Penn vs Kansas - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Penn admits 5.4% of applications, Kansas admits 93.5%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 13.3% (Penn) against 3.1% (Kansas).
Real money goes to international students at Penn ($75,356 on average), while Kansas stops at $11,164.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Penn starts at $92,524 against $47,138 and ends at $21,553 against $27,438 (Kansas).
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
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 93.48% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#14 vs #301-400). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $62K). Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 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 Kansas 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 93.48% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1190).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $62K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 68.8%).
Kansas has lower sticker-price tuition ($30,432 vs $71,236); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $19,700).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Penn | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #14 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% | 93.48% |
| Yield rate | 68% | 25.5% |
| Median SAT | 1553 | 1190 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.90 | 3.68 |
| Number of applications | 65,236 | 22,363 |
| International students | 13.3% | 3.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $111K | $62K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $70K | $40K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $88K |
| Graduation rate | 96.5% | 68.8% |
| Retention rate | 98.8% | 86% |
| Median debt | $15,715 | $21,000 |
| Tuition · year | $71,236 | $30,432 |
| Avg. aid package | $70,971 | $19,700 |
| % of need met | 100% | 78.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,558 | $27,212 |
| Application fee | $75 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 24,023 | 29,792 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Penn or Kansas?
It's harder to get into Penn. Penn accepts 5.4% of applicants, while Kansas accepts 93.48%.
Do Penn or Kansas graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $62K.
How much is tuition at Penn vs Kansas?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,236 per year at Penn and $30,432 per year at Kansas.
What SAT score do you need for Penn or Kansas?
The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Penn and 1190 at Kansas; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Penn or Kansas?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #14 for Penn vs #301-400 for Kansas.
Which university offers more financial aid - Penn or Kansas?
The average aid package is $70,971 at Penn and $19,700 at Kansas.
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