Universities in Philadelphia, USA
- Rankings & Reviews -

For business studies see our separate ranking of business schools in Philadelphia, USA

Latest ranking updates related to universities in Philadelphia
  • 06 Mar, 2024: Scimago Institutions Rankings updated with University of Pennsylvania ranked highest among 6 listed universities in Philadelphia.
  • 25 Jan, 2024: THE Times Higher Education, UK published most recent results of THE World’s Most International Universities. University of Pennsylvania achieves position 87.
  • 19 Dec, 2023: Urap published most recent results of URAP World Ranking - University Ranking by Academic Performance. Includes 4 universities from Philadelphia.
  • 15 Dec, 2023: ShanghaiRanking Consultancy published most recent results of Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments - ShanghaiRanking (Sport Science). Temple University achieves position 51.

Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, has a reputation as a great place to study. Some of the best Business, Law and Health Sciences programs in the U.S. are here. It is one of the largest cities in the country and is quite densely populated. The population is diverse and many nationalities have a section of the city devoted to their culture.

Philly residents enjoy a good standard of living, for the most part, thanks to having access to some of the most affordable housing in the country, reliable public transport, and a rich selection of research universities for students to choose from.

If your course load isn't enough, Philadelphia can keep any student busy. There are historical firsts to be discovered all over the city, myriad museums, and an excellent and varied music scene. If you are an art fan, Philadelphia may surprise you, the city has the most murals and outdoor sculptures in the country.


Rankings of universities in Philadelphia, USA 2024

  • #10 
  • #16 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #12 
  • #12 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #6 
  • #12 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
Show 31 more rankings of University of Pennsylvania and subject specific rankings for 12 subjects

  • #78 
  • #301 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #115 
  • #115 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #96 
  • #601 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
Show 23 more rankings of Drexel University and subject specific rankings for 10 subjects

  • #85 
  • #351 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #166 
  • #166 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #109 
  • #721 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
Show 25 more rankings of Temple University and subject specific rankings for 11 subjects


  • #145 
  • #143 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #129 
  • #590 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2024]
  • #107 
  • #405 
US News: Best Global Universities
[Published 24 October, 2022]
Show 12 more rankings of Thomas Jefferson University and subject specific rankings for 3 subjects

  • #646 
  • #668 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #724 
  • #754 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #194 
  • #195 
MONEY Best Colleges in America, ranked by value
[Published 16 May, 2022]
Show 3 more rankings of Holy Family University and subject specific rankings for 1 subjects

#6
USA

La Salle University

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  • #200 
  • #201 
US News Best National Universities
[Published 17 September, 2023]

  • #468 
  • #3649 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2024]
  • #1 
  • #101 
QS University Rankings: Arab Region
[Published 18 October, 2023]
  • #1 
  • #41 
UniRank 4icu: Top 200 Arabic-Speaking Universities
[Published 11 August, 2022]
Show 1 more rankings of Philadelphia University

#8
USA

Moore College of Art and Design

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  • #1249 
  • #1307 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #1307 
  • #1377 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #1474 
  • #9046 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

#9
USA

Peirce College

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  • #1300 
  • #1361 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #1327 
  • #1398 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]

  • #1323 
  • #1389 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #1208 
  • #1268 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #541 
  • #544 
MONEY Best Colleges in America, ranked by value
[Published 16 May, 2022]
Show 1 more rankings of Chestnut Hill College

#11
USA

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Student satisfaction: 4.6 / 5.0 (438 reviews)
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  • #1114 
  • #7250 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

#12
USA

Curtis Institute of Music

  • #1232 
  • #7766 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

Student satisfaction: 4.0 / 5.0 (121 reviews)
  • #236 
  • #236 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #526 
  • #4439 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2024]
  • #183 
  • #187 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
Show 5 more rankings of Saint Joseph's University and subject specific rankings for 1 subjects

  • #229 
  • #229 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #79 
  • #80 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #104 
  • #103 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
Show 1 more rankings of University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and subject specific rankings for 1 subjects

Student satisfaction: 5.0 / 5.0 (335 reviews)
  • #497 
  • #501 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #906 
  • #945 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #969 
  • #1014 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
Show 1 more rankings of The University of the Arts

#16
USA

Erivan K. Haub School of Business, Saint Joseph's University


Highest subject rankings of universities in Philadelphia

Education US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
#1 
University of Pennsylvania
Marketing QS World University Rankings By Subject
#1 
University of Pennsylvania
Law GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#3 
University of Pennsylvania
Nursing & Health Care Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
#5 
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Psychology GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#6 
University of Pennsylvania
Computer Science Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
#13 
University of Pennsylvania
Journalism URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
#13 
University of Pennsylvania
Engineering Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
#14 
University of Pennsylvania
Linguistics QS World University Rankings By Subject
#16 
University of Pennsylvania
Mathematics NTU Rankings by Subject
#33 
University of Pennsylvania

Student Opinions About Studying in Philadelphia

“People moving to Philadelphia who want to save a little money on rent should look for apartments just outside the boundaries of the more expensive, trendy neighbourhoods, which means you get the price reduction for not living in the chic neighbourhoods, but you can still get there easily on foot. The rent you pay here well-situated apartments is just incredible”

“The live music scene in Philadelphia is great. I was able to see a show in the city roughly every two weeks when I was studying for my degree at Temple. Great way to meet new people off campus.”

