The Best Business Schools in Philadelphia for 2027
Key Points: Best Business Schools in Philadelphia
- University of Pennsylvania ranks #1 in the Philadelphia area on a 98.5 Program Score, with a 97% graduation rate.
- Private schools hold most of the places on this list.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, ranks #3.
- Programs analyzed
- 289
- Schools ranked
- 10
- Tuition range
- $13,725-$66,838
- Average graduation rate
- 68%
We analyzed 289 accredited business programs in Philadelphia and the surrounding metro and ranked 10 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 10 ranked schools runs from $7,716 to $66,838 a year, a $59,122 spread for the same credential.
University of Pennsylvania leads with a 98.5 Program Score on a 97% graduation rate, at $60,920 a year. Across all 10 ranked business schools in Philadelphia the average graduation rate is 68%, ranging from 40% to 97%. 2 of the 10 are public and 8 are private, a split that drives most of the price gap below.
The Top Business Schools in Philadelphia at a Glance
Penn leads at 98.5, and Strayer-Pennsylvania closes the chart at 73.4. Longer bars rank higher.
How the Business Schools in Philadelphia Are Scored
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 10 Best Business Schools in Philadelphia, Ranked for 2027
The 10 best Business Schools in Philadelphia, ranked by outcomes.
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 97%
- Admit rate
- 5%
- In-state
- $60,920
- Out-of-state
- $60,920
University of Pennsylvania's Entrepreneurship and Innovation concentration pairs theory with real business plans and field projects supported by the Wharton Venture Lab.
- 97% graduation rate
- Program Score 98.5
- $60,920 in-state and out-of-state tuition
- Real business plans and field projects
The University of Pennsylvania offers an Entrepreneurship and Innovation concentration within the Wharton undergraduate degree. The page says it gives students cross-departmental skills, analytical tools and experiences to prepare for careers as autonomous entrepreneurs, family-business entrepreneurs or entrepreneurs inside corporations. Its stated strength is combining theory with practice: students test models and strategies by creating real business plans, working on field projects and learning from leaders in the entrepreneurial business community. The concentration and related activities are supported in part by the Goergen Entrepreneurial Management Program at the Wharton Venture Lab. The degree sits inside a 33 course unit Wharton program that includes business fundamentals, a senior capstone, a foreign language requirement and business breadth courses outside the concentration.
Penn graduates 97% of its students and admits 5% of applicants. Tuition is $60,920 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The Program Score of 98.5 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. The program fits students who want to start a venture while enrolled, join an emerging company or build groundwork for a later launch, and who are comfortable with a broad business and liberal arts curriculum around the concentration.
Villanova University
Villanova, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 92%
- Admit rate
- 27%
- In-state
- $66,838
- Out-of-state
- $66,838
A Villanova accounting major that lays out a 150-credit CPA route, with the school reporting nearly 100% of majors placed full time by graduation.
- 92% graduation rate
- Program Score 95.8
- $66,838 tuition
- 150-hour CPA path with MAC or MBT
Villanova University's accounting major in the Villanova School of Business leads to a Bachelor of Business Administration. Students complete the university core, the business core, four required accounting courses and two accounting electives. The school says its programs prepare students for public accounting firms, corporate rotation programs, government forensics work and other professional groups, and reports that nearly 100% of accounting majors find full-time placement by graduation. The page explains that most CPA licensure routes need 150 credit hours, and describes combining the bachelor's with the Master of Accounting with Data Analytics or the Master of Business Taxation with Data Analytics over four to five years. Students can also overload courses or take summer classes to reach 150 hours.
Villanova reports a 92% graduation rate and a 27% admit rate, so admission is selective. Tuition is $66,838 for in-state and out-of-state students alike, since the university is private. The program earns a Program Score of 95.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits students who plan to sit the CPA exam and want a clear path to the 150 hours employers expect.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, PA · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 71%
- Admit rate
- 78%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
A fully online 30-credit MBA built from ten seven-week courses, with six starts a year and a fast track that finishes in one academic year.
- 71% graduation rate
- Program Score 86.6
- 100% online, six starts a year
- One-year fast track option
West Chester University of Pennsylvania offers a Master of Business Administration that is 100% online with no required meeting times. The degree is 30 credits, made up of ten three-credit courses that each last seven weeks, and a new session starts six times a year. The course list covers strategic accounting, advanced financial modeling and valuation, global supply chain optimization, marketing strategy, economic analysis, legal and ethical risk management, entrepreneurship and business analytics, ending with a capstone and an exit exam. The university describes the modernized curriculum as putting AI in every course and analytics across the program, launching in Spring 2027, and it reports AACSB accreditation. Students pick a path: a fast track of one academic year, a typical pace of about twenty months, or a flexible route that can run under three years. Up to three equivalent graduate courses can transfer.
