78 Best colleges for Development Studies in Pennsylvania

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 2.1M citations received by 84.3K academic papers made by 78 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: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

2. Pennsylvania State University

University Park

For Development Studies

#17 in the United States

#19 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

3. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#24 in the United States

#26 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

4. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#52 in the United States

#60 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

5. Temple University

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#63 in the United States

#71 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

6. Drexel University

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#114 in the United States

#131 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,267

7. California University of Pennsylvania

California

For Development Studies

#124 in the United States

#142 in North America

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

8. Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#148 in the United States

#168 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $28,110

9. Lehigh University

Bethlehem

For Development Studies

#193 in the United States

#218 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $30,453

10. Villanova University

Villanova

For Development Studies

#204 in the United States

#231 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1439
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $34,837

11. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Hershey

For Development Studies

#210 in the United States

#239 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

12. Duquesne University

Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#243 in the United States

#272 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $33,919

13. Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana

For Development Studies

#308 in the United States

#343 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 100%

14. West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester

For Development Studies

#330 in the United States

#365 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 86%

15. Widener University

Chester

For Development Studies

#335 in the United States

#370 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1198
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $32,185

16. Swarthmore College

Swarthmore

For Development Studies

#338 in the United States

#374 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,715

17. Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr

For Development Studies

#353 in the United States

#391 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1388
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,072

18. Bucknell University

Lewisburg

For Development Studies

#361 in the United States

#400 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,965

19. Lafayette College

Easton

For Development Studies

#428 in the United States

#470 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $37,186

20. University of Scranton

Scranton

For Development Studies

#457 in the United States

#500 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $35,526

21. Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#462 in the United States

#506 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $33,777

22. Robert Morris University

Moon Township

For Development Studies

#472 in the United States

#517 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Net Price: $23,572
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $24,512

23. La Salle University

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#475 in the United States

#520 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1159
Net Price: $17,552
Receiving Aid: 100%

24. University of the Sciences

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#510 in the United States

#557 in North America

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

25. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg

For Development Studies

#515 in the United States

#562 in North America

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

26. Allegheny College

Meadville

For Development Studies

#531 in the United States

#578 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1243
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $26,719

27. Haverford College

Haverford

For Development Studies

#536 in the United States

#583 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,476

28. Gettysburg College

Gettysburg

For Development Studies

#546 in the United States

#595 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $33,882

29. Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster

For Development Studies

#549 in the United States

#599 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $31,135

30. American College of Financial Services

Bryn Mawr

For Development Studies

#552 in the United States

#602 in North America

Founded: 1927

31. Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville

For Development Studies

#569 in the United States

#622 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1155
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $5,902

32. Dickinson College

Carlisle

For Development Studies

#587 in the United States

#641 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Net Price: $37,610
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $39,554

33. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock

For Development Studies

#598 in the United States

#654 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 98%

34. Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Mansfield

For Development Studies

#604 in the United States

#660 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

#605 in the United States

#661 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $25,869

36. Chestnut Hill College

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#617 in the United States

#674 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Net Price: $25,357
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,288

37. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg

For Development Studies

#619 in the United States

#676 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1095
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $7,593

38. York College of Pennsylvania

York

For Development Studies

#620 in the United States

#677 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $20,916

39. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown

For Development Studies

#622 in the United States

#679 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1150
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $7,563

40. Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Scranton

For Development Studies

#655 in the United States

#715 in North America

Enrollment: 708
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 2008

41. Chatham University

Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#667 in the United States

#729 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $28,322

42. Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre

For Development Studies

#678 in the United States

#742 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $27,918

43. Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#683 in the United States

#747 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 3,036
Male:Female: 37:63

44. Arcadia University

Glenside

For Development Studies

#691 in the United States

#755 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1204
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $29,692

45. La Roche College

Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#719 in the United States

#784 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $24,233

46. Gannon University

Erie

For Development Studies

#723 in the United States

#788 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $22,200
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,172

47. Geneva College

Beaver Falls

For Development Studies

#727 in the United States

#792 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Net Price: $20,999
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $20,305

48. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg

For Development Studies

#740 in the United States

#805 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1050
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 95%

49. Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion

For Development Studies

#742 in the United States

#807 in North America

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

50. Moravian College

Bethlehem

For Development Studies

#743 in the United States

#808 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1157
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $31,168

51. Misericordia University

Dallas

For Development Studies

#755 in the United States

#820 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Net Price: $27,033
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,008