“Summers in Philadelphia gave me a lot of positive memories. There’s always some free or very cheap music show to attend, as well as lots of little bars with tons of character and charm. You’ll never be stuck for ideas on how to spend your free time, there’s always something going on.”

Philadelphia Key Facts for International Students

PROS

  • The housing situation is in general very affordable compared to other major US cities, with modern, 3-bedroom apartments available close to the University of Pennsylvania in the range of $1,000-$1,400, for example. Prices vary according to which neighbourhood you’re interested in, but there are options for every price point in Philadelphia.

  • A city that offers plenty of options for your free time, such as numerous and varied nightlife venues for the party goers, or Valley Forge Historical National Park for those who want to take a break from the city surroundings and enjoy its roughly 3,500 acres of woodlands, meadows and monuments. However you like to spend your free time, there is something for everyone here.

  • Students in the city have the possibility of using the SEPTA Student Fare Discount Initiative, which is offered through universities participating in the scheme. Students should consult their university’s Bursar’s office for more information.

CONS

  • One of the most recurring negative comments made about Philadelphia is its high crime rates, especially drug-related crime.

  • The job market in Philadelphia is known for being fiercely competitive in recent years, with even entry level positions receiving hundreds of applications from qualified job seekers. The general consensus is that it will take at least 6 months to get a job after moving to Philadelphia.

  • The cost of living in Philadelphia is higher than the national average, which is calculated without rent. The figure is calculated using groceries, gasoline, energy bills, and public transport rates.


15 out of 16 Universities in Philadelphia Ranked in at least one ranking

39 Different Rankings list Universities in Philadelphia (25 institution and 14 subject rankings)

32 Global Rankings rank Universities in Philadelphia Among TOP 200

Population: 1604000

Elevation: 12 m. above sea level

Time: GMT -5

District/province: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County

Living costs for students in Philadelphia:

* 100 = prices in London

  • Living costs without accommodation 97* (3% cheaper than London)
  • All costs including accommodation 83* (17% cheaper than London)
  • Meals (grocery & lower cost restaurants) 88* (12% cheaper than London)
  • Average Big Mac price 5.15 US$
  • Plug Type A
    • Residential voltage: 120 V
    • Frequency: 60 Hz
  • Plug Type B
    • Residential voltage: 120 V
    • Frequency: 60 Hz

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FAQ

University of Pennsylvania ranks #1 in Philadelphia in our meta ranking composed of 112 university rankings.

Among all universities in Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania is listed in the largest number of rankings. See all 48 rankings where University of Pennsylvania is listed.

University of Pennsylvania is ranked best in Philadelphia for Education (Education). See all rankings for the University of Pennsylvania.

University of Pennsylvania is ranked best in Philadelphia for Business (Marketing). See all rankings for the University of Pennsylvania.

University of Pennsylvania is ranked best in Philadelphia for Law (Law). See all rankings for the University of Pennsylvania.

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia is ranked best in Philadelphia for Medicine & Health (Nursing & Health Care). See all rankings for the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.

University of Pennsylvania is ranked best in Philadelphia for Social Studies & Humanities (Psychology). See all rankings for the University of Pennsylvania.

University of Pennsylvania is ranked best in Philadelphia for Computer Science (Computer Science). See all rankings for the University of Pennsylvania.

University of Pennsylvania is ranked best in Philadelphia for Journalism & Media Studies (Journalism). See all rankings for the University of Pennsylvania.

University of Pennsylvania is ranked best in Philadelphia for Engineering (Engineering). See all rankings for the University of Pennsylvania.

University of Pennsylvania is ranked best in Philadelphia for Languages & Literature (Linguistics). See all rankings for the University of Pennsylvania.

University of Pennsylvania is ranked best in Philadelphia for Mathematics (Mathematics). See all rankings for the University of Pennsylvania.

University of Pennsylvania is ranked best in Philadelphia for Natural Sciences (Physics). See all rankings for the University of Pennsylvania.

University of Pennsylvania is ranked best in Philadelphia for Agriculture (Agriculture). See all rankings for the University of Pennsylvania.