Federal data shows 71% of West Chester students graduate, and the university admits 78% of applicants. The application has three items, requires no entrance exam and is reviewed on a rolling basis. The program earns a Program Score of 86.6 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working professionals who want to set their own pace.
Immaculata University
Immaculata, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 71%
- Admit rate
- 86%
- In-state
- $28,130
- Out-of-state
- $28,130
Immaculata University's online human resource management degree accepts up to 72 transfer credits and runs in 7-week accelerated classes.
- 71% graduation rate
- Program Score 80.9
- $28,130 tuition
- 7-week online classes
Immaculata University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business and Human Resource Management for adult learners. Classes are online in 7-week accelerated terms, and students finish in two to four years depending on transfer credits. The major totals 69 credits, including human resource management, compensation and benefits, recruitment and selection, business employment law, and a human resource management practicum, alongside accounting, economics, statistics, finance and marketing. Up to 72 credits can transfer in, and credit for prior learning is available for workplace training. Students can add a dual major or minor in business, finance, marketing or economics. The school reports that ACBSP certifies the program, and it serves as preparation for Immaculata's MBA or Master of Science in Strategic Leadership.
Immaculata has a 71% graduation rate and an 86% admit rate. Tuition is $28,130 for in-state and out-of-state students. The program has a Program Score of 80.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults who bring prior credits and need a flexible, accelerated format, and who want a broad business grounding behind their HR coursework.
Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 61%
- Admit rate
- 71%
- In-state
- $34,080
- Out-of-state
- $34,080
A 120-credit Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration that pairs a 45-credit business core with a required 3-credit internship.
- Program Score 80.2
- 61% graduation rate
- $34,080 tuition, same in-state and out
- Required 3-credit internship
Holy Family University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration on its Northeast Philadelphia main campus, housed in the School of Business and Technology. The program totals 120 credits: a 45-credit general education core, a 45-credit core business curriculum, additional business concentration courses and 9 credits of free electives. A 3-credit internship is required. Named courses include Business Communications, Business Ethics and Conflict Management and Negotiation. The university describes the major as project-based learning that blends a liberal arts education with practical business skills, aimed at roles ranging from large corporations to fast-growing tech firms.
Federal data shows a 61% graduation rate and a 71% admit rate. In-state tuition is $34,080, and out-of-state tuition is the same $34,080. The program earns a Program Score of 80.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a broad liberal arts grounding alongside business coursework and who value a built-in internship. Because the page describes a general business major rather than separate tracks, students who already know they want a narrow specialty may need to check which concentration courses the school offers before applying.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Great Valley
Malvern, PA · Public
- Grad rate
- Graduate only
- Admit rate
- Graduate only
- Tuition
- Varies by program
A streamlined 33-credit MBA with hybrid or low-residency delivery, seven-week courses and AI built into every core course starting fall 2026.
- Program Score 79
- 33-credit curriculum
- Hybrid or low-residency delivery
- No GMAT or GRE required
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Great Valley offers a 33-credit MBA in the Greater Philadelphia area with two delivery options. Hybrid delivery meets about half in person and half online. Low-residency combines synchronous and asynchronous remote classes with one in-person, one-day residency per semester. All courses run in seven-week sessions, so full-time students can finish in as little as 18 months and part-time students in as little as 2 years. Students can add graduate certificates in Analytics for Managers, Financial Analytics or Human Resource Management. Starting in fall 2026, the school says artificial intelligence will be embedded in each core course. It reports AACSB accreditation, and GMAT or GRE scores are not required for admission.
The campus enrolls 212 students in total, so classes are small and cohorts are close. The program earns a Program Score of 79 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Great Valley enrolls graduate students only, so its score rests on the measures that apply to a graduate campus. The program fits working professionals and managers in the Philadelphia suburbs who want a regionally anchored degree with a flexible schedule, a concurrent-degree option and access to Penn State's alumni network, which the school puts at more than 800,000 people.
Ursinus College
Collegeville, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 73%
- Admit rate
- 92%
- In-state
- $60,360
- Out-of-state
- $60,360
Ursinus College reports that nearly 100% of its business and economics majors complete internships, and finance students can earn Bloomberg certifications.
- Program Score 76.3
- 73% graduation rate
- Bloomberg certifications
- Nearly 100% complete internships
Ursinus College lists finance among the majors in its Business and Economics department, alongside business administration, business analytics, economics, marketing and sports management. The page says nearly 100% of department majors complete internships, with graduates going to employers such as JP Morgan Chase, TD Bank, Vanguard and SEI. Finance students can earn Bloomberg certificates in Finance Fundamentals, Market Concepts, ESG and Spreadsheet Analysis, join the student-run UCIMCO investment club, and apply for a scholarship that covers fees for the Certified Management Accountant exam. The department also runs a three-week faculty-led study abroad course on Central European economies, and U-Imagine, the Center for Integrative and Entrepreneurial Studies, supports students who want to start businesses.
