University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs in Pennsylvania.
There are 387 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania. Ninety-six are public, while 291 are private institutions. The state has a population of almost 13 million and the unemployment rate is just 3.3 and dropping. Most industries are adding employees to their roster, with business and healthcare being the fastest growing sectors. For state residents that want to go back to school, there are many options for them to consider. Whether they want to attend a community college or one of the private schools, both traditional and online options are available.
However, our focus here is online education. And there are plenty of students in Pennsylvania who are making use of this relatively new invention. The number of available online courses and programs has grown exponentially over the years, especially during the pandemic. And these programs are here to stay.
Top 15 Best Online Associate & Community Colleges in Pennsylvania
1
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Score: 71.09
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,940
- Out-of-State:$25,680
- Net Price: $23,030
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 4,241
- Undergrad Students: 4,234
- Graduate Students: 7
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
2
Harcum College
Score: 62.39
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $29,900
- Out-of-State:$29,900
- Net Price: $23,435
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 51%
- Graduation Rate: 34%
- Total Enrollment: 910
- Undergrad Students: 910
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $64,000
- Student-to-faculty: 4:1
3
Bucks County Community College
Score: 60.56
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,221
- Out-of-State:$13,421
- Net Price: $7,061
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 25%
- Total Enrollment: 6,162
- Undergrad Students: 6,162
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $45,500
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
4
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology
Score: 59.46
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,445
- Out-of-State:$14,445
- Net Price: $17,354
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 40%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 651
- Undergrad Students: 651
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $36,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
5
Lackawanna College
Score: 57.16
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,950
- Out-of-State:$17,950
- Net Price: $18,144
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 38%
- Total Enrollment: 1,868
- Undergrad Students: 1,868
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $51,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
6
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Score: 55.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,360
- Out-of-State:$13,080
- Net Price: $6,548
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 38%
- Total Enrollment: 2,270
- Undergrad Students: 2,270
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $34,400
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
7
Community College of Beaver County
Score: 55.01
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,680
- Out-of-State:$19,890
- Net Price: $5,916
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 21%
- Total Enrollment: 1,720
- Undergrad Students: 1,720
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $40,800
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
8
Manor College
Score: 54.93
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $19,964
- Out-of-State:$19,964
- Net Price: $17,540
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 61%
- Graduation Rate: 36%
- Total Enrollment: 583
- Undergrad Students: 583
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $35,200
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
9
Montgomery County Community College
Score: 53.12
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,250
- Out-of-State:$16,230
- Net Price: $7,621
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 65%
- Graduation Rate: 23%
- Total Enrollment: 8,596
- Undergrad Students: 8,596
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $37,400
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
10
Westmoreland County Community College
Score: 52.85
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,224
- Out-of-State:$14,424
- Net Price: $6,243
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 19%
- Total Enrollment: 4,171
- Undergrad Students: 4,171
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $37,600
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
11
Pittsburgh Technical College
Score: 51.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $18,980
- Out-of-State:$18,980
- Net Price: $26,419
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 54%
- Total Enrollment: 1,066
- Undergrad Students: 1,066
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $35,900
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
12
Harrisburg Area Community College
Score: 51.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,918
- Out-of-State:$11,400
- Net Price: $9,991
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 53%
- Graduation Rate: 16%
- Total Enrollment: 12,576
- Undergrad Students: 12,576
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $42,100
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
13
Lehigh Carbon Community College
Score: 50.71
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,210
- Out-of-State:$13,205
- Net Price: $10,559
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 21%
- Total Enrollment: 6,242
- Undergrad Students: 6,242
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $40,100
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
14
Reading Area Community College
Score: 50.57
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,890
- Out-of-State:$12,030
- Net Price: $9,882
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 21%
- Total Enrollment: 4,533
- Undergrad Students: 4,533
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $37,200
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
15
Community College of Philadelphia
Score: 49.82
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,688
- Out-of-State:$12,440
- Net Price: $9,584
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 16%
- Total Enrollment: 11,636
- Undergrad Students: 11,636
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $38,100
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Top 25 Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania
1
University of Pennsylvania
Score: 91.45
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,104
- Out-of-State:$66,104
- Net Price: $26,123
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- Total Enrollment: 28,201
- Undergrad Students: 11,250
- Graduate Students: 16,951
- Grads Salary: $94,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
2
Villanova University
Score: 83.1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,701
- Out-of-State:$64,701
- Net Price: $34,837
- Acceptance Rate: 23%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 10,383
- Undergrad Students: 6,989
- Graduate Students: 3,394
