Pennsylvania has one of the densest concentrations of colleges in the country, and the 502 listings in this directory show how varied they are. Within a short drive you can find a liberal arts college such as Franklin & Marshall in Lancaster, a Penn State branch campus like Penn State Berks near Reading, and a hands-on school like Johnson College in Scranton. Each follows different rules, and those rules shape tuition, accreditation, and what a credential is worth. This page explains how the pieces fit together so you can choose the right type of school before you pick up the phone.

How Higher Education Is Organized Across Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth does not run its colleges as one system. Several layers sit side by side, and the layer a school belongs to explains most of what you will pay and how you apply. Six groups cover nearly every listing in this directory.

Knowing the group helps with practical questions. A community college accepts most applicants with a high school diploma or GED, while a selective private college asks for essays, transcripts, and sometimes test scores. A trade school often enrolls throughout the year, so you may start within a few months instead of waiting for fall. State-related and State System campuses usually follow a traditional fall and spring calendar with fixed application deadlines.

Which Pennsylvania Agencies Oversee Colleges

Several state bodies share the oversight. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) approves degree-granting institutions and licenses private career schools. It also supervises the career and technical centers that run many high school and adult programs. Professional licensing is handled separately through the Department of State. The State Board of Nursing approves nursing programs, and the State Board of Cosmetology regulates beauty schools such as Altoona Beauty School Inc and Barone Beauty Academy in Williamsport.

Financial aid runs through yet another agency. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), based in Harrisburg, administers the Pennsylvania State Grant program. You apply by completing the FAFSA, and PHEAA uses that information to decide state grant eligibility. Deadlines and award amounts change by year and by school type, so confirm them on PHEAA's website before you plan around a date.

Accreditation is the other check. Most degree-granting Pennsylvania colleges are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is headquartered in Philadelphia. Career schools often hold national or programmatic accreditation instead. Accreditation matters because it affects federal aid eligibility and whether another college will accept your credits later.

Metro and Rural Differences Across Pennsylvania's College Map

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh dominate the map. Our directory lists 54 colleges in Philadelphia and 43 in Pittsburgh. In Philadelphia County you will find career programs such as the Aviation Institute Of Maintenance-Philadelphia on Grant Avenue, alongside large universities. In Allegheny County, Bradford School sits in Station Square, close to downtown Pittsburgh. SEPTA in the Philadelphia region and Pittsburgh Regional Transit in Allegheny County make many city campuses reachable without a car.

The suburban ring around Philadelphia is its own market. Montgomery County, with 38 listings, includes DeVry University in Fort Washington and the Won Institute Of Graduate Studies in Glenside. Delaware County has 29, including Bryn Mawr College on North Merion Avenue. Strayer University has a site in Feasterville in Bucks County, and the Widener University Exton campus serves Chester County. Several of these sites focus on adult and graduate students, so parking, class schedules, and commute times often matter more than campus life.

Mid-sized cities form the second tier. Lancaster and York each have 12 listings, Allentown has 11, and Erie, Harrisburg, and Scranton have 10 each. Lancaster County is home to Franklin & Marshall College on Harrisburg Avenue and the Elizabethtown College School Of Continuing And Professional Studies. York has Penn State York on Edgecomb Avenue. In Erie, Great Lakes Institute Of Technology on Peach Street serves students seeking technical careers, and Brightwood Career Institute-Harrisburg serves Dauphin County. In Lackawanna County, Johnson College offers technical programs in Scranton on North Main Avenue.

Rural and smaller-city Pennsylvania works differently. Johnstown, Altoona, New Castle, Pottsville, and Williamsport each have a smaller set of schools, so the choice often comes down to one or two programs. Examples include New Castle School Of Trades on Pulaski Road in Lawrence County, the Joseph F Mccloskey School Of Nursing At Schuylkill Health in Pottsville, and Altoona Beauty School in Blair County. In these areas, a short program tied to a local employer or hospital can lead directly to work. The tradeoff is that a second option may be a longer drive away, so ask about class schedules and any online components.

Reading the Listings: Campuses, Branches, and Hosted Programs

Not every entry is a standalone college. Some are branch campuses, such as Widener University - Exton Campus and Penn State York. Some are tied to health systems, such as the listing for Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, in Cambria County. Others are programs hosted by another school, like the International Academy of Medical Reflexology Hosted by Mc Cann College on North Irving Street in Allentown. The Greensburg entry is listed as Seton Hall - Lecom At Seton Hill and carries a program name rather than a college name. Because arrangements like these change, call the number listed before you drive over.