Ursinus graduates 73% of its students and admits 92% of applicants. Tuition is $60,360 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program's Program Score is 76.3 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a small liberal arts college with internship experience built in and market-tool training that goes beyond the classroom.
Neumann University
Aston, PA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 54%
- Admit rate
- 81%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
A 100% online, accelerated MBA with five specialization tracks, including Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare Administration, that can be completed in 12 months.
- Program Score 75.1
- 81% admit rate
- 100% online, 12-month option
- 5 specialization tracks
Neumann University offers a 100% online Master of Business Administration built for working professionals. The program is accelerated, with a 12-month completion option. The foundational core is five courses totaling 15 credits: Marketing Management, Managerial Economics, Leadership and Organizational Behavior, Strategic Planning and Budgeting, and Social and Ethical Responsibility of Leadership. Students then choose a specialization of five courses and 15 credits in Healthcare Administration, Business Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Finance or Organizational Leadership. Each track ends with a capstone, and the tracks can also be taken as standalone certificates that stack into the MBA. The school says AI and emerging technologies are embedded across the foundational courses.
Federal data shows a 54% graduation rate and an 81% admit rate. The program earns a Program Score of 75.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits early-career professionals aiming for a first management role and experienced managers looking to advance or pivot, especially those who need a fully online schedule. The choice among five specialization tracks makes it a reasonable fit for someone who already knows whether analytics, finance, healthcare or AI is the direction. Applicants should also weigh the 54% graduation rate against the speed of the accelerated format.
Chestnut Hill College
Philadelphia, PA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 49%
- Admit rate
- 74%
- In-state
- $39,200
- Out-of-state
- $39,200
Chestnut Hill College's business administration major covers accounting, economics, finance, marketing and management, with an optional Finance concentration.
- Program Score 73.5
- 74% admit rate
- $39,200 in-state tuition
- Finance concentration available
Chestnut Hill College's business administration and management major gives students a base in accounting, economics, finance, marketing and management, supported by computer applications and mathematics. The college describes it as a practical discipline set inside a liberal arts education, aimed at building analytical problem solving, ethical decision making and communication. The degree options list a Finance concentration and a Sports Management minor. Students can join the Business Club, attend a Business Lecture Series each fall, and may be invited into Sigma Beta Delta, the international honor society for business, with a 3.5 GPA and top 20% class standing. The page points to Philadelphia area internships as a key way to build experience.
Federal data show a 49% graduation rate at Chestnut Hill, a private nonprofit in Philadelphia with about 1,288 students, and a 74% admit rate. In-state tuition is $39,200, matching out-of-state tuition at $39,200. The program earns a Program Score of 73.5 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a small campus, close faculty contact and a general business foundation they can steer toward finance, sports or another path.
Strayer University-Pennsylvania
Trevose, PA · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 40%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $13,725
- Out-of-state
- $13,725
Strayer's online BBA runs 40 courses of 11 weeks each and offers eight concentrations, from accounting to supply chain logistics.
- Open admission
- Program Score 73.4
- $13,725 in-state and out-of-state tuition
- 8 concentrations, 40 courses
The Bachelor of Business Administration at Strayer University-Pennsylvania is a 40-course program with 11-week courses, delivered online with in-person options at select campuses. The curriculum covers strategic planning, leadership, management, marketing, operations, budgeting and finance, alongside communication, information literacy and critical analysis. Students can choose from eight concentrations: accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, health services administration, hospitality and tourism management, management, marketing, project management and supply chain logistics. Strayer says students can transfer up to 28 classes, and it advertises a no-cost general education option subject to eligibility rules. The school reports that its business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Strayer is an open admission school, so applicants are not screened by an admit rate. The federal graduation rate is 40%. Tuition is listed at $13,725 for both in-state and out-of-state students. The program holds a Program Score of 73.4 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. The BBA fits working adults who need flexible scheduling, students bringing transfer credit, and anyone who wants a general business degree with room to specialize later. Prospective students who need a cohort or campus-heavy experience should check which campus formats are available near them.
Open admission: the school admits every qualified applicant, so it reports no admit rate.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Business Schools in Philadelphia
The median school on this list graduates 71% of its students. The highest rates belong to University of Pennsylvania (97%) and Villanova University (92%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 University of Pennsylvania97% graduation rate
- #2 Villanova University92% graduation rate
- #7 Ursinus College73% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Business Schools in Philadelphia?
On this list, 1 of 9 schools is open-admission, taking every qualified applicant. Of the rest, 2 schools admit fewer than half of applicants, the most selective being University of Pennsylvania at 5%.
- #1 University of Pennsylvania5% admitted
- #2 Villanova University27% admitted
- #5 Holy Family University71% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Online Options Among the Business Schools in Philadelphia
Of the 10 schools ranked here, 3 offer distance education. The highest ranked is West Chester University of Pennsylvania, at #3.
- #3 West Chester University of PennsylvaniaWest Chester, PA
- #8 Neumann UniversityAston, PA
- #10 Strayer University-PennsylvaniaTrevose, PA
Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.
Campus Size Across the Business Schools in Philadelphia
Enrollment on this list runs from 212 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Great Valley to 29,109 at University of Pennsylvania. Of the 10, 1 enrolls 20,000 students or more and 7 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Business Schools in Philadelphia Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #2 | Villanova UniversityVillanova | $120,207 | $41,536 |
| #3 | West Chester University of PennsylvaniaWest Chester | $147,635 | $24,778 |
| #4 | Immaculata UniversityImmaculata | $88,835 | $23,811 |
| #5 | Holy Family UniversityHoly Family | $81,021 | $12,882 |
| #6 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Great ValleyPenn State Great Valley | $127,665 | |
| #8 | Neumann UniversityNeumann | $98,301 | $27,749 |
| #9 | Chestnut Hill CollegeChestnut Hill College | $66,885 | $20,972 |
| #10 | Strayer University-PennsylvaniaStrayer-Pennsylvania | $64,016 |
Four years out, medians on this list run from $64,016 at Strayer-Pennsylvania to $147,635 at West Chester.
The highest-ranked school in the table, Villanova (#2), reports $120,207, so the highest score and the highest pay are not the same school.
After grants, the average undergraduate pays least at Holy Family, $12,882 a year, and most at Villanova, $41,536.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What Business Schools in Philadelphia Cost
Tuition across the 10 ranked schools runs from $7,716 to $66,838 a year. West Chester University of Pennsylvania anchors the low end at $7,716 a year, while Villanova University sits at the top at $66,838. The cheapest public option among the business schools in Philadelphia is West Chester University of Pennsylvania at $7,716; the cheapest private is Strayer University-Pennsylvania in Trevose at $13,725.
Over the four years the credential takes, that is roughly $30,864 in tuition at West Chester University of Pennsylvania against about $267,352 at Villanova University. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to Philadelphia from another state should read the out-of-state column before treating the cheap end of this list as cheap.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
Which Business Major to Choose in Philadelphia
Business school covers a dozen different degrees, and the business schools in Philadelphia do not all offer the same ones. Across the 289 accredited programs analyzed here, the fields with the deepest coverage in Philadelphia are business administration (28 schools), accounting (22 schools), marketing (16 schools), finance (15 schools), healthcare administration (14 schools). A school ranked highly overall is not automatically strong in the major you want, so check the field before the name.
Accounting is the one track bound to a license: most states now license CPAs on either 150 credit hours and one year of experience or a bachelor's and two years, so the choice between a fifth year of school and a longer apprenticeship shapes the course plan from the first year rather than the last. 22 of the schools analyzed in Philadelphia run one.
Public and Private Business Schools in Philadelphia
2 of the 10 ranked business schools in Philadelphia are public and 8 are private, and that split drives most of the $59,122 tuition spread above. The public rate is a residency benefit: West Chester University of Pennsylvania charges $7,716 in-state and $19,290 out of state, so where a student already lives changes this ranking more than any other single factor.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Why Study Business in Philadelphia
The 10 ranked schools sit across 8 towns in the metro, among them Philadelphia, Villanova, West Chester, and the table names the city of each, so check the commute before assuming a suburban campus is the convenient option. 3 of the 10 also run a confirmed online option for students who cannot be on campus daily.
Keep Exploring
Business Schools in Philadelphia: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best business school in Philadelphia?
By Program Score, University of Pennsylvania ranks first among the 10 ranked business schools in Philadelphia, with a 98.5 score and a 97% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.
Can you study business part-time in Philadelphia?
Yes. Evening, weekend and part-time formats are common across the business schools in Philadelphia, and in a metro this size most schools run at least one. The tradeoff is length rather than content: the same credential takes longer while you keep working. Ask each school for the completion rate of its part-time cohort specifically, since it often differs from the headline graduation rate this ranking uses.
How much does a business degree cost in Philadelphia?
Tuition among the ranked Philadelphia schools runs from $7,716 to $66,838 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Philadelphia living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many business schools in Philadelphia does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 289 accredited business programs across Philadelphia and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 10 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers the Pennsylvania side of the Philadelphia area, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table.
Is it worth studying business in Philadelphia instead of online?
3 of the 10 ranked schools run a confirmed online option, so in Philadelphia this is a live choice rather than a hypothetical one. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into, and at $7,716 in-state, West Chester University of Pennsylvania is what that proximity costs at the low end here. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.