Ranking publishers

4icu

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British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK

Criteria used in ranking -QS World University Rankings:

Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%

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Criteria used in ranking -QS Employability Rankings:

Employer reputation 30% Alumni outcomes 25% Partnerships with Employers per Faculty 25% Employer/Student Connections 10% Graduate employment rate 10%

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Criteria used in ranking -QS University Rankings: Arab Region:

Academic reputation 30% Employer reputation 20% Faculty/student ratio 15% International research network 10%

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CWUR Center for World University Rankings

Criteria used in ranking -CWUR Center for World University Rankings:

Research Performance: 40%

  • Research Output: 10%
  • High-Quality Publications: 10%
  • Influence: 10%
  • Citations: 10%

Quality of Education: 25%

Alumni Employment: 25%

Quality of Faculty: 10%

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Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands

Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:

Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity

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Forbes

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Kiplinger

Criteria used in ranking -Kiplinger's Best College Values:

Quality Criteria 55% Cost Criteria 45%

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MONEY

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Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Best Colleges in America, ranked by value:

Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%

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Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Colleges That Add the Most Value:

Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%

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NTU ranking

Criteria used in ranking -NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers:

Research Productivity: 25%

  • # Articles last 11 years: 10%
  • # Articles current year: 15%

Research Impact: 35%

  • # Citations last 11 years: 15%
  • # Citations last 2 years: 10%
  • Average # citations last 11 years: 10%

Research Excellence: 40%

  • H-index last 2 years: 10%
  • # Highly cited papers last 11 years: 15%
  • # Articles current year in high-impact journals: 15%

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Nature Index

Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index - Academic:

Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)

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Payscale

Criteria used in ranking -Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only):

Ranking is based on ROI

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RUR Ranking Agency (Moscow, Russia)

Criteria used in ranking -RUR World University Rankings:

Teaching: 40%

  • Ratio Faculty/Student: 8%
  • Ratio Faculty/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • Ratio Faculty/Doctoral Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • Ratio Doctoral Degrees Awarded/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • World Teaching Reputation: 8%

Research: 40%

  • Citations per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
  • Doctoral Degrees per Accepted PhD: 8%
  • Normalized Citation Impact: 8%
  • Papers per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
  • World Research Reputation: 8%

International Diversity: 10%

  • International Faculty: 2%
  • International Students: 2%
  • International Co-Authored Papers: 2%
  • Reputation Outside Geographical Region: 2%
  • International Level: 2%

Financial Sustainability: 10%

  • Institutional Income per Faculty: 2%
  • Institutional Income per Student: 2%
  • Papers per Research Income: 2%
  • Research Income per Academic/Research Staff: 2%
  • Research Income per Institutional Income: 2%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR Academic Rankings:

Normalized citation impact (Citations of research publications from all university authors compared with world averages) 20% Citation per papers 20% Papers per academic and research staff 20% International research reputation 20% Share of research publications written in international co-authorship 20%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR Reputation Ranking:

Teaching Reputation 50% Research Reputation 50%

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Scimago Institutions

Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:

Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%

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ShanghaiRanking Consultancy

Criteria used in ranking -ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking:

Quality of Education 10%

  • Alumni winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 10%

Quality of Faculty 40%

  • Staff winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 20%
  • Highly Cited Researchers 20%

Research Output 40%

  • Papers published in Nature and Science 20%
  • Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded & Social Science Citation Index 20%

Per Capita Performance 10%

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StuDocu

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THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -THE World University Rankings:

30% Teaching (the Learning Environment)

  • Reputation survey: 15%
  • Staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%
  • Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio: 2.25%
  • Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 6%
  • Institutional income: 2.25%

30% Research (Volume, Income and Reputation)

  • Reputation survey: 18%
  • Research income: 6%
  • Research productivity: 6%

30% Citations (Research Influence)

7.5% International Outlook (Staff, Students and Research)

  • Proportion of international students: 2.5%
  • Proportion of international staff: 2.5%
  • International collaboration: 2.5%

2.5% Industry Income (Knowledge Transfer)"

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Criteria used in ranking -THE Global Employability University Ranking:

Employability (survey) 100%

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Criteria used in ranking -THE World Reputation Rankings:

Research Reputation 66,6% Teaching Reputation 33,3%

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Criteria used in ranking -THE World’s Most International Universities:

Proportion of international students 25% Proportion of international staff 25% Proportion of journal publications with one or more international co-authors 25% University’s international reputation 25%

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The Princeton Review

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Thomson Reuters

Criteria used in ranking -Reuters Most Innovative Universities:

Patent Volume 33% Patent Citations 34% Industry Article Citation Impact 11% Percent of Industry Collaborative Articles 11% Total Web of Science Core Collection Papers 11%

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Urap

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Us News

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Wallstreet Journal USA & THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings:

Outcomes 40% (employability) Resources 30% Engagement 20% (teaching) Environment 10% (diversity)

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Washington Monthly

Criteria used in ranking -Washington Monthly - National Universities:

Social Mobility 33.33%
Research 33.33%
Community and National Service 33.33%

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Webometrics

Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:

Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%

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