Princton vs University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)

Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania, two prestigious Ivy League institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Princeton, known for its rigorous academics and strong emphasis on undergraduate education, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a smaller student body compared to Penn. Penn, on the other hand, offers a wider range of undergraduate majors, a more diverse student body, and a vibrant urban campus in Philadelphia. Both universities excel in research and offer exceptional opportunities for students to engage in cutting-edge projects. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two esteemed institutions, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Princeton University logo

Princeton University

University of Pennsylvania logo

University of Pennsylvania

Overview

Location Princeton, New Jersey Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Campus setting City: Small City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 96.0% 98.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 4.4% 5.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $90
SAT range 1460 - 1570 1480 - 1570
ACT range 33 - 35 33 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 56.0% 49.0%
Students submitting ACT score 35.0% 30.0%
Total number of applicants 37,601 56,332
Total number of admissions given out 1,647 3,304
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,290 2,418
Yield rate 78.3% 73.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $78,490 $80,496
Average net price $20,908 $14,578
Tuition $56,010 $54,652
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,690

Meal plan: $7,490
Room/dormitory: $11,358

Meal plan: $5,946
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

65.0%
Average amount $47,136
52.0%
Average amount $50,778
Students receiving federal student loan 2.0%
Average amount $5,278
9.0%
Average amount $5,030
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $8,938
2.0%
Average amount $27,160

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 5,321
Men 50.3% Women 49.7%
11,292
Men 44.7% Women 55.3%
Graduate students 3,157
Men 58.3% Women 41.7%
16,746
Men 43.8% Women 56.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 82.6% 82.7%
International students 22.8% 22.8%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Large
Dormitory capacity 5,151 6,400
First year students are required to live on campus? Yes No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New Jersey California New York Pennsylvania Texas Pennsylvania New York California New Jersey Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Social Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Physical Science
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Legal Profession
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 5:1 6:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 97.6% 96.2%
Dropout rate 1.9% 2.8%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $122,809
  • Year 2: $103,078
  • Year 3: $181,687
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,130
  • Year 2: $75,518
  • Year 3: $85,666
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,831
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $66,134
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,473
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,463
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,879
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: N/A
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: N/A
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,447
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: N/A
Research and Experimental Psychology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,198
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $189,905
  • Year 2: $201,334
  • Year 3: $249,574
International/Global Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $162,528
  • Year 2: $182,280
  • Year 3: $234,875
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,404
  • Year 2: $198,043
  • Year 3: $227,605
Real Estate (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $119,383
  • Year 2: $169,894
  • Year 3: $224,847
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $186,571
  • Year 2: $177,119
  • Year 3: $218,410
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $245,155
  • Year 3: $214,930
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $177,203
  • Year 2: $202,922
  • Year 3: $214,927
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $169,238
  • Year 2: $174,994
  • Year 3: $208,033
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $102,195
  • Year 2: $138,932
  • Year 3: $197,810
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $179,063
  • Year 2: $175,674
  • Year 3: $186,790

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
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