2024 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Pennsylvania

• Swarthmore, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  424 reviews

Alum: Life changing. Not only because of the quality of professors and the teacher to student ratio, but because the student body is so extraordinary. Living with and around people who are major achievers rubs off on you. Being there raised my standards 1000% because that is what I had to do just to keep up. And that habit stayed with me for the rest of my life. It produced a wonderful, successful life and work experience. Proud to be a Swattie!... Read 424 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 8%

• Net price $19,733

• SAT range 1430-1560

• Haverford, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  263 reviews

Alum: The campus is large and beautiful. There are plenty of places to lounge or study. There isn't a core curriculum, so trying different fields of interest is very easy and encouraged. It is relatively seamless to transition between majors. The professors are incredibly kind and thoughtful. One of my main complaints is that for some majors, the program is fully developed with a multitude of courses, professors, and class times. But for other majors, there are much fewer resources and course electives.... Read 263 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 18%

• Net price $24,462

• SAT range 1420-1540

• Lewisburg, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  795 reviews

Junior: Freshman year was rough due to Covid restrictions. Each year has gotten better, especially the food! The administration actually listened to the complaints and ungraded the selections. The campus is beautiful, but Lewisburg is a small town so aside from a few bars and restaurants there is not much to do in town. The trade off is that it is very safe. Greek life is big, but anyone can get involved and if you are not interested in the party scene there is still a lot to do on campus. The academics are challenging but most of my professors have been great and always willing to help those who are struggling. There are also many opportunities for free tutoring. The housing is variable...some dorms are nicer than others, but the school guarantees housing all 4 years.... Read 795 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 35%

• Net price $38,170

• SAT range 1270-1450

• Bryn Mawr, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  447 reviews

Alum: Bryn Mawr College was a great home for me. Professors and staff care about students and student needs. I loved the self-governance aspect of the school where students got to make decisions concerning how the institution is run. I loved the sense of community, the beauty of the campus, and the skills I received to thrive beyond the walls of Bryn Mawr!... Read 447 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 39%

• Net price $34,482

• SAT range 1310-1500

• Easton, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  663 reviews

Junior: I am forever glad that I chose Lafayette! It is a wonderful school for so many different reasons. The class sizes are small, which facilitates good relationships with my peers and professors. Classes are rigorous but manageable, and I feel like I have grown so much academically here. There are also so many ways to get involved; there's something for everyone! The student body is quite friendly and I have definitely found my people here. Lafayette College is a great place to spend your undergrad years!... Read 663 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 41%

• Net price $38,754

• SAT range 1300-1460

• Carlisle, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  692 reviews

Alum: As a science major, I enjoyed the close connections I was able to forge with professors and classmates at a small school. The ability to lead & design research projects while in undergrad was something I know I would not have gotten at a big school! I also loved the number of clubs and groups available on campus and I was able to try out new activities and skills I wouldn't have otherwise - like camping and volleyball. The school is pretty isolated so you will have to make most of your own fun on campus if you don't have a car. Carlisle is cute thought! By senior year, it was feeling quite small socially.... Read 692 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 48%

• Net price $20,913

• SAT range 1190-1365

• Gettysburg, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  629 reviews

Alum: I attended Gettysburg in the mid-90's and truly believe it was a life changing experience for me. The education, access to professors, and facilities are top notch. I still miss the beauty of the campus, running in the battlefields and those Gettysburg sunsets! But what really sets Gettysburg apart are the people and the alumni network. I graduated with a degree in political science with the intention of going to law school, but at the last minute pivoted and decided to enter the workforce. Through alumni connections, I was able to get an interview with a senior exec who worked in banking/finance. He took a chance on me and I was able to parlay that first job into a successful 25 year career in investment management. Gettysburg taught me to think critically, develop strong writing and communication skills, and to be well rounded and intellectually curious. Oh, and I had a blast and made great friendships along the way!... Read 629 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 56%

