67 Best colleges for Literature in Pennsylvania

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Pennsylvania ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 928K citations received by 41.8K academic papers made by 67 universities in Pennsylvania was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. Pennsylvania State University

University Park

For Literature

#16 in the United States

#17 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

For Literature

#17 in the United States

#19 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

3. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh

For Literature

#33 in the United States

#37 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

4. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

For Literature

#35 in the United States

#39 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

5. Temple University

Philadelphia

For Literature

#61 in the United States

#72 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

6. California University of Pennsylvania

California

For Literature

#100 in the United States

#119 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $6,250
Enrollment: 6,885

7. Drexel University

Philadelphia

For Literature

#128 in the United States

#151 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,342

8. Lehigh University

Bethlehem

For Literature

#166 in the United States

#194 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $33,289

9. Swarthmore College

Swarthmore

For Literature

#175 in the United States

#204 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,930

10. Villanova University

Villanova

For Literature

#181 in the United States

#210 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,946

11. Duquesne University

Pittsburgh

For Literature

#228 in the United States

#259 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $35,125

12. Bucknell University

Lewisburg

For Literature

#242 in the United States

#276 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,486

13. Haverford College

Haverford

For Literature

#256 in the United States

#290 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,828

14. Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr

For Literature

#267 in the United States

#301 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,383

15. Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia

For Literature

#305 in the United States

#341 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $29,097

16. Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana

For Literature

#317 in the United States

#353 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1055
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 99%

17. West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester

For Literature

#324 in the United States

#360 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

18. Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster

For Literature

#328 in the United States

#366 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Average SAT: 1379
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $37,475

19. Lafayette College

Easton

For Literature

#344 in the United States

#382 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $34,728

20. Dickinson College

Carlisle

For Literature

#368 in the United States

#407 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Net Price: $40,242
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $40,209

21. Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia

For Literature

#369 in the United States

#409 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $36,392

22. University of Scranton

Scranton

For Literature

#383 in the United States

#424 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $32,100

23. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Hershey

For Literature

#397 in the United States

#439 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

24. Gettysburg College

Gettysburg

For Literature

#398 in the United States

#440 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1350
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $35,729

25. Thiel College

Greenville

For Literature

#451 in the United States

#498 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Net Price: $22,490
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $28,605

26. Biblical Theological Seminary

Hatfield

For Literature

#463 in the United States

#511 in North America

Enrollment: 49
Male:Female: 65:35

27. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg

For Literature

#470 in the United States

#518 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $6,347
Enrollment: 7,500

28. Muhlenberg College

Allentown

For Literature

#486 in the United States

#534 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $31,814

29. Allegheny College

Meadville

For Literature

#513 in the United States

#564 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $27,929

30. University of the Arts in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

For Literature

#544 in the United States

#598 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Net Price: $44,510
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,324

31. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown

For Literature

#548 in the United States

#602 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1170
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $6,716

32. Widener University

Chester

For Literature

#551 in the United States

#606 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1155
Net Price: $30,720
Receiving Aid: 100%

33. Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Mansfield

For Literature

#566 in the United States

#623 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $8,863
Enrollment: 1,784

34. La Salle University

Philadelphia

For Literature

#578 in the United States

#635 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Net Price: $20,119
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $25,808

35. Geneva College

Beaver Falls

For Literature

#582 in the United States

#640 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $22,145
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $20,748

36. York College of Pennsylvania

York

For Literature

#587 in the United States

#645 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $21,036

37. King's College - Pennsylvania

Wilkes-Barre

For Literature

#592 in the United States

#650 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $25,608

38. Arcadia University

Glenside

For Literature

#595 in the United States

#653 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1197
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $26,994

39. Washington & Jefferson College

Washington

For Literature

#625 in the United States

#683 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Net Price: $26,051
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $38,971

40. Ursinus College

Collegeville

For Literature

#633 in the United States

#691 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $31,625

41. Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville

For Literature

#678 in the United States

#737 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1120
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $6,205

