The educational landscape of **Philadelphia, Pennsylvania** represents a diverse ecosystem of 1 institutions, ranging from large-scale public research hubs like University of Pennsylvania to specialized private colleges. For the 2026 academic cycle, Philadelphia has emerged as a prime target for value-seeking applicants. Our proprietary analysis of IPEDS data shows an average in-state tuition of $61,710, reflecting the region's economic standing within the Pennsylvania higher education sector.
Our proprietary index reveals how hard your SAT score works in Philadelphia.
Annual savings compared to the **Pennsylvania state average**.
A 1450+ SAT score could save you $15,428/year.
Navigating admissions in Philadelphia requires a dual-pronged focus on residency strategy and SAT-based merit aid. Philadelphia is categorized by Extreme academic rigor, which translates to a hyper-competitive landscape where SAT scores above 1500 are often the baseline for merit aid. Applicants should focus on the **SAT-ROI Index** to identify specific universities in Philadelphia where their current score yields the highest financial leverage. With a **SAT-ROI Index of 387**, Philadelphia outperforms the Pennsylvania state average (346). This identifies the region as a **"Value Pillar"**, where students can achieve higher academic returns per SAT point compared to neighboring regions.
In Philadelphia, the SAT-ROI Index measures how much tuition weight your SAT score can offset. A higher index means your score has more power to trigger merit aid, reducing your out-of-pocket costs.
With an academic rigor rating of Extreme, Philadelphia universities range from highly selective. On average, students need to target the top 25% of the local score range for the best financial outcomes.
Philadelphia's average ROI index is 387, while the state average is 346. This makes it a higher-value region than average.
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