This article ranks the top Pennsylvania colleges and universities by average (midhinge) SAT scores for recent enrollees.
The SAT college placement exam comprises three sections: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. Each section of the SAT is worth a total of 800 points; therefore, a perfect score is 2400.
Ranking Pennsylvania colleges and universities by average SAT scores is the best methodology for several reasons. First, Pennsylvania is a so-called “SAT state” where more students sit for the SAT than the ACT exam. Second, every leading Pennsylvania college and university reports SAT scores, but not necessarily ACT scores. Finally, it is implicitly recognized that SAT scores are the gold standard when applying to elite Pennsylvania colleges and universities. By way of example, 90% of enrollees at the University of Pennsylvania submitted SAT results while only 36% proffered ACT scores.
The following are the top Pennsylvania colleges and universities along with their locations, average SAT scores, acceptance rates, and enrollment rates.
1. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: University of Pennsylvania
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 2155
Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment Rate: 61%
2. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Swarthmore College
Location: Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 2150
Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment Rate: 41%
3. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Carnegie Mellon University
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 2065
Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment Rate: 28%
4. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Haverford College
Location: Haverford, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 2045
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment Rate: 37%
5. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Bucknell University
Location: Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1954
Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment Rate: 41%
6. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Gettysburg College
Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1949
Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment Rate: 34%
7. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Bryn Mawr College
Location: Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1935
Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment Rate: 33%
8. (tie) Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Lehigh University
Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1924
Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment Rate: 33%
8. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Villanova University
Location: Villanova, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1924
Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment Rate: 27%
9. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Dickinson College
Location: Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1920
Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment Rate: 24%
10. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Lafayette College
Location: Easton, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1905
Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment Rate: 36%
11. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: University of Pittsburgh
Location: Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1884
Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment Rate: 30%
12. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Grove City College
Location: Grove City, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1872
Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment Rate: 56%
13. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Ursinus College
Location: Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1855
Acceptance Rate: 57%
Enrollment Rate: 15%
14. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Muhlenberg College
Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1820
Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment Rate: 29%
15. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Juniata College
Location: Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1804
Acceptance Rate: 71%
Enrollment Rate: 27%
16. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Allegheny College
Location: Meadville, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1800
Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment Rate: 22%
17. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Drexel University
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1780
Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment Rate: 11%
18. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1779
Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment Rate: 36%
19. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: University of the Sciences of Philadelphia
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1724
Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment Rate: 24%
20. Top Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities: Messiah College
Location: Grantham, Pennsylvania
Average SAT Score: 1704
Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment Rate: 34%
NOTE: Some Pennsylvania colleges and universities do not report SAT Writing scores. In such cases, scores were statistically imputed from Critical Reading scores. Specialty colleges and universities with limited courses of study, and institutions with “open admissions” policies, are not included in these rankings.
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Source(s):
“COLLEGE Navigator” ies NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS