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
3
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh
Score: 78.93
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $21,524
- Out-of-State:$39,890
- Net Price: $24,286
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- Total Enrollment: 33,767
- Undergrad Students: 24,420
- Graduate Students: 9,347
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
4
The Pennsylvania State University
Score: 77.88
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $20,234
- Out-of-State:$40,188
- Net Price: $26,747
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 50,028
- Undergrad Students: 41,745
- Graduate Students: 8,283
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
5
Thomas Jefferson University
Score: 75.11
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $45,683
- Out-of-State:$45,683
- Net Price: $28,110
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 8,286
- Undergrad Students: 3,771
- Graduate Students: 4,515
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
6
Temple University
Score: 73
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $22,082
- Out-of-State:$37,462
- Net Price: $23,935
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 33,196
- Undergrad Students: 24,106
- Graduate Students: 9,090
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
7
Saint Francis University
Score: 72.23
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $41,720
- Out-of-State:$41,720
- Net Price: $27,459
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 2,857
- Undergrad Students: 2,461
- Graduate Students: 396
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
8
Seton Hill University
Score: 71.95
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $41,414
- Out-of-State:$41,414
- Net Price: $24,576
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 1,988
- Undergrad Students: 1,627
- Graduate Students: 361
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
9
La Salle University
Score: 71.09
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,570
- Out-of-State:$35,570
- Net Price: $17,552
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 4,049
- Undergrad Students: 2,773
- Graduate Students: 1,276
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
10
Waynesburg University
Score: 70.72
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $29,460
- Out-of-State:$29,460
- Net Price: $22,281
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 1,366
- Undergrad Students: 1,116
- Graduate Students: 250
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
11
Drexel University
Score: 70.68
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $60,663
- Out-of-State:$60,663
- Net Price: $39,267
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 22,344
- Undergrad Students: 14,021
- Graduate Students: 8,323
- Grads Salary: $84,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
12
Gwynedd Mercy University
Score: 70.23
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $38,310
- Out-of-State:$38,310
- Net Price: $28,122
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- Total Enrollment: 2,091
- Undergrad Students: 1,412
- Graduate Students: 679
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
13
DeSales University
Score: 70.05
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $44,800
- Out-of-State:$44,800
- Net Price: $29,104
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 2,991
- Undergrad Students: 2,225
- Graduate Students: 766
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
14
Robert Morris University
Score: 69.97
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $34,940
- Out-of-State:$34,940
- Net Price: $23,572
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 3,431
- Undergrad Students: 2,767
- Graduate Students: 664
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
15
Cedar Crest College
Score: 69.9
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $44,934
- Out-of-State:$44,934
- Net Price: $23,500
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 1,324
- Undergrad Students: 953
- Graduate Students: 371
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
16
Carlow University
Score: 69.79
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $34,502
- Out-of-State:$34,502
- Net Price: $17,437
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 2,104
- Undergrad Students: 1,247
- Graduate Students: 857
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
17
Geneva College
Score: 69.75
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $33,610
- Out-of-State:$33,610
- Net Price: $20,999
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 1,232
- Undergrad Students: 1,123
- Graduate Students: 109
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
18
Elizabethtown College
Score: 69.69
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $36,842
- Out-of-State:$36,842
- Net Price: $26,723
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 2,021
- Undergrad Students: 1,737
- Graduate Students: 284
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
19
Immaculata University
Score: 68.79
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $28,550
- Out-of-State:$28,550
- Net Price: $29,188
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Total Enrollment: 2,361
- Undergrad Students: 1,496
- Graduate Students: 865
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
20
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Score: 68.6
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,507
- Out-of-State:$14,615
- Net Price: $17,873
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 66%
- Total Enrollment: 8,221
- Undergrad Students: 6,757
- Graduate Students: 1,464
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
21
University of Scranton
Score: 67.97
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $52,309
- Out-of-State:$52,309
- Net Price: $35,526
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 80%
- Total Enrollment: 4,731
- Undergrad Students: 3,593
- Graduate Students: 1,138
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
22
Duquesne University
Score: 67.58
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $47,146
- Out-of-State:$47,146
- Net Price: $33,919
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 8,107
- Undergrad Students: 5,095
- Graduate Students: 3,012
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
23
Misericordia University
Score: 67.25
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $38,370
- Out-of-State:$38,370
- Net Price: $27,033
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 75%
- Total Enrollment: 2,242
- Undergrad Students: 1,776
- Graduate Students: 466
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
24
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Score: 66.68
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,687
- Out-of-State:$22,511
- Net Price: $22,973
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 17,275
- Undergrad Students: 14,392
- Graduate Students: 2,883
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
25
Chatham University
Score: 66.28
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $43,810
- Out-of-State:$43,810
- Net Price: $28,322
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 2,387
- Undergrad Students: 1,499
- Graduate Students: 888
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
