Pennsylvania doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 55 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 55 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. West Chester came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Pennsylvania For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Pennsylvania's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | West Chester University of Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 14,164 (69 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 20,666 |
| Median rent | $1,731 |
| Graduation rate | 74% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $28,394 |
West Chester is home to West Chester University of Pennsylvania. There are 69 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,731 a month, and the average cost to attend is $28,394 a year. It ranks 22nd for crime among the 55 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Gettysburg College, United Lutheran Seminary |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,099 (25 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 8,254 |
| Median rent | $1,001 |
| Graduation rate | 84% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $81,960 |
Gettysburg is home to Gettysburg College, United Lutheran Seminary. There are 25 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,001 a month, and the average cost to attend is $81,960 a year. It ranks 10th for crime among the 55 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Indiana University of Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 6,764 (48 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 14,212 |
| Median rent | $849 |
| Graduation rate | 59% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $26,898 |
Indiana is home to Indiana University of Pennsylvania. There are 48 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $849 a month, and the average cost to attend is $26,898 a year. It ranks 12th for crime among the 55 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 38,686 (13 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 304,759 |
| Median rent | $1,261 |
| Graduation rate | 68% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $57,125 |
Pittsburgh is home to University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University. There are 13 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,261 a month, and the average cost to attend is $57,125 a year. It ranks 48th for crime among the 55 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Arcadia University, Westminster Theological Seminary |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,948 (25 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 7,659 |
| Median rent | $1,431 |
| Graduation rate | 70% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $64,645 |
Glenside is home to Arcadia University, Westminster Theological Seminary. There are 25 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,431 a month, and the average cost to attend is $64,645 a year. It ranks 31st for crime among the 55 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Lehigh University, Moravian University, International Institute for Restorative Practices |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 7,847 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 77,956 |
| Median rent | $1,382 |
| Graduation rate | 79% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $73,228 |
Bethlehem is home to Lehigh University, Moravian University, International Institute for Restorative Practices. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,382 a month, and the average cost to attend is $73,228 a year. It ranks 23rd for crime among the 55 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Lafayette College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,757 (9 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 29,739 |
| Median rent | $1,325 |
| Graduation rate | 91% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $83,133 |
Easton is home to Lafayette College. There are 9 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,325 a month, and the average cost to attend is $83,133 a year. It ranks 21st for crime among the 55 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster Bible College, Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 5,048 (9 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 57,719 |
| Median rent | $1,240 |
| Graduation rate | 73% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $55,384 |
Lancaster is home to Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster Bible College, Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster. There are 9 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,240 a month, and the average cost to attend is $55,384 a year. It ranks 31st for crime among the 55 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Dickinson College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,273 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 21,852 |
| Median rent | $1,094 |
| Graduation rate | 92% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $82,902 |
Carlisle is home to Dickinson College. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,094 a month, and the average cost to attend is $82,902 a year. It ranks 17th for crime among the 55 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Seton Hill University, University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,797 (19 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 14,741 |
| Median rent | $839 |
| Graduation rate | 58% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $43,162 |
Greensburg is home to Seton Hill University, University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg. There are 19 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $839 a month, and the average cost to attend is $43,162 a year. It ranks 14th for crime among the 55 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Pennsylvania
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 55 towns in Pennsylvania that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Pennsylvania.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Pennsylvania.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Pennsylvania
If you're looking for the best college towns in Pennsylvania, West Chester is where to start.
The best college towns in Pennsylvania are West Chester, Gettysburg, Indiana, Pittsburgh, Glenside, Bethlehem, Easton, Lancaster, Carlisle, and Greensburg.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Pennsylvania for 2026?
West Chester is the best college town in Pennsylvania for 2026, followed by Gettysburg and Indiana.
How did you rank the best college towns in Pennsylvania?
We looked at every town in Pennsylvania with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Pennsylvania?
Oreland ranks last of the 55 college towns we ranked in Pennsylvania for 2026.