• Net price $35,794

• SAT range 1280-1430

• Allentown, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  500 reviews

Freshman: Muhlenberg has been an AWESOME place for me and my peers to thrive. There are so many different types of people and it makes talking to new people easier. By connecting with people of other cultures, ethnicities, and experiences you become more well-rounded. It's a welcoming community where you're bound to make friends with like-minded students. I would recommend visiting or checking out Muhlenberg College to see if it's the place for you!... Read 500 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 68%

• Net price $30,920

• SAT range 1200-1370

• Lancaster, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  875 reviews

Alum: I had a wonderful experience at F&M and I miss it a lot! The campus is beautiful. The people are nice and it really does feel like a global campus. I liked the close relationships with professors and small classes. I was a tour guide so I got a lot of questions about what makes F&M special. For me, it was the size, location, the feeling of safety, and the great academics but laid-back atmosphere. I got into all the graduate schools I applied and I got a full scholarship to my current grad school.... Read 875 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 38%

• Net price $26,316

• SAT range 1200-1420

• Meadville, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.42 out of 5  938 reviews

Junior: A college with small classes offers numerous advantages for students. Firstly, smaller class sizes foster a more personalized learning experience. With fewer students, professors can provide individual attention, facilitating better understanding and engagement. Students can actively participate in discussions and receive prompt feedback, enhancing their academic growth. Secondly, small classes promote stronger relationships between students and professors. This enables students to build connections, seek guidance, and benefit from mentorship opportunities. Additionally, small class sizes encourage collaboration and peer-to-peer learning, as students have more opportunities to interact and share ideas. Overall, a college with small classes cultivates an inclusive and supportive environment, enhancing learning outcomes and student success.... Read 938 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 75%

• Net price $25,419

• SAT range 1140-1350

• Selinsgrove, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  848 reviews

Alum: Loved my experience at SU! It's such a homey place, with lots of extra curricular options and autonomy in path of study. The power levels are not far apart, the university president is a casual, supportive face you see on campus frequently. The norm established of everyone studying abroad and taking GO classes enhance the entire community's cultural knowledge and appreciation. I will say that living on campus for 4 years and therefore having expensive dining plans made it more expensive, although the food was decent. I love that the school values global citizenship and the environment (hello, solar field). I do wish Susquehanna did better to educate students and community about and honor the indigenous people the school and river it sits near are named after. I am grateful that there have been moves made toward this, but there is a long way to go.... Read 848 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 77%

• Net price $28,130

• SAT range 1020-1230

• Reading, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  510 reviews

Freshman: Very good campus and education for the cost of attendance. I have not started my year at Berks yet but hopefully will be this fall. I had previously planned to start last called but had to defer last minute due to financial difficulties. But before I did that I was able to attend “Welcome Week” and experience a taste of beginning college. It was very discouraging when I had to defer indefinitely. I have a friend who started last fall and I have joined her on campus multiple times as well. Since I have a Penn State ID and I am enrolled I am apart of Penn State and was able to roam and join her places, such as the game room where we were able to play a game of pool with a few other Penn Staters. During my time at Penn State I was able to get a tour of the classrooms before classes started and even sit in on multiple classes. It was a very delightful experience and makes me look forward to my year at Penn State Berks even more!... Read 510 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 87%

• Net price $22,393

• SAT range 1000-1200

• Washington, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.52 out of 5  728 reviews

Alum: W&J is highly underrated. It is a beautiful campus with a mix of well-preserved historic and new modern buildings. Tasty, healthy food is available in the main dining commons and separate grill with plenty of places for students to congregate. The student vibe is upbeat, friendly, and motivated. Dedicated professors make classes challenging but interesting. The school has a tight knit community feel. Also, the location offers the best of both worlds: safe suburban campus just a short car or school-provided shuttle ride to Pittsburgh. The school has competitive sports teams and games/matches are well-attended by supportive students and faculty. If you want small class size, lots of academic and emotional support, and professors who will push you to be the absolute best version of yourself, this is the place for you!... Read 728 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $27,101

