2023 Best Undergraduate Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania

Published: September 1, 2022

By: Colleges of Distinction Staff

Jump to: Bucknell University | Elizabethtown College | Geneva College | Grove City College | Lafayette College | Lehigh University | Messiah University | PennWest University | Saint Francis University | Villanova University | Widener University | York College of Pennsylvania | Frequently Asked Questions

Unsurprisingly, today’s labor trends suggest that there is strong and consistent growth across engineering professions, which are increasing their demand for talented, diverse, dedicated individuals. That’s why we at Colleges of Distinction are proud to announce our 2022-2023 selection of excellent schools for engineering majors in Pennsylvania!

These colleges and universities have demonstrated a commitment to the Four Distinctions, which ensure quality and student success throughout it programming. And, as Pennsylvania Engineering Colleges of Distinction, they enrich their engineering programs with a multidisciplinary, collaborative, and well-connected curriculum. Prospective students know that an education from a 2022-2023 Pennsylvania Engineering College of Distinction will prepare them for their futures as innovators.

What makes a 2022-2023 Pennsylvania Engineering College of Distinction?

Stability and quality of these programs are evidenced by their accreditation by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology).

Practical experience is a given through internships, co-ops, and experiential learning, all of which help students apply their knowledge to the real world.

Multidisciplinary options are available to students, such as civil engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, computer engineering, biomedical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

Collaborative work is encouraged in the classroom, so students learn to be effective team members and leaders.

Soft skills—such as communication, leadership, and teamwork—are emphasized to ensure that students are not just skilled engineers, but also resilient and capable professionals.

Facility investments keep schools’ technology up to date while supporting students along their academic journey.

Dedicated advising and counseling is available to be specifically geared toward engineering students.

High-impact practices, which are intrinsic to every College of Distinction, are fully embraced within the engineering curriculum that are important to all colleges of distinction are incorporated in the engineering curriculum.

Industry connections cultivate an environment for students to create a valuable professional network.

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA ‧ Private ‧ 4-year

Discover new opportunities at Bucknell University. Bucknell is a private institution in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania with more than 60 majors and 70 minors.

Professional and preprofessional programs in the College of Engineering, music, education, and the Freeman College of Management do more than coexist with the liberal arts and sciences. Bucknell is a unique national university where liberal arts and professional programs complement each other. Bucknell educates students for a lifetime of critical thinking and strong leadership characterized by continued intellectual exploration, creativity and imagination. 

Acceptance rate 38%      •      Net price $39,359      •      SAT Range 1250-1430     •     Students submitting SAT scores 54%
Total Undergrad Population 3,726     •     Setting Town     •     Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 88%      •      Retention rate 92%      •      Student-to-faculty ratio 9:1

Click here for available majors

Engineering Majors Offered

Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown, PA ‧ Private ‧ 4-year

The Elizabethtown College educational experience blends a high standard of scholarship with the commitment to educate its students in a relationship-centered learning community, foster international and cross-cultural perspectives, complement classroom instruction with experiential-learning opportunities, and prepare students for purposeful lives and meaningful work.

All Elizabethtown College students complete at least two Signature Learning Experiences (SLE) as part of their graduation requirements. Signature Learning Experiences are cataloged into five unique categories: supervised research; community-based learning; cross-cultural experiences; internships, field experiences or practicums; and capstone experiences. The Signature Learning Experiences challenge students to think beyond the classroom, traveling across borders and going behind the scenes.

MOMENTUM
Elizabethtown College offers the Momentum experience to first-generation college students whose families are unfamiliar with the transition to college. Momentum students arrive on campus a week prior to fall orientation, easing into the college lifestyle with plenty of time to adjust. Throughout this early week, the students attend workshops for academic and personal development and go on field trips that build camaraderie with their new peers.

Acceptance rate 86%      •      Net price $25,767      •      SAT Range 1080-1280     •     Students submitting SAT scores 85%
Total Undergrad Population 1,881     •     Setting Suburb     •     Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 72%      •      Retention rate 89%      •           Student-to-faculty ratio 12:1

Click here for available majors

Engineering Majors Offered

Engineering, General
Computer Engineering

Geneva College

Beaver Falls, PA ‧ Christian ‧ 4-year

Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Geneva offers over 80 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, including nursing, management, marketing, and cybersecurity, an array of fully online bachelor’s programs designed to be attainable for busy adults, and five high-demand graduate degrees in both classroom and online formats. The ABET-accredited engineering program is a Top 100 Best Undergraduate Engineering Program in the nation.

