83 Best colleges for Development Studies 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 Development Studies. A graph of 2.89M citations received by 93.8K academic papers made by 83 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.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#8 in the United States

#9 in North America

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

2. Pennsylvania State University

University Park

For Development Studies

#18 in the United States

#20 in North America

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

3. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#27 in the United States

#29 in North America

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

4. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#53 in the United States

#61 in North America

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

5. Temple University

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#62 in the United States

#70 in North America

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

6. Drexel University

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#110 in the United States

#127 in North America

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

7. Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#148 in the United States

#168 in North America

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

8. California University of Pennsylvania

California

For Development Studies

#154 in the United States

#175 in North America

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

9. Lehigh University

Bethlehem

For Development Studies

#202 in the United States

#229 in North America

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

10. Villanova University

Villanova

For Development Studies

#203 in the United States

#230 in North America

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

11. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Hershey

For Development Studies

#224 in the United States

#253 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

12. Duquesne University

Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#251 in the United States

#283 in North America

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

13. Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana

For Development Studies

#310 in the United States

#345 in North America

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

14. Swarthmore College

Swarthmore

For Development Studies

#318 in the United States

#353 in North America

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

15. West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester

For Development Studies

#327 in the United States

#362 in North America

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

16. Widener University

Chester

For Development Studies

#334 in the United States

#370 in North America

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

17. Bucknell University

Lewisburg

For Development Studies

#345 in the United States

#382 in North America

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

18. Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr

For Development Studies

#365 in the United States

#405 in North America

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

19. Lafayette College

Easton

For Development Studies

#412 in the United States

#453 in North America

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

20. Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#447 in the United States

#492 in North America

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

21. University of Scranton

Scranton

For Development Studies

#462 in the United States

#507 in North America

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

22. University of the Sciences

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#466 in the United States

#512 in North America

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

23. Robert Morris University

Moon Township

For Development Studies

#490 in the United States

#536 in North America

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

24. La Salle University

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#501 in the United States

#548 in North America

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

25. Allegheny College

Meadville

For Development Studies

#522 in the United States

#570 in North America

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

26. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg

For Development Studies

#527 in the United States

#575 in North America

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

27. Gettysburg College

Gettysburg

For Development Studies

#534 in the United States

#583 in North America

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

28. Haverford College

Haverford

For Development Studies

#554 in the United States

#606 in North America

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

29. Dickinson College

Carlisle

For Development Studies

#564 in the United States

#616 in North America

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

30. Chestnut Hill College

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#565 in the United States

#617 in North America

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

31. Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster

For Development Studies

#566 in the United States

#618 in North America

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

32. Geneva College

Beaver Falls

For Development Studies

#585 in the United States

#640 in North America

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

33. Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville

For Development Studies

#589 in the United States

#645 in North America

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

34. Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Mansfield

For Development Studies

#592 in the United States

#648 in North America

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

35. King's College - Pennsylvania

Wilkes-Barre

For Development Studies

#604 in the United States

#660 in North America

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

36. American College of Financial Services

Bryn Mawr

For Development Studies

#615 in the United States

#672 in North America

Enrollment: 4,204
Male:Female: 69:31
Founded: 1927

37. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock

For Development Studies

#621 in the United States

#678 in North America

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

38. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown

For Development Studies

#630 in the United States

#687 in North America

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

39. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg

For Development Studies

#643 in the United States

#701 in North America

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

40. York College of Pennsylvania

York

For Development Studies

#646 in the United States

#704 in North America

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

41. Arcadia University

Glenside

For Development Studies

#674 in the United States

#735 in North America

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

42. Chatham University

Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#675 in the United States

#736 in North America

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

43. Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre

For Development Studies

#677 in the United States

#738 in North America

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

44. Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Scranton

For Development Studies

#684 in the United States

#745 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 649
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 2008

45. Gannon University

Erie

For Development Studies

#696 in the United States

#759 in North America

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

46. Lincoln University

Lincoln University

For Development Studies

#720 in the United States

#783 in North America

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

47. Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#742 in the United States

#806 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 3,027
Male:Female: 36:64

48. Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion

For Development Studies

#744 in the United States

#808 in North America

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

49. Moravian College

Bethlehem

For Development Studies

#755 in the United States

#819 in North America

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

50. Misericordia University

Dallas

For Development Studies

#767 in the United States

#832 in North America

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

51. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg

For Development Studies

#769 in the United States

#834 in North America

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

52. Susquehanna University

Selinsgrove

For Development Studies

#773 in the United States

#838 in North America

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

53. Saint Francis University

Loretto

For Development Studies

#782 in the United States

#848 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $27,421

54. Muhlenberg College

Allentown

For Development Studies

#802 in the United States

#870 in North America

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

55. La Roche College

Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#808 in the United States

#876 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1145
Net Price: $24,638
Receiving Aid: 100%

56. Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown

For Development Studies

#809 in the United States

#877 in North America

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

57. Messiah College

Mechanicsburg

For Development Studies

#828 in the United States

#897 in North America

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

58. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

Harrisburg

For Development Studies

#836 in the United States

#905 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Net Price: $14,882
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $18,747

59. Marywood University

Scranton

For Development Studies

#839 in the United States

#908 in North America

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

60. Eastern University

Saint Davids

For Development Studies

#852 in the United States

#921 in North America

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

61. Westminster College

New Wilmington

For Development Studies

#883 in the United States

#953 in North America

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

62. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Edinboro

For Development Studies

#889 in the United States

#959 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $5,524
Enrollment: 4,319

63. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Erie

For Development Studies

#893 in the United States

#963 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 4,117
Male:Female: 43:57

64. DeSales University

Center Valley

For Development Studies

#925 in the United States

#995 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $30,524

65. Lycoming College

Williamsport

For Development Studies

#950 in the United States

#1020 in North America

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

66. Ursinus College

Collegeville

For Development Studies

#951 in the United States

#1021 in North America

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

67. Saint Vincent College

Latrobe

For Development Studies

#967 in the United States

#1037 in North America

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

68. Salus University

Elkins Park

For Development Studies

#979 in the United States

#1050 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 1,148
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1919

69. Alvernia University

Reading

For Development Studies

#996 in the United States

#1068 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
Net Price: $26,166
Receiving Aid: 100%

70. Carlow University

Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#1048 in the United States

#1121 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Net Price: $20,561
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,233

71. Cabrini University

Radnor

For Development Studies

#1079 in the United States

#1153 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1163
Net Price: $24,733
Receiving Aid: 100%

72. Albright College

Reading

For Development Studies

#1087 in the United States

#1161 in North America

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

73. Lebanon Valley College

Annville

For Development Studies

#1090 in the United States

#1164 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1197
Net Price: $28,640
Receiving Aid: 100%

74. Lock Haven University

Lock Haven

For Development Studies

#1092 in the United States

#1167 in North America

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

75. Juniata College

Huntingdon

For Development Studies

#1113 in the United States

#1189 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $28,925

76. Seton Hill University

Greensburg

For Development Studies

#1121 in the United States

#1197 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $23,732

77. Holy Family University

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#1126 in the United States

#1202 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1040
Net Price: $13,016
Receiving Aid: 100%

78. Neumann University

Aston

For Development Studies

#1127 in the United States

#1203 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Net Price: $29,298
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $27,372

79. Delaware Valley University

Doylestown

For Development Studies

#1133 in the United States

#1209 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $28,401

80. Washington & Jefferson College

Washington

For Development Studies

#1139 in the United States

#1215 in North America

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

81. Mercyhurst University

Erie

For Development Studies

#1145 in the United States

#1221 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Net Price: $26,962
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,437

82. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley

For Development Studies

#1149 in the United States

#1225 in North America

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

83. Immaculata University

Immaculata

For Development Studies

#1173 in the United States

#1249 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $29,499

Closest to Pennsylvania states to learn Development Studies

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Maryland	24	3
District of Columbia	9	40
New Jersey	21	25
New York	109	6
West Virginia	9	102
Connecticut	20	12
Virginia	29	42
Ohio	44	20
Massachusetts	58	1
Rhode Island	9	45
Vermont	7	129
New Hampshire	10	61
North Carolina	33	9
Indiana	26	41
Kentucky	21	57
Michigan	25	2
South Carolina	20	63
Maine	9	234
Tennessee	24	38
Illinois	53	10
Georgia	34	35
Wisconsin	27	14
Alabama	19	68
Iowa	15	43
Missouri	24	47
Mississippi	10	182
Minnesota	24	13
Arkansas	13	141
Florida	37	32
Louisiana	21	92
Kansas	9	73
South Dakota	8	329
Nebraska	9	93
Oklahoma	13	117
North Dakota	5	231
Texas	63	26
Colorado	17	51
New Mexico	6	89
Montana	4	185
Puerto Rico	9	574
Utah	9	44
Idaho	4	221
Arizona	7	28
Nevada	5	147
Washington	20	5
Oregon	17	66
California	98	4
Alaska	3	308
Hawaii	5	106

Economics subfields in Pennsylvania

Actuarial Science14

Agricultural Economics6

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics38

Environmental Economics8

Finance59

International Economics13

International Relations and Diplomacy16

International Trade14

Investment Banking and Stock trading13

Political Economy22