Penn vs Boston College - 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%, Boston College admits 16.2%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 13.3% (Penn) against 6.6% (Boston College).
Real money goes to international students at Penn ($75,356 on average), while Boston College stops at $39,634.
53 points separate the SAT profiles: 1553 (Penn) against 1500.
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 16.19% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#14 vs #501-600). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $104K). Penn has lower sticker-price tuition ($71,236 vs $73,508 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.
Choose Boston College for: lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Penn is more selective (5.4% vs 16.19% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1500).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $104K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 90.8%).
Penn has lower sticker-price tuition ($71,236 vs $73,508); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $61,753).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Penn | Boston College |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #14 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% | 16.19% |
| Yield rate | 68% | 42.5% |
| Median SAT | 1553 | 1500 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.90 | - |
| Number of applications | 65,236 | 34,779 |
| International students | 13.3% | 6.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $111K | $104K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $70K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $162K |
| Graduation rate | 96.5% | 90.8% |
| Retention rate | 98.8% | 96% |
| Median debt | $15,715 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $71,236 | $73,508 |
| Avg. aid package | $70,971 | $61,753 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,558 | $24,892 |
| Application fee | $75 | - |
| Enrollment | 24,023 | 14,726 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Penn or Boston College?
It's harder to get into Penn. Penn accepts 5.4% of applicants, while Boston College accepts 16.19%.
Do Penn or Boston College graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $104K.
How much is tuition at Penn vs Boston College?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,236 per year at Penn and $73,508 per year at Boston College.
What SAT score do you need for Penn or Boston College?
The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Penn and 1500 at Boston College; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Penn or Boston College?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #14 for Penn vs #501-600 for Boston College.
Which university offers more financial aid - Penn or Boston College?
The average aid package is $70,971 at Penn and $61,753 at Boston College.
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