Adhering to the truth of scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God’s word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write, and communicate well in today’s world. A full 96% of students are working or in graduate school a year after graduation.

Geneva’s faculty of 100% committed Christians challenge students with a curriculum emphasizing the liberal arts and certain professional fields within the context of a Biblical view of life and the world. Faith is integrated into all academics, activities, and athletics, which includes 18 NCAA Division III varsity sports.

Acceptance rate 73%      •      Net price $19,967
Total Undergrad Population 1,349     •     Setting Suburb     •     Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 72%      •      Retention rate 78%      •      Student-to-faculty ratio 12:1

Click here for available majors

Engineering Majors Offered

Engineering, General
Chemical Engineering

Grove City College

Grove City, PA ‧ Christian ‧ 4-year

Faculty and staff equip students to discover and pursue their unique callings through an academically excellent and Christ-centered learning and living experience. Students flourish at Grove City College because faith is the foundation of everything they do.

From the classroom to the practice fields, from the dining halls to the dormitories, the entire College community seeks to understand how they might bring God’s glory into all daily activities. Such a campus-wide commitment encourages and supports students as they develop into leaders with these core values: faithfulness, excellence, community, stewardship, and independence.

Acceptance rate 73%      •      Tuition $19,990      •      SAT Range 1137-1368
Total Undergrad Population 2,317      •      Christian 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 87%      •      Retention rate 89%      •      Student-to-faculty ratio 13:1

Click here for available majors

Engineering Majors Offered

Computer Engineering
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Lafayette College

Easton, PA ‧ Private ‧ 4-year

Lafayette provides university-sized resources in an exclusively undergraduate college. The college wants its students to be in a constant state of learning—a process that involves participation in class, engagement in subject matters, and challenging one’s surroundings. The student that takes control of their educational experience has the freedom to explore their potential, while learning to adapt to the changing needs of society. And that makes for one marketable individual.

AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM
Lafayette gives its students several opportunities to learn outside of the traditional classroom setting. Study abroad is embraced by Lafayette as an integral part of an undergraduate experience. Students that study abroad gain cross-cultural communication skills, as well as an appreciation for another culture. Other non-traditional opportunities include: undergraduate research, first-year seminars, and community outreach.

Acceptance rate 36%      •      Net price $28,735      •      SAT Range 1250-1440      •      Students submitting SAT scores 75%
Total Undergrad Population 2,514      •     Setting Suburb      •     Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 90%      •      Retention rate 87%      •      Student-to-faculty ratio 9:1

Click here for available majors

Engineering Majors Offered

Engineering, General
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA ‧ Private ‧ 4-year

Find unparalleled opportunities for learning at Lehigh University. Located in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Lehigh Valley, Lehigh is one of the nation’s most distinguished private research universities. Through academic rigor, an entrepreneurial mindset, and collaborative opportunities Lehigh professors challenge their students to become the leaders of the future.

Acceptance rate 50%      •     Net price $29,098      •      SAT Range 1260-1433      •     Students submitting SAT scores 70%
Total Undergrad Population 7,067      •     Setting City: Small     •     Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 88%      •      Retention rate 91%      •      Student-to-faculty ratio 9:1

Click here for available majors

Engineering Majors Offered

Engineering, General
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringEngineering Physics
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
Materials Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Industrial Engineering

Messiah University

Mechanicsburg, PA ‧ Christian ‧ 4-year

Messiah University is nationally recognized for bringing together top-tier academics and Christian faith. The University’s motto, “Christ Preeminent,” shapes every experience its students have at school. Lifelong friendships. Support from faculty mentors. Outstanding preparation for life and career. Championship athletics. Celebrated arts programs. Transformational service and ministry. Eye-opening study abroad. At Messiah, one’s life, faith, world, and possibilities open up. Students come to see anew.

Messiah University is a liberal arts and applied sciences University founded in 1909 by the Brethren in Christ Church. Though it is no longer legally owned by the Brethren in Christ Church, the University continues to emphasize its Anabaptist, Pietist, and Wesleyan theological heritage. Now the University’s faith base is broadly evangelical and includes students and employees from a variety of denominations and Christian faith traditions.

