – Berks
- Penn State – Brandywine
- Penn State – Fayette
- Penn State – York
- Penn State – Scranton
- Penn State – Hazleton
- Penn State – Mont Alto
- Penn State – Schuylkill
- Penn State – Lehigh Valley
- Penn State – DuBois
- Penn State – New Kensington
- Penn State – Beaver
- Penn State – Shenango
- Penn State – Greater Allegheny
- Penn State – Wilkes-Barre
In addition to the PSU campuses, these colleges are also publicly funded and governed by the same body, The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education:
- West Chester University
- Shippensburg University
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Slippery Rock University
- Kutztown University
- Bloomsburg University
- Millersville University
- East Stroudsburg University
- Clarion University
- California University of Pennsylvania
- Edinboro University
- Lock Haven University
- Mansfield University
- Cheyney University
Private Universities in Pennsylvania
Even with the robust offerings for public university education, there are still several prominent private universities in Pennsylvania, many of which are near the city of Philadelphia which was, at one point, the U.S. Capital. As such, the area is rich in history and options for postsecondary education.
Here is a list of some of the more prominent private universities in Pennsylvania:
- The University of Pennsylvania
- Drexel University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Lehigh University
- Widener University
- Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
- Wilkes University
- York College of PA
- Point Park University
- Bucknell University
- Thomas Jefferson University
- Robert Morris University
- Dickinson College
- Franklin and Marshall College
- Chatham University
- Bryn Mawr College
Community Colleges in Pennsylvania
Just as the PSU system has several schools throughout the state of Pennsylvania, so does the community college system of PA. Here they are:
- Community College of Philadelphia
- Montgomery County Community College
- Bucks County Community College
- Lehigh Carbon Community College
- Westmoreland County Community College
- Luzerne County Community College
- Reading Area Community College
- Butler County Community College
- Community College of Beaver County
- Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
- Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
- Lancaster County Career and Technology Center
- Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology
- Community College of Allegheny County
- Bucks County Community College
- Delaware County Community College
- Harrisburg Area Community College
- Lehigh Carbon Community College
- Luzerne County Community College
- Montgomery County Community College
- Northampton County Area Community College
Prominent Online Colleges in Pennsylvania
In addition to having nearly 20 satellite campuses, Penn State University’s “World Campus” is one of the most widely used and accessible online colleges in the country, and students who take courses at any of the Penn State Campuses can take coursework through the World Campus.
Villanova and Temple are two other universities in Pennsylvania that receive high user ranks from their online students.
Universities in Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia is the 5th-largest city in the country, population-wise, and has a lot of colleges and universities that offer 4-year degrees to go with its “first U.S. Capital” clout! Here they are:
- Temple University
- Lincoln University
- Chestnut Hill College
- The Curtis Institute of Music
- Devry University, Center City
- Drexel University
- Holy Family University
- La Salle University
- Moore College of Art and Design
- Peirce College
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
- The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College
- Saint Joseph’s University
- Strayer University
- Thomas Jefferson University
- University of the Arts
- University of Pennsylvania
Universities in Pittsburgh, PA
Located nearly 5 hours west of Philadelphia, college life in Pittsburgh is very different from Philly! It’s more laid back, but also doesn’t have quite as much to do for the outgoing types. Here are the 4-year colleges in Pittsburgh:
- Carlow University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Chatham University
- Duquesne University
- La Roche University
- Point Park University
- University of Pittsburgh
Get to Know Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has some of the most college options per resident in the entire country, and the state also has a very vast landscape, both natural and vibe-related. The city of Philadelphia is a very in-your-face, east coast town with a gritty feel and a lot of nightlife to enjoy in the form of music and live entertainment.
Most of the other cities, however, have a small-town feel and are generally pretty welcoming. Pennsylvanians love to hunt, fish, and camp, and if you’re the outdoorsy type, there is never a shortage of activities, no matter where you go to college in this beautiful, mountainous state that offers residents different types of enjoyment and beauty in each of the 4 seasons.