42. Gannon University

Erie

For Literature

#681 in the United States

#740 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Net Price: $23,942
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $27,483

43. Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown

For Literature

#688 in the United States

#748 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $27,019

44. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg

For Literature

#696 in the United States

#757 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1100
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $5,951

45. Albright College

Reading

For Literature

#697 in the United States

#758 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Net Price: $22,116
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $22,201

46. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock

For Literature

#699 in the United States

#760 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 94%

47. Chestnut Hill College

Philadelphia

For Literature

#737 in the United States

#800 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Net Price: $28,583
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,744

48. Susquehanna University

Selinsgrove

For Literature

#779 in the United States

#845 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $27,258

49. Moravian College

Bethlehem

For Literature

#790 in the United States

#856 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $30,720

50. University of the Sciences

Philadelphia

For Literature

#795 in the United States

#861 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Net Price: $29,948
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $14,493

51. Westminster College

New Wilmington

For Literature

#799 in the United States

#865 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Net Price: $21,089
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,615

52. Eastern University

Saint Davids

For Literature

#800 in the United States

#866 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Net Price: $21,900
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,308

53. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg

For Literature

#803 in the United States

#869 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

54. Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Pittsburgh

For Literature

#805 in the United States

#871 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 223
Male:Female: 49:51

55. Messiah College

Mechanicsburg

For Literature

#825 in the United States

#892 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $29,882

56. Saint Vincent College

Latrobe

For Literature

#830 in the United States

#897 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1112
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $23,857

57. Robert Morris University

Moon Township

For Literature

#834 in the United States

#902 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Net Price: $26,215
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $24,908

58. Lycoming College

Williamsport

For Literature

#841 in the United States

#909 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1172
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $20,733

59. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley

For Literature

#866 in the United States

#936 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1114
Net Price: $26,733
Receiving Aid: 100%

60. Marywood University

Scranton

For Literature

#886 in the United States

#956 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $24,712

61. Lincoln University

Lincoln University

For Literature

#901 in the United States

#972 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 960
Average ACT: 20
Receiving Aid: 99%

62. Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre

For Literature

#903 in the United States

#974 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1147
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $28,508

63. Lock Haven University

Lock Haven

For Literature

#914 in the United States

#985 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $4,862
Founded: 1870

64. Chatham University

Pittsburgh

For Literature

#926 in the United States

#997 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $29,051

65. Westminster Theological Seminary

Glenside

For Literature

#927 in the United States

#998 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 1,031
Male:Female: 65:35

66. Misericordia University

Dallas

For Literature

#937 in the United States

#1008 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Net Price: $25,090
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $25,624

67. Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion

For Literature

#960 in the United States

#1031 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $8,127
Enrollment: 3,070

Closest to Pennsylvania states to learn Literature

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Maryland	20	21
District of Columbia	9	52
New Jersey	20	19
New York	101	3
West Virginia	3	139
Connecticut	15	7
Virginia	32	26
Ohio	39	13
Massachusetts	48	4
Rhode Island	7	63
Vermont	5	142
New Hampshire	8	94
North Carolina	29	25
Indiana	23	20
Kentucky	17	75
Michigan	26	5
South Carolina	15	71
Maine	7	187
Tennessee	18	45
Illinois	48	11
Georgia	29	42
Wisconsin	19	15
Alabama	15	91
Iowa	12	37
Missouri	19	46
Mississippi	7	178
Minnesota	22	22
Arkansas	10	107
Florida	28	38
Louisiana	17	53
Kansas	8	64
South Dakota	5	370
Nebraska	7	92
Oklahoma	9	95
North Dakota	2	218
Texas	57	8
Colorado	17	41
New Mexico	4	101
Puerto Rico	3	575
Utah	6	51
Idaho	3	223
Arizona	6	28
Washington	17	10
Oregon	13	73
California	85	1
Hawaii	4	108

Closest to Pennsylvania states to learn Literature

Art & Design subfields in Pennsylvania