Best College Towns In Pennsylvania For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Chester, PA | 20,666 | 14,164 | $1,731 |
| 2 | Gettysburg, PA | 8,254 | 2,099 | $1,001 |
| 3 | Indiana, PA | 14,212 | 6,764 | $849 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh, PA | 304,759 | 38,686 | $1,261 |
| 5 | Glenside, PA | 7,659 | 1,948 | $1,431 |
| 6 | Bethlehem, PA | 77,956 | 7,847 | $1,382 |
| 7 | Easton, PA | 29,739 | 2,757 | $1,325 |
| 8 | Lancaster, PA | 57,719 | 5,048 | $1,240 |
| 9 | Carlisle, PA | 21,852 | 2,273 | $1,094 |
| 10 | Greensburg, PA | 14,741 | 2,797 | $839 |
| 11 | Johnstown, PA | 18,087 | 1,808 | $644 |
| 12 | Lewisburg, PA | 5,257 | 3,876 | $997 |
| 13 | Grove City, PA | 7,830 | 2,216 | $906 |
| 14 | Swarthmore, PA | 6,550 | 1,613 | $1,532 |
| 15 | Millersville, PA | 8,982 | 5,728 | $1,369 |
| 16 | Media, PA | 5,870 | 1,223 | $1,411 |
| 17 | Middletown, PA | 7,628 | 4,031 | $1,545 |
| 18 | Shippensburg, PA | 5,620 | 4,086 | $891 |
| 19 | Mechanicsburg, PA | 9,720 | 2,259 | $1,083 |
| 20 | Huntingdon, PA | 6,897 | 1,191 | $838 |
| 21 | Hazleton, PA | 30,111 | 501 | $1,089 |
| 22 | Selinsgrove, PA | 5,593 | 2,163 | $1,059 |
| 23 | Williamsport, PA | 27,612 | 5,460 | $855 |
| 24 | Reading, PA | 95,242 | 5,241 | $1,067 |
| 25 | Phoenixville, PA | 19,452 | 471 | $1,735 |
| 26 | Chester, PA | 33,619 | 2,951 | $1,091 |
| 27 | King of Prussia, PA | 25,857 | 5,144 | $2,077 |
| 28 | Scranton, PA | 76,033 | 7,373 | $1,048 |
| 29 | Harrisburg, PA | 50,287 | 615 | $1,062 |
| 30 | Philadelphia, PA | 1,579,706 | 61,767 | $1,397 |
| 31 | York, PA | 44,938 | 3,933 | $1,014 |
| 32 | Monaca, PA | 5,519 | 482 | $768 |
| 33 | Bloomsburg, PA | 13,024 | 9,210 | $980 |
| 34 | East Stroudsburg, PA | 9,319 | 4,814 | $1,479 |
| 35 | Bryn Mawr, PA | 5,880 | 1,359 | $2,173 |
| 36 | Wilkes-Barre, PA | 44,423 | 3,469 | $946 |
| 37 | Beaver Falls, PA | 8,850 | 1,096 | $727 |
| 38 | Greenville, PA | 5,523 | 788 | $626 |
| 39 | Ambler, PA | 6,847 | 38 | $1,447 |
| 40 | Bradford, PA | 7,683 | 995 | $800 |
| 41 | Dunmore, PA | 14,181 | 793 | $928 |
| 42 | Erie, PA | 93,850 | 7,800 | $870 |
| 43 | Schuylkill Haven, PA | 5,253 | 620 | $904 |
| 44 | Allentown, PA | 125,976 | 2,561 | $1,317 |
| 45 | McKeesport, PA | 17,380 | 349 | $848 |
| 46 | Altoona, PA | 43,196 | 2,367 | $819 |
| 47 | Meadville, PA | 12,577 | 1,156 | $855 |
| 48 | Collegeville, PA | 5,247 | 1,491 | $1,437 |
| 49 | Washington, PA | 13,368 | 1,295 | $910 |
| 50 | Chambersburg, PA | 22,319 | 865 | $1,099 |
| 51 | New Kensington, PA | 12,011 | 416 | $751 |
| 52 | Ambridge, PA | 6,890 | 0 | $969 |
| 53 | DuBois, PA | 7,402 | 349 | $899 |
| 54 | Sharon, PA | 12,936 | 256 | $827 |
| 55 | Oreland, PA | 5,953 | 0 | $1,261 |
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