Clubs at colleges in Pennsylvania

Hey everyone, I’m in my junior year of high school and have been looking into Pennsylvania colleges - I appreciate their balanced focus between academics and extracurriculars. To narrow down my list, I'd like to know which colleges in PA offer a wide range of clubs or student organizations to get involved in?

Pennsylvania is home to many colleges and universities, each providing unique opportunities for student involvement. Certainly, student organizations and clubs can greatly enhance the college experience, providing community, leadership opportunities, and the chance to dive deeper into interests outside of academics.

University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is one of them. As one might expect from an Ivy League institution, there is a wealth of student organizations. Penn's public listing includes all kinds of clubs, from campus radio stations to robotics clubs, and everything in between — over 450 in total.

Another option could be the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt). Pitt offers a diverse selection of over 600 clubs and organizations, spanning interests from academic and professional development to cultural, environmental, and service-oriented involvements.

Penn State is also well-known for its vibrant student life. With around 1,000 student organizations on the University Park campus alone, the opportunities are abundant.

Carnegie Mellon University, known for its strong STEM programs, also boasts over 350 student organizations, including number of arts and humanities clubs.

In the smaller private school environment, Swarthmore College, despite having a much smaller student population, still offers over 100 student clubs spanning a variety of interests including political, identity-based, recreational, service-focused, and academic groups.

Lastly, Lehigh University has an active campus with over 200 student clubs which cater to a variety of interests.

Make sure you check the specific college's website for the most current and accurate information as the number and type of clubs can change yearly. Remember that joining clubs isn't just about quantity; it's just as, if not more, important to find a few that you're truly passionate about where you can make a meaningful impact.