52. Saint Francis University

Loretto

For Development Studies

#773 in the United States

#839 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $27,459

53. Marywood University

Scranton

For Development Studies

#807 in the United States

#874 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $22,504

54. Susquehanna University

Selinsgrove

For Development Studies

#811 in the United States

#879 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1184
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $28,605

55. Muhlenberg College

Allentown

For Development Studies

#823 in the United States

#891 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $32,926

56. Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown

For Development Studies

#829 in the United States

#897 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $26,723

57. Eastern University

Saint Davids

For Development Studies

#835 in the United States

#903 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Net Price: $26,669
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $25,542

58. Lincoln University

Lincoln University

For Development Studies

#840 in the United States

#908 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 940
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 99%

59. Westminster College

New Wilmington

For Development Studies

#858 in the United States

#928 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Net Price: $22,645
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,252

60. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Edinboro

For Development Studies

#864 in the United States

#934 in North America

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

61. Messiah College

Mechanicsburg

For Development Studies

#868 in the United States

#938 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $24,120

62. DeSales University

Center Valley

For Development Studies

#869 in the United States

#939 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $29,104

63. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

Harrisburg

For Development Studies

#872 in the United States

#942 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Net Price: $10,022
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,589

64. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Erie

For Development Studies

#874 in the United States

#944 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 4,307
Male:Female: 43:57

65. Lycoming College

Williamsport

For Development Studies

#884 in the United States

#954 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1146
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,697

66. Ursinus College

Collegeville

For Development Studies

#912 in the United States

#982 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $33,546

67. Saint Vincent College

Latrobe

For Development Studies

#924 in the United States

#994 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $23,121

68. Salus University

Elkins Park

For Development Studies

#987 in the United States

#1060 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 1,165
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1919

69. Carlow University

Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#989 in the United States

#1062 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 975
Net Price: $17,437
Receiving Aid: 99%

70. Seton Hill University

Greensburg

For Development Studies

#1014 in the United States

#1087 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $24,576

71. Albright College

Reading

For Development Studies

#1030 in the United States

#1103 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Net Price: $21,496
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $21,420

72. Juniata College

Huntingdon

For Development Studies

#1039 in the United States

#1112 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,926

73. Cabrini University

Radnor

For Development Studies

#1040 in the United States

#1113 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1115
Net Price: $21,981
Receiving Aid: 100%

74. Lebanon Valley College

Annville

For Development Studies

#1054 in the United States

#1127 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $26,743

75. Lock Haven University

Lock Haven

For Development Studies

#1058 in the United States

#1132 in North America

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

76. Holy Family University

Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#1067 in the United States

#1141 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 972
Net Price: $12,379
Receiving Aid: 100%

77. Mercyhurst University

Erie

For Development Studies

#1104 in the United States

#1178 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $24,935
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $32,418

78. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley

For Development Studies

#1118 in the United States

#1192 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1125
Net Price: $28,122
Receiving Aid: 100%

Closest to Pennsylvania states to learn Development Studies

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Maryland	24	3
District of Columbia	8	40
New Jersey	21	30
New York	107	6
West Virginia	9	103
Connecticut	19	10
Virginia	29	41
Ohio	44	18
Massachusetts	55	1
Rhode Island	8	44
Vermont	5	125
New Hampshire	9	74
North Carolina	30	11
Indiana	25	59
Kentucky	18	53
Michigan	24	2
South Carolina	20	61
Maine	9	232
Tennessee	23	38
Illinois	52	14
Georgia	32	35
Wisconsin	28	13
Alabama	18	65
Iowa	14	42
Missouri	23	46
Mississippi	10	190
Minnesota	23	12
Arkansas	10	143
Florida	36	31
Louisiana	18	92
Kansas	9	75
South Dakota	8	326
Nebraska	7	97
Oklahoma	12	112
North Dakota	5	229
Texas	63	25
Colorado	17	47
New Mexico	6	89
Montana	4	182
Puerto Rico	7	577
Utah	9	43
Idaho	4	226
Arizona	6	28
Nevada	5	144
Washington	20	4
Oregon	17	64
California	94	5
Alaska	3	310
Hawaii	5	109

Economics subfields in Pennsylvania

Actuarial Science13

Agricultural Economics7

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics37

Environmental Economics8

Finance58

International Economics11

International Relations and Diplomacy18

International Trade13

Investment Banking and Stock trading14

Political Economy21