Penn vs Georgia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Penn: 5.4% against 37.9% (Georgia).
The share of international students differs sharply: 13.3% (Penn) against 1.1% (Georgia).
Georgia reports no financial aid for international students, while Penn awards them $75,356 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Penn lists $92,524 against $49,100 (Georgia), but after average aid what remains is $21,553 against $33,752.
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 37.92% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#14 vs #401-500). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $69K). Georgia has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,678 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 Penn for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Georgia for: lower tuition, 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 37.92% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1300).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $69K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 89.7%).
Georgia has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,678 vs $71,236); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $15,348).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Penn | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #14 | #401-500 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% | 37.92% |
| Yield rate | 68% | 38.3% |
| Median SAT | 1553 | 1300 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.90 | 4.15 |
| Number of applications | 65,236 | 42,436 |
| International students | 13.3% | 1.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $111K | $69K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $70K | $45K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $102K |
| Graduation rate | 96.5% | 89.7% |
| Retention rate | 98.8% | 94.3% |
| Median debt | $15,715 | $18,500 |
| Tuition · year | $71,236 | $31,678 |
| Avg. aid package | $70,971 | $15,348 |
| % of need met | 100% | 73.2% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,558 | $20,890 |
| Application fee | $75 | $70 |
| Enrollment | 24,023 | 43,146 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Penn or Georgia?
It's harder to get into Penn. Penn accepts 5.4% of applicants, while Georgia accepts 37.92%.
Do Penn or Georgia graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $69K.
How much is tuition at Penn vs Georgia?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,236 per year at Penn and $31,678 per year at Georgia.
What SAT score do you need for Penn or Georgia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Penn and 1300 at Georgia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Penn or Georgia?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #14 for Penn vs #401-500 for Georgia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Penn or Georgia?
The average aid package is $70,971 at Penn and $15,348 at Georgia.
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