• SAT range 1050-1300

• Bethlehem, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  506 reviews

Sophomore: Overall, I really enjoy the campus life and the close knit community that Moravian has cultivated. However, if you do live on campus the food and access to food is very limited along with some of the dorming is not ideal and the conditions of freshman dorms are not up to par when considering the price tag attached to both the meal plan and the housing costs. The education is stellar, and majority of the professors are super kind and helpful. The classes and workload is challenging, but in the long term this is a good thing because you learn a lot! Everyone in the student body is very kind and it is very easy to fit in when it comes to the social scene at Moravian.... Read 506 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 78%

• Net price $32,020

• SAT range 1050-1200

• Langhorne, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  539 reviews

Freshman: As a high school senior, I did not know what to expect when visiting a college or university. But I will say, Cairn University has exceeded my expectations in an incredible way. Not only is the student body incredibly welcoming, accepting and kind, but the faculty is amazing too! In the few times that I have been on the campus, everyone has been so encouraging to me, not only as a prospective student, but as an individual. When visiting classes, the professors actually allowed me to participate! I feel that the way the faculty interacts with the students is what makes Cairn so successful. The students have the support they need to persevere in their work, no matter how rigorous the class.The school offers so many opportunities to participate in activities even outside class. A great way to make solid friendships and to be involved. I even read a report that Cairn is the 3rd safest school in the nation! I am really looking forward to doing my undergraduate work at Cairn.... Read 539 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $26,380

• SAT range 1000-1250

• Latrobe, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  541 reviews

Sophomore: The campus is very beautiful and has a lot of amazing opportunities for exploration and discovery. There is a wide range of clubs, activities and even organizations that are present on campus, even though some may be hard to find at first. There is a group for everyone. The teachers are pretty good, though different departments are better with student involvement or even overall amazing teachers!... Read 541 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 73%

• Net price $23,361

• SAT range 950-1200

• New Wilmington, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  462 reviews

Niche User: I have visited Westminster College twice in the last four months. Both times, I was invited by a football coach. On the first visit, we took a tour of campus, visited the football facilities, and watched a football game. It was an amazing visit. That day, I got an offer to be a part of their football team. Westminster became my top choice, and it has remained number one since then. Recently, we went on a second visit. This time, my dad attended with us. He was as impressed as we had been the first time. I have applied to Westminster, and I received my financial aid package offer in a very timely manner. Every step of the way, throughout this process, Coach Blake has been a tremendous help. He is more than just a coach. He is a mentor. I am excited at the prospect of attending this college because of the experience I have had during the visiting and application process.... Read 462 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $20,258

• SAT range 1040-1190

• Johnstown, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.35 out of 5  604 reviews

Senior: The education department are UPJ fully prepares the next generation of teachers. They prepare you and educate you on all areas of the field of education. I have friends in the nursing program, and engineering, and they are some of the best! UPJ has given myself, and others, real world readiness!... Read 604 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 92%

• Net price $17,627

• SAT range 1020-1230

• Annville, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  585 reviews

Sophomore: Lebanon Valley College is setting me up for success in life. LVC is a private college that ranks #1 is PA for job placement consistently. I love how small the school is, students can have personalized attention with the professors. I have gained valuable connections and will be doing research on chemotherapy this upcoming school year, and I’m only going to be a sophomore! I cant speak much on other departments but the science department is strong and rigorous. I am a neuroscience/pre med major hoping to get into med school to be a doctor/surgeon one day and I can say that these science courses challenge me, and I graduated 3rd in my high school. I feel as though I will be well prepared when I get into med school. LVC is a beautiful place and is very generous when it comes to financial aid. I got the Allwein scholarship, so my tuition is taken care of, but the school gives everyone big financial aid packages, the better your GPA in high school the more money they will give you.... Read 585 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 78%

• Net price $26,944

• SAT range 1080-1290

• Huntingdon, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  900 reviews

Niche User: As a parent of a Juniata student, the experience has been excellent! The administration and professors really care about the students. There are many beloved traditions--from Mountain Day, to Madrigal, Lobsterfest, and more. Professors go out of their way to help students succeed. There are also many opportunities for hands-on experiential learning, travel, and more. This is also a college where the faculty, administration and students are truly a community! It's not uncommon to be invited to a professor's home for dinner with other students or to bake holiday cookies. The alumni network is strong--with former students willing to bend over backwards to help current students network for internships, first jobs, etc. Many students graduate with great opportunities lined up--whether it's a first job or grad school. An excellent place to get an education!... Read 900 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 74%

