68 Best colleges for Literature in Pennsylvania

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Pennsylvania ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 978K citations received by 42.7K academic papers made by 68 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: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

For Literature

#18 in the United States

#20 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

3. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh

For Literature

#34 in the United States

#38 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

4. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

For Literature

#36 in the United States

#40 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

5. Temple University

Philadelphia

For Literature

#60 in the United States

#71 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

6. California University of Pennsylvania

California

For Literature

#99 in the United States

#118 in North America

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

7. Drexel University

Philadelphia

For Literature

#121 in the United States

#144 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

8. Lehigh University

Bethlehem

For Literature

#167 in the United States

#195 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $34,154

9. Swarthmore College

Swarthmore

For Literature

#177 in the United States

#206 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,469

10. Villanova University

Villanova

For Literature

#182 in the United States

#211 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1453
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,201

11. Duquesne University

Pittsburgh

For Literature

#226 in the United States

#257 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,917

12. Bucknell University

Lewisburg

For Literature

#243 in the United States

#277 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,003

13. Haverford College

Haverford

For Literature

#260 in the United States

#294 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,535

14. Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr

For Literature

#269 in the United States

#303 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $33,221

15. Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia

For Literature

#299 in the United States

#335 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,325

16. Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana

For Literature

#313 in the United States

#349 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 100%

17. West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester

For Literature

#324 in the United States

#361 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

18. Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster

For Literature

#329 in the United States

#367 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Average SAT: 1387
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $43,987

19. Lafayette College

Easton

For Literature

#343 in the United States

#381 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,442

20. Dickinson College

Carlisle

For Literature

#368 in the United States

#407 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,483

21. Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia

For Literature

#371 in the United States

#411 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $31,205

22. University of Scranton

Scranton

For Literature

#383 in the United States

#425 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1239
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $34,234

23. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Hershey

For Literature

#389 in the United States

#431 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

24. Gettysburg College

Gettysburg

For Literature

#403 in the United States

#445 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $32,769

25. Thiel College

Greenville

For Literature

#454 in the United States

#502 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Net Price: $22,545
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,356

26. Biblical Theological Seminary

Hatfield

For Literature

#455 in the United States

#503 in North America

Enrollment: 20
Male:Female: 65:35

27. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg

For Literature

#468 in the United States

#516 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: 72%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $34,739

29. Allegheny College

Meadville

For Literature

#524 in the United States

#577 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1266
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $26,420

30. University of the Arts in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

For Literature

#539 in the United States

#593 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

#544 in the United States

#598 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1215
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $7,420

32. Widener University

Chester

For Literature

#551 in the United States

#607 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1185
Net Price: $26,778
Receiving Aid: 100%

33. Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Mansfield

For Literature

#571 in the United States

#628 in North America

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

34. La Salle University

Philadelphia

For Literature

#577 in the United States

#635 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Net Price: $18,069
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,880

35. Geneva College

Beaver Falls

For Literature

#582 in the United States

#640 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,528
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $21,913

36. York College of Pennsylvania

York

For Literature

#587 in the United States

#645 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $20,096

37. Arcadia University

Glenside

For Literature

#595 in the United States

#653 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1165
Net Price: $30,037
Receiving Aid: 99%

38. Washington & Jefferson College

Washington

For Literature

#604 in the United States

#662 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $22,702
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $20,152

39. King's College - Pennsylvania

Wilkes-Barre

For Literature

#630 in the United States

#688 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1170
Net Price: $23,689
Receiving Aid: 100%

40. Ursinus College

Collegeville

For Literature

#637 in the United States

#695 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1293
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $32,158

41. Gannon University

Erie

For Literature

#672 in the United States

#731 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $23,123
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $29,799

42. Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville

For Literature

#685 in the United States

#746 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1115
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $6,143

43. Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown

For Literature

#687 in the United States

#748 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1208
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $27,760

44. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock

For Literature

#694 in the United States

#756 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 96%

45. Albright College

Reading

For Literature

#702 in the United States

#764 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Net Price: $20,587
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,069

46. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg

For Literature

#727 in the United States

#792 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $6,756

47. Chestnut Hill College

Philadelphia

For Literature

#742 in the United States

#807 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $28,588
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,590

48. Susquehanna University

Selinsgrove

For Literature

#781 in the United States

#847 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $26,444

49. Moravian College

Bethlehem

For Literature

#790 in the United States

#856 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1178
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $31,743

50. Westminster College

New Wilmington

For Literature

#796 in the United States

#862 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $20,394
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,553

51. Eastern University

Saint Davids

For Literature

#797 in the United States

#863 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Net Price: $27,422
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,838

52. University of the Sciences

Philadelphia

For Literature

#799 in the United States

#865 in North America

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

53. Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Pittsburgh

For Literature

#804 in the United States

#870 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 202
Male:Female: 47:53

54. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg

For Literature

#807 in the United States

#873 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1090
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

55. Saint Francis University

Loretto

For Literature

#823 in the United States

#891 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $28,326

56. Messiah College

Mechanicsburg

For Literature

#824 in the United States

#892 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $29,408

57. Saint Vincent College

Latrobe

For Literature

#828 in the United States

#896 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $23,758

58. Robert Morris University

Moon Township

For Literature

#836 in the United States

#904 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Net Price: $23,933
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $27,629

59. Lycoming College

Williamsport

For Literature

#839 in the United States

#907 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1190
Net Price: $20,492
Receiving Aid: 100%

60. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley

For Literature

#864 in the United States

#934 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1105
Net Price: $27,960
Receiving Aid: 100%

61. Marywood University

Scranton

For Literature

#890 in the United States

#961 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $26,217

62. Lincoln University

Lincoln University

For Literature

#902 in the United States

#973 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 890
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $13,750

63. Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre

For Literature

#906 in the United States

#977 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $28,511

64. Misericordia University

Dallas

For Literature

#918 in the United States

#989 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Net Price: $26,747
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $27,066

65. Lock Haven University

Lock Haven

For Literature

#919 in the United States

#990 in North America

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

66. Chatham University

Pittsburgh

For Literature

#934 in the United States

#1005 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1183
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $31,280

67. Westminster Theological Seminary

Glenside

For Literature

#935 in the United States

#1006 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 1,183
Male:Female: 64:36

68. Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion

For Literature

#949 in the United States

#1020 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	20
District of Columbia	9	51
New Jersey	20	19
New York	101	3
West Virginia	3	134
Connecticut	15	7
Virginia	32	26
Ohio	39	13
Massachusetts	48	4
Rhode Island	7	63
Vermont	5	143
New Hampshire	8	94
North Carolina	29	24
Indiana	23	21
Kentucky	17	78
Michigan	26	5
South Carolina	15	72
Maine	7	188
Tennessee	18	46
Illinois	48	11
Georgia	29	42
Wisconsin	19	15
Alabama	15	90
Iowa	12	37
Missouri	19	45
Mississippi	8	178
Minnesota	22	22
Arkansas	10	108
Florida	28	38
Louisiana	17	56
Kansas	8	64
South Dakota	5	369
Nebraska	7	93
Oklahoma	9	95
North Dakota	2	216
Texas	57	8
Colorado	17	41
New Mexico	4	102
Puerto Rico	3	589
Utah	6	52
Idaho	3	218
Arizona	6	28
Washington	17	10
Oregon	13	74
California	85	1
Hawaii	5	107

Closest to Pennsylvania states to learn Literature

Art & Design subfields in Pennsylvania