Notre Dame vs Penn - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Penn: 5.4% against 11.3% (Notre Dame).
The larger international cohort belongs to Penn: 13.3% of students against 7.5% (Notre Dame).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Penn awards international students $75,356 on average, Notre Dame awards $62,803.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Penn: $111K against $100K.
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 11.3% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #14). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $100K). Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 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 Notre Dame for: higher retention, 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 11.3% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1510).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $100K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 95%).
Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $71,236); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $67,855).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Notre Dame | Penn |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #14 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.3% | 5.4% |
| Yield rate | 61.7% | 68% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1553 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.90 |
| Number of applications | 29,942 | 65,236 |
| International students | 7.5% | 13.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $100K | $111K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $68K | $70K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $183K |
| Graduation rate | 95% | 96.5% |
| Retention rate | 99% | 98.8% |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $15,715 |
| Tuition · year | $67,607 | $71,236 |
| Avg. aid package | $67,855 | $70,971 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $30,400 | $32,558 |
| Application fee | $85 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 13,042 | 24,023 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Notre Dame or Penn?
It's harder to get into Penn. Notre Dame accepts 11.3% of applicants, while Penn accepts 5.4%.
Do Notre Dame or Penn graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $100K.
How much is tuition at Notre Dame vs Penn?
Sticker-price tuition is $67,607 per year at Notre Dame and $71,236 per year at Penn.
What SAT score do you need for Notre Dame or Penn?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Notre Dame and 1553 at Penn; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Notre Dame or Penn?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Notre Dame vs #14 for Penn.
Which university offers more financial aid - Notre Dame or Penn?
The average aid package is $67,855 at Notre Dame and $70,971 at Penn.
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