Acceptance rate 78%      •      Net price $27,641      •     SAT Range 1080-1310     •     Students submitting SAT scores 92%
Total Undergrad Population 3,370     •     Setting Suburb     •     Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 79%      •      Retention rate 86%      •     Student-to-faculty ratio 13:1

Click here for available majors

Engineering Majors Offered

Engineering, General
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

PennWest University

California, PA ‧ Public ‧ 4-year

PennWest California was founded in 1852 to prepare teachers for Pennsylvania’s classrooms. Today, the University has grown to a mid-size public university that offers over 100 undergraduate and more than 95 graduate programs of study in education, human services, the liberal arts, business, science, and technology. 

The University focuses on applied learning, which positions students of all ages and backgrounds for career success, whether they choose to study on campus or online. Located south of Pittsburgh, PennWest California is a proud member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

Acceptance rate 94%      •     Net price $19,116      •     SAT Range 920-1120      •     Students submitting SAT scores 79%
Total Undergrad Population 6,885     •     Setting Suburb     •     Public 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 50%      •     Retention rate 70%      •      Student-to-faculty ratio 19:1

Click here for available majors

Engineering Majors Offered

Mechatronics Robotics and Automation Engineering
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians

Saint Francis University

Loretto, PA ‧ Catholic ‧ 4-year

Saint Francis University offers academic study within the Franciscan tradition of using one’s talents to serve others. The more than 60 offerings include highly targeted, career-focused majors grounded in the liberal arts tradition of inquiry and self-discovery. Highly regarded programs in health science, education, business, and science attract a diverse student body to the beautiful campus setting.

The values of respect, faith, generosity, and joy run deep in the University culture and help to prepare ethical, knowledgeable professionals with a passion to shape the world. This holistic approach to career preparation is supported by respected faculty who work closely with students in small settings to meet individual goals.

WHAT MAKES SFU DIFFERENT
Simulation labs, Esports, SCUBA diving, Aviation, experiential learning, two public museums, Canine Learning and Behavior class, and a snow tubing park are some of the opportunities unique to Saint Francis University. Students enhance their academic and campus experiences with programs that fit their personalities.

Acceptance rate 59%      •      Net price $29,393      •      SAT Range 1010-1220     •     Students submitting SAT scores 89%
Total Undergrad Population 2,769     •     Setting Town     •     Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 63%      •      Retention rate 96%      •      Student-to-faculty ratio 14:1

Click here for available majors

Engineering Majors Offered

Computer Engineering
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Petroleum Engineering

Villanova University

Villanova, PA ‧ Catholic ‧ 4-year

Villanova University was founded in 1842 by the Order of St. Augustine. To this day, Villanova’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition is the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University’s six colleges.

FALVEY SCHOLARS
The Falvey Scholars program awards superior work in undergraduate research. Each year, a group of students is nominated for their exceptional work. A committee then selects the recipients from the group of nominated students. Awards are given in five areas: Arts, Sciences, Engineering, Nursing, and Business. Selected students are given the opportunity to share their findings with the campus community.

VILLANOVA MATCH RESEARCH PROGRAM FOR FRESHMAN
The Match Research Program gives bright, highly motivated freshman the opportunity to participate in research during their spring semester. Selected students work as assistants to faculty that are conducting research. Students work 10 hours a week for 10 weeks, and receive a stipend of $1000. This is an incredible opportunity for students interested in research. Not only does the program provide a solid introduction to practices and methodologies, but students have the chance to learn directly from experienced faculty.

Acceptance rate 31%      •      Net price $38,303      •      SAT Range 1320-1460     •     Students submitting SAT scores 60%
Total Undergrad Population 11,032     •     Setting Suburb     •     Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 92%      •     Retention rate 96%      •      Student-to-faculty ratio 11:1

Click here for available majors

Engineering Majors Offered

Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Widener University

Chester, PA ‧ Private ‧ 4-year

Widener University is a private college in Chester, Pennsylvania. Join The Pride and take part of the Widener Advantage-a close knit community of students and faculty with a range of diverse programs to choose from.

Acceptance rate 75%      •     Net price $32,695     •     SAT Range 1035-1210     •     Students submitting SAT scores 92%
Total Undergrad Population 2,912     •     Setting Suburb     •     Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 65%     •      Retention rate 81%     •     Student-to-faculty ratio 13:1

Click here for available majors

Engineering Majors Offered

Engineering, General
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

What it’s like to attend engineering school in Pennsylvania and other FAQ: