2023 Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania
A student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 111 schools in Pennsylvania to see which ones were the most popular master's degree programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found University of Pennsylvania to be the most popular school for students who want to pursue a master’s degree in Pennsylvania. UPenn is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4,816 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
UPenn does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 74% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Out of the 111 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Carnegie Mellon University landed the # 2 spot on the list. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 3,045 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 39% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Carnegie Mellon. In 2019-2020 about 6% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent master’s degree programs at Drexel University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in Pennsylvania. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,223 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Drexel does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 85% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Out of the 111 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Temple University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Temple is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,958 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Temple. In 2019-2020 about 72% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus is a large public school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that handed out 1,869 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Pitt does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 16% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Villanova University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. Villanova University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Villanova, Pennsylvania that handed out 1,363 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 52% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Villanova. In 2019-2020 about 89% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,031 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Saint Joseph’s University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 997 students in 2020-2021.
Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at St. Joe’s. In fact, around 94% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a fairly large public school located in West Chester, Pennsylvania that handed out 989 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that WCUPA does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 98% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Thomas Jefferson University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Thomas Jefferson University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 954 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 77% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Thomas Jefferson University. In fact, around 65% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
California University of Pennsylvania ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. This medium-sized public school is located in California, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 896 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Cal U. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 90% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Duquesne University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Duquesne is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 679 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 71% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Duquesne does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 72% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Wilkes University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Wilkes University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania that handed out 634 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 73% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Wilkes. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 97% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #14 on the list. IUP is located in Indiana, Pennsylvania and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 578 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
One thing to take note of is that IUP does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 35% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Full Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus Report
With a ranking of #15, Widener University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Chester, Pennsylvania, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 577 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 81% were women.
Widener does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Lehigh University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Lehigh is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It awarded 539 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 48% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Lehigh. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 24% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #17, University of Scranton did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. University of Scranton is a small private not-for-profit school located in Scranton, Pennsylvania that handed out 538 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since University of Scranton does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 93% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
La Salle University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 483 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 73% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at La Salle. During the 2019-2020 year, about 83% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #19, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 438 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 76% were women.
SRU does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 94% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Edinboro is a small public school situated in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. It awarded 435 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 83% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Edinboro, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 94% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Clarion University of Pennsylvania did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in Clarion, Pennsylvania, the small public school awarded 412 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 81% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Clarion University. In fact, around 84% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Holy Family University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #22 on the list. Holy Family University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 389 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 87% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Holy Family does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 99% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Robert Morris University ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 374 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 49% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at RMU. In fact, around 60% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #24, Millersville University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Millersville is a public institution located in Millersville, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 340 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Millersville. During the 2019-2020 year, about 97% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Chatham University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Chatham University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that handed out 331 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 81% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Chatham, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 79% took at least some of their classes online.
Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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