In Pennsylvania, there are numerous options to pursue higher education. One that should be considered for families that fit a certain criteria are the public colleges & universities. The state offers 39 well known colleges and universities available to PA residents. It’s important to note that there are benefits and drawbacks to attending public colleges, however. I think it’s important to start there as we give you a breakdown of the public colleges & universities in PA.
Advantages
For the most part, public colleges & universities will offer a similar experience. It’s a certainty that students & families of a certain profile are best suited for a “larger” college experience. Here are some of the advantages of attending a public college or university:
- Cheaper tuition: The overall cost of attendance is almost a certainty to be less expensive than private schools. The “sticker price” is still relatively high, but lower than most schools. That said, it doesn’t mean this will be the best fit for every student & family financially.
- Larger campus with plenty to do: For the most part, public colleges have higher student populations. In PA, a good number of them have at least 5,000 students enrolled. Beyond that, many of these colleges add to the surrounding community.
- Admission rates can (often) be favorable: This will depend on the type of public school (and you’ll see in the profiles), but many public schools offer favorable admission rates.
Disadvantages
Public colleges & universities are not without their drawbacks, however. Here are some that you may want to consider:
- Less merit & need-based aid: It’s often the case that while these schools have a lower cost of attendance, they do not offer packages that compare to private schools.
- Could lack “tight-knit” feel: Often times, public colleges have sizable student populations. That’s not always a good thing for students who need a smaller, more inclusive community.
- Class sizes can be very large: More students? Bigger classes. That’s often the case. For students needing more individualized attention, this can be a negative.
School Profiles
I want to provide you with the different types of public institutions available in PA. This information is taken from a couple different websites, including collegedata.com, and the National Center for Educational Statistics. We’ll break it down by each public school, a link to their home page, the location, campus size, in-state cost of attendance, required forms, link to the net price calculator, and average % of financial need met. Importantly, the average % of financial need met is the cost of attendance, minus your family’s expected family contribution. So, without further ado, here is the list of public colleges & universities in PA.
Cheyney University
Location: Cheyney, PA (Chester County)
Admission Rate: 85%
Campus Size: 620 Undergrad
Student-to-faculty ratio: 15-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $25,102
Average % of Need Met: 87%
Required Forms: FAFSA
East Stroudsburg University
Location: Cheyney, PA (Chester County)
Admission Rate: 80%
Campus Size: 4300 Undergrad
Student-to-faculty ratio: 18-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $27,706
Average % of Need Met: 48%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Indiana University of PA
Location: Indiana, PA (Indiana County)
Admission Rate %: 94%
Campus Size: 7300 Undergrad
Student-to-faculty ratio: 22-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $21,802
Average % of Need Met: 74%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Kutztown University
Location: Kutztown, PA
School Type: Public
Admission Rate: 97%
Campus Size: 6700 Undergrad
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 19-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $21,754
Average % of Need Met: 32%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Lincoln University
Location: Chester, PA (Chester County)
School Type: Public
Admission Rate: 80%
Campus Size: 1800 Undergrad
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 13-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $25,239
Net Price Calculator
Average % of Need Met: 51%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Millersville University
Location: Millersville, PA (Lancaster County)
Admission Rate: 80%
Campus Size: 6250 Undergrad
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 19-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $24,742
Average % of Need Met: 59%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Location: State College, PA (Centre County)
Admission Rate: 58%
Campus Size: 41,000 Undergrad
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 15-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $38,270
Average % of Need Met: 61%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Abington
Location: Abington, PA (Centre County)
Admission Rate: 92%
Campus Size: 3000 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $36,342
Average % of Need Met: 54%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Altoona
Location: Altoona, PA (Blair County)
Admission Rate: 95%
Campus Size: 2700 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $34,958
Average % of Need Met: 62%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Beaver
Location: Monaca, PA (Beaver County)
Admission Rate: 93%
Campus Size: 555 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $32,718
Average % of Need Met: 62%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Berks
Location: Wyomissing, PA (Berks County)
Admission Rate: 97%
Campus Size: 2200 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $36,262
Average % of Need Met: 55%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Brandywine
Location: Media, PA (Delaware County)
Admission Rate %: 95%
Campus Size: 1230 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $35,124
Average % of Need Met: 54%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Dubois
Location: Dubois, PA (Clearfield County)
Admission Rate %: unknown
Campus Size: 432 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $14,502 (Commuter Only)
Average % of Need Met: 55%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Behrend
Location: Erie, PA (Erie County)
Admission Rate %: 95
Campus Size: 3200 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $36,016
Average % of Need Met: 66%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Fayette-Eberly
Location: Lemont Furnace, PA (Fayette County)
Admission Rate %: 95
Campus Size: 525 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $14,052 (Commuter Only)
Average % of Need Met: 57%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Greater Allegheny