• Net price $26,493

• SAT range —

• Greensburg, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.43 out of 5  382 reviews

Senior: Pitt-Greensburg is an amazing small type community campus! There are many benefits to being a student here. There are many types of dorm options available whether you want a traditional dorm style room or more of a private living space with integrative rooms. All of the dorms have free washing services included in living expenses! A student only needs to provide detergent and dryer sheets if they wish. We are also connected to Pitt Oakland in many ways! There are many free transportation opportunities to see football games and even the chance to participate in Pitt's Marching Band no matter what Pitt campus a student attends. There are over 350 travel abroad opportunities as we have the same opportunities Pitt Oakland offers. Thankfully, we have access to just about everything the main campus has. As far as academics go, there are alway new opportunities presented for students, including the development of the new Life Science building! Professors also will know your name here! :)... Read 382 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 91%

• Net price $17,644

• SAT range 1030-1210

• Wilkes-barre, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  409 reviews

Senior: My time here as a student has been nothing but EXCITING! King's College provides a warm, welcoming atmoshpere for all students. They host many different activities for all types of events which provides an environment to meet new people and learn. The teachers and Staff are super helpful and are very caring. They will go above and beyond to make sure you are getting the best possible education. Overall, Kings College has been amazing.... Read 409 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 96%

• Net price $27,313

• SAT range —

• York, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.53 out of 5  1,289 reviews

Senior: I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about how college is not worth the money and there are better career paths that don’t require going down the college path, but York college has been extremely eye opening. It offers endless opportunities to network yourself and 24/7 access to things like a sports emporium, writing center, and a huge cafeteria. The only reason this is not a 5 star is simply because the requirements of constellation classes (classes that must be completed in order to graduate that don’t have to do with your major or minor sometimes). Aside from that I started at York college as a freshman and am currently a senior and have throughly enjoyed my experience and will cherish many memories from the endless clubs I’ve joined and friends I’ve met!... Read 1,289 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 78%

• Net price $22,543

• SAT range 1010-1220

• Collegeville, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.56 out of 5  481 reviews

Alum: I really enjoyed the small class sizes and the dedication and attentiveness of the professors. Academically, it's a great school, though I can only speak for the arts (my major was French literature), not science - and Ursinus is well-known for its focus on biology and the sciences. Being a language major, I wished that there were French courses in geopolitics, communication, and history, rather than solely literature. But I knew that going in. Socially, there was too much of an emphasis on Greek life, and hazing was rampant and unchecked by the school. Because of the small school size there also was not a lot going on and we used to complain about that, but looking back, that aspect forced us to be creative in the ways we spent our time. There were a good number of clubs, but silly 20-year-old me did not take advantage of those. It was also encouraged and really popular to study abroad, which was an amazing opportunity.... Read 481 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 83%

• Net price $31,438

• SAT range 1200-1360

• Williamsport, PA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.49 out of 5  540 reviews

Other: I am an incoming freshman this fall at Lycoming College. I was beyond relieved and trilled when I was able to announce my commitment to Lyco. The whole recruiting process alone for football was stressful. Actually coming down to the decision to pick a school was tough. I thought back to my time taking a visit to Lyco; right from when I got there everyone was so nice and I felt like as if I knew everyone already. I was the only recruit on campus that day so it was just my dad and I. The coaching staff greeted me with open arms and so did the players. The players, I appreciated a lot for showing me and around campus and being personable. Everything about the campus seemed to be just what I was looking for from the surrounding area, campus, students, and athletics. I am just so grateful that God and guided me to this and opened this door for me to continue on with my goals. I feel like my upcoming time at Lyco is going to benefit in all areas as a person, student, and athlete. Thank you.... Read 540 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 75%

• Net price $19,508

• SAT range 1080-1250