When you call, ask three things. First, which program and which street address the listing refers to. Second, whether the school holds current accreditation or state approval for that program. Third, what the total cost is beyond tuition, including books, fees, tools, uniforms, and exam charges. Those answers tell you quickly whether the school fits your goal and your budget.

Public colleges and universities in Pennsylvania offer residents access to affordable higher education, professional certifications, and workforce training. The Pennsylvania state legislature oversees funding and policy for public institutions, while individual governing boards manage each campus.

Colleges locations are available in 185 cities across Pennsylvania. They are spread across 53 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, York, reflecting the presence of major university campuses and community college districts serving large student populations.

Prospective students in Pennsylvania should research in-state tuition rates, available degree programs, and financial aid options at public institutions, as these factors vary significantly between community colleges and four-year universities.

Colleges by Counties

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Students in Pennsylvania applying to public colleges and universities should complete the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize eligibility for federal and state financial aid. Many Pennsylvania institutions also offer state-specific grant programs with additional eligibility criteria.

Browse Colleges by county across Pennsylvania to find the nearest location.

Before You Apply to or Visit a Pennsylvania College

Choosing a school in Pennsylvania starts with the goal, not the campus. A four-year degree, a nursing license, a welding certificate, and a cosmetology license each follow a different path, and each leads to a different kind of school in this directory. Decide which credential you need first. Then narrow the list by county, since most students attend within an hour or two of home. The number of schools in the state means you can usually compare several options before you commit.

Before you visit, gather the following:

Most campuses can arrange a visit if you call ahead. Dickinson College in Carlisle, Bucknell University in Lewisburg, and Bryn Mawr College all list main numbers in our directory, such as 717-243-5121 for Dickinson. Career schools usually offer one-on-one tours on weekdays. If a school allows it, ask to sit in on a class and talk with a current student.

Colleges in Pennsylvania: Frequently Asked Questions

State-owned universities belong to the Commonwealth and form the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, known as PASSHE. West Chester, Millersville, Kutztown, and Shippensburg are examples. State-related universities, which are Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple, and Lincoln, receive state funding but operate under their own governing boards and set their own tuition. Both groups generally charge Pennsylvania residents less than out-of-state students, but the exact cost depends on the campus and program. If you are considering Penn State York or Penn State Berks, ask how the first years at a branch campus connect to a main campus.

Start by asking the school which agency accredits it, then verify that answer independently. Many degree-granting colleges in Pennsylvania are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and the U.S. Department of Education publishes a list of recognized accrediting agencies. The Pennsylvania Department of Education approves degree-granting institutions and licenses private career schools, so you can contact it with questions about a specific school. For nursing, check that the program is approved by the State Board of Nursing. For beauty schools, confirm with the State Board of Cosmetology. Be cautious if a school avoids these questions or pressures you to enroll on the spot.

Begin with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, based in Harrisburg, uses FAFSA data to determine eligibility for the Pennsylvania State Grant. Eligibility depends on factors such as household income, enrollment status, and whether your school and program qualify, so not every program in our listings will be eligible. Deadlines and award amounts are set each year, so check PHEAA's current information instead of relying on last year's date. You can also ask each school's financial aid office what aid it can offer and what you would pay out of pocket.

A program can prepare you for licensure, but the license itself comes from the state. In Pennsylvania the State Board of Nursing and the State Board of Cosmetology set requirements and oversee the schools. Examples in our directory include the Joseph F Mccloskey School Of Nursing At Schuylkill Health in Pottsville, the practical nursing program at the Wilkes-Barre Area Career And Technical Center, and Barone Beauty Academy in Williamsport. Before you pay a deposit, ask for licensing exam pass rates, the number of training hours the program provides, and whether graduates are eligible to sit for the exam in Pennsylvania.

In most cases, yes. Pennsylvania community colleges are supported by local sponsors, usually a county or a group of school districts, and they commonly set a lower rate for students who live in the sponsoring area. Rates for Pennsylvanians from outside the sponsor area and for out-of-state students are higher. The Community College of Allegheny County, Montgomery County Community College, and Bucks County Community College are examples tied to counties with many listings. Confirm your sponsor status with the registrar, since your home address, not the campus you attend, usually decides the rate. Many community colleges also have transfer agreements with four-year schools.

Allegheny County has 58 listings, Philadelphia County 54, Montgomery County 38, and Delaware County 29, so the Pittsburgh and southeastern areas offer the widest choice. Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lehigh, and Westmoreland counties each still have more than a dozen. Begin with the county where you live or work, then widen the search to neighboring counties. A school 20 miles away may cost less or have an earlier start date. Use the phone number in each listing to confirm enrollment dates and ask whether classes are offered in the evening or online.