Location: McKeesport, PA (Allegheny County)
Admission Rate %: 91
Campus Size: 396 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $32,718
Average % of Need Met: 57%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Harrisburg
Location: Harrisburg, PA (Dauphin County)
Admission Rate %: 96%
Campus Size: 4100 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $36,882
Average % of Need Met: 45%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Hazelton
Location: Hazelton, PA (Luzerne County)
Admission Rate %: 94%
Campus Size: 500 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $33,504
Average % of Need Met: 53%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Lehigh Valley
Location: Center Valley, PA (Lehigh County)
Admission Rate %: 94%
Campus Size: 900 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $14,838 (Commuter Only)
Average % of Need Met: 53%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Mont Alto
Location: Mont Alto, PA (Franklin County)
Admission Rate %: 91%
Campus Size: 675 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $32,718
Average % of Need Met: 59%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State New Kensington
Location: New Kensington, PA (Westmoreland County)
Admission Rate %: 92%
Campus Size: 500 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $14,052 (Commuter Only)
Average % of Need Met: 57%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Schuylkill
Location: Schuylkill Haven, PA (Schuylkill County)
Admission Rate %: 92%
Campus Size: 600 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $33,504
Average % of Need Met: 60%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Scranton
Location: Dunmore, PA (Lackawanna County)
Admission Rate %: 92%
Campus Size: 950 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $33,504
Average % of Need Met: 59%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Shenango
Location: Sharon, PA (Mercer County)
Admission Rate %: 80%
Campus Size: 330 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $15,526 (Commuter Only)
Average % of Need Met: 54%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Location: Dallas, PA (Luzerne County)
Admission Rate %: 90%
Campus Size: 309 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $13,936 (Commuter Only)
Average % of Need Met: 56%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Penn State York
Location: York, PA (York County)
Admission Rate %: 94%
Campus Size: 730 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $14,838 (Commuter Only)
Average % of Need Met: 56%
Required Forms: FAFSA
California University of PA (Part of Pennsylvania Western University)
Location: California, PA (Washington County)
Admission Rate: 97%
Campus Size: 4500 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $27,448
Average % of Need Met: 58%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Clarion University of PA (Part of Pennsylvania Western University)
Location: Clarion, PA (Clarion County)
Admission Rate: 99%
Campus Size: 3200 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $20,646
Average % of Need Met: 43%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Edinboro University (Part of Pennsylvania Western University)
Location: Edinboro, PA (Erie County)
Admission Rate: 99%
Campus Size: 3200 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $20,646
Average % of Need Met: 43%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Bloomsburg University (Part of Commonwealth University of PA)
Location: Bloomsburg, PA (Columbia County)
Admission Rate: 99%
Campus Size: 7068 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $25,896
Average % of Need Met: 52%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Lock Haven University (Part of Commonwealth University of PA)
Location: Lock Haven, PA (Clearfield County)
Admission Rate: 95%
Campus Size: 2500 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $27,591
Average % of Need Met: 55%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Mansfield University (Part of Commonwealth University of PA)
Location: Mansfield, PA (Tioga County)
Admission Rate: 94%
Campus Size: 1790 Undergrad
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $25,522
Average % of Need Met: 78%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Shippensburg University
Location: Shippensburg, PA (Cumberland County)
Admission Rate: 93%
Campus Size: 4900 Undergrad
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 18-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $21,250
Average % of Need Met: 61%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Slippery Rock University
Location: Slippery Rock, PA (Butler County)
Admission Rate: 79%
Campus Size: 7000 Undergrad
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 19-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $21,457
Average % of Need Met: 73%
Required Forms: FAFSA
Temple University
Location: Philadelphia, PA (Philadelphia County)
Admission Rate: 72%
Campus Size: 26,000 Undergrad
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 13-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $30,426
Average % of Need Met: 60%
Required Forms: FAFSA
University of Pittsburgh
Location: Pittsburgh, PA (Allegheny County)
Admission Rate: 67%
Campus Size: 20,000 Undergrad
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 14-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $37,028
Average % of Need Met: 59%
Required Forms: FAFSA
University of Pittsburgh – Greensburg Campus
Location: Greensburg, PA (Westmoreland County)
Admission Rate: 91%
Campus Size: 1300 Undergrad
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 14-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $31,794
Average % of Need Met: 62%
Required Forms: FAFSA
University of Pittsburgh – Bradford Campus
Location: Bradford, PA (McKean County)
Admission Rate: 76%
Campus Size: 1200 Undergrad
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 14-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $29,845
Average % of Need Met: 61%
Required Forms: FAFSA
University of Pittsburgh – Johnstown Campus
Location: Johnstown, PA (Cambria County)
Admission Rate: 79%
Campus Size: 2350 Undergrad
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 15-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $32,054
Average % of Need Met: 64%
Required Forms: FAFSA
West Chester University of PA
Location: West Chester, PA (Chester County)
Admission Rate: 79%
Campus Size: 14,500 Undergrad
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 20-1
In-State PA Cost of Attendance: $23,685
Average % of Need Met: 41%
Required Forms: FAFSA
