Georgetown vs Penn - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Penn admits 5.4% of applicants, while Georgetown admits 13.5%.
Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Penn: a midpoint of 1553 against 1480, a difference of 73 points.
The fight for an admitted student is won more often by Penn: 68% of them enrol, against 43.9%.
More than twice the application volume goes to Penn (65,236 against 26,822), which changes how any single file is read.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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 13.5% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #14). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $103K). Penn has lower sticker-price tuition ($71,236 vs $74,732 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 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 13.5% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1480).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $103K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 94.8%).
Penn has lower sticker-price tuition ($71,236 vs $74,732); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $63,415).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Georgetown | Penn |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #14 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 13.5% | 5.4% |
| Yield rate | 43.9% | 68% |
| Median SAT | 1480 | 1553 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.90 |
| Number of applications | 26,822 | 65,236 |
| International students | 14.4% | 13.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $103K | $111K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $67K | $70K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $168K | $183K |
| Graduation rate | 94.8% | 96.5% |
| Retention rate | 96.3% | 98.8% |
| Median debt | $15,500 | $15,715 |
| Tuition · year | $74,732 | $71,236 |
| Avg. aid package | $63,415 | $70,971 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $33,272 | $32,558 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 19,905 | 24,023 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Georgetown or Penn?
It's harder to get into Penn. Georgetown accepts 13.5% of applicants, while Penn accepts 5.4%.
Do Georgetown or Penn graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $103K.
How much is tuition at Georgetown vs Penn?
Sticker-price tuition is $74,732 per year at Georgetown and $71,236 per year at Penn.
What SAT score do you need for Georgetown or Penn?
The median admitted SAT score is 1480 at Georgetown and 1553 at Penn; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Georgetown or Penn?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Georgetown vs #14 for Penn.
Which university offers more financial aid - Georgetown or Penn?
The average aid package is $63,415 at Georgetown and $70,971 at Penn.
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