Central Florida vs Penn - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Penn admits 5.4%, Central Florida admits 44.7%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Penn: 13.3% of students against 3.3% (Central Florida).
Average aid for an international student is $75,356 (Penn) and $928 (Central Florida).
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Penn starts at $92,524 against $42,038 and ends at $21,553 against $30,224 (Central Florida).
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Penn is the more selective of the two (5.4% vs 44.71% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#401-500 vs #14). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $58K). Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $71,236 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Central Florida for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Penn for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Penn is more selective (5.4% vs 44.71% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1260).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $58K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 78%).
Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $71,236); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $11,814).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Central Florida | Penn |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #401-500 | #14 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 44.71% | 5.4% |
| Yield rate | 33.5% | 68% |
| Median SAT | 1260 | 1553 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.16 | 3.90 |
| Number of applications | 55,135 | 65,236 |
| International students | 3.3% | 13.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $58K | $111K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $39K | $70K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $86K | $183K |
| Graduation rate | 78% | 96.5% |
| Retention rate | 92.3% | 98.8% |
| Median debt | $18,190 | $15,715 |
| Tuition · year | $24,076 | $71,236 |
| Avg. aid package | $11,814 | $70,971 |
| % of need met | 65% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $20,529 | $32,558 |
| Application fee | $30 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 69,338 | 24,023 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Central Florida or Penn?
It's harder to get into Penn. Central Florida accepts 44.71% of applicants, while Penn accepts 5.4%.
Do Central Florida or Penn graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $58K.
How much is tuition at Central Florida vs Penn?
Sticker-price tuition is $24,076 per year at Central Florida and $71,236 per year at Penn.
What SAT score do you need for Central Florida or Penn?
The median admitted SAT score is 1260 at Central Florida and 1553 at Penn; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Central Florida or Penn?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Central Florida vs #14 for Penn.
Which university offers more financial aid - Central Florida or Penn?
The average aid package is $11,814 at Central Florida and $70,971 at Penn.
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