University of Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA, PA
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Penn vs Maryland (umbc) — US university comparison

University of Pennsylvania
PENN
Philadelphia, PA
World rank · ARWU#14
Acceptance5.4%
Median SAT1553
Graduation rate96.5%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$111K
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
MARYLAND (UMBC)
Baltimore, Maryland
World rank · ARWU#601-700
Acceptance72.4%
Median SAT1323
Graduation rate70%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$70K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Pennsylvania University of Maryland, Baltimore County
#14 World rank · ARWU #601-700
— Rank · THE —
5.4% Acceptance rate 72.4%
1553 Median SAT 1323
96.5% Graduation rate 70%
24,023 Enrollment 13,906

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

5.4% Acceptance rate 72.4%
68% Yield rate 21.6%
1553 Median SAT 1323
3.90 Avg. GPA 4.10
65,236 Number of applications 14,325
24% Int'l students 17%
$111K Median earnings · 10 yrs $70K
$132K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $60K
$183K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $101K
96.5% Graduation rate 70%
98.8% Retention rate 85%
$15,715 Median debt $19,500
$68,686 Tuition · year $31,275
$70,971 Avg. aid package $14,712
100% % of need met 47%
$32,558 Avg. graduate debt $22,450
$75 Application fee $75
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Penn leads in 9 of 12 measured metrics
Acceptance5.4% vs 72.4%
Aid$70,971 vs $14,712
Yield68% vs 21.6%

EXPERT TAKE

Penn is the more selective of the two (5.4% vs 72.4% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#14 vs #601-700). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $70K). Maryland (umbc) has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,275 vs $68,686 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 Maryland (umbc) for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Penn is more selective (5.4% vs 72.4% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1323).

Graduate outcomes

Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $70K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 70%).

Cost and aid

Maryland (umbc) has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,275 vs $68,686); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $14,712).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kPennMaryland (umbc) TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Penn and Maryland (umbc) highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Penn Maryland (umbc)
World rank · ARWU#14#601-700
Rank · THE——
Acceptance rate5.4%72.4%
Yield rate68%21.6%
Median SAT15531323
Avg. GPA3.904.10
