Pennsylvania Public Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate of the 13 public Pennsylvania colleges that have competitive admission is 81.92% for the academic year 2023-2024. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is lower by 1.15%. The acceptance rate at 5 public Pennsylvania colleges increased and the rate of 8 colleges decreased.

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 50.00%. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus (54.00%) and Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (75.00%) are following it in the list of Tightest Pennsylvania Public 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 Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus stays at first place of the lowest acceptance rate ranking since last year. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus also maintained its second place in the ranking.

The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $24,672 and graduate tuition & fees is $24,099 for the academic year 2023-2024.

We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.
Table. Tightest Pennsylvania Public Colleges To Get In Comparison
School NameAcceptance RateYieldSAT ScoreUndergraduate Tuition & FeesTotal PopulationGraduation RateStudents to Faculty Ratio
1
-
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublic, 4-year 50.00%
0.86%
16.00%1,360$39,890
($21,524)
33,76783.00%13 to 1
2
-
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PAPublic, 4-year 54.00%
1.21%
19.00%1,310$40,188
($20,234)
50,02883.00%15 to 1
3
-
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PAPublic, 4-year 75.00%
0.67%
33.99%1,080$14,615
($10,507)
8,22166.00%19 to 1
4
1
Lincoln University Lincoln University, PAPublic, 4-year 78.00%
2.61%
11.99%970$19,384
($12,512)
1,82444.00%13 to 1
5
2
West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PAPublic, 4-year 79.00%
8.85%
24.00%1,180$22,511
($10,686)
17,27571.00%20 to 1
6
2
Temple University Philadelphia, PAPublic, 4-year 83.00%
3.30%
12.00%-$37,248
($21,991)
33,19677.00%12 to 1
7
1
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg, PAPublic, 4-year 86.00%
1.80%
20.00%1,090$15,648
($13,394)
5,16250.00%17 to 1
8
1
Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PAPublic, 4-year 89.00%
3.42%
19.00%1,120$22,232
($12,262)
6,77557.00%18 to 1
9
1
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Indiana, PAPublic, 4-year 91.00%
0.94%
24.00%1,050$16,297
($11,380)
8,81652.00%21 to 1
10
1
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg, PAPublic, 4-year 93.00%
0.63%
20.00%1,070$18,702
($10,736)
5,14345.00%20 to 1
Average77.80%20.00%1,137$24,672
($14,523)
17,02162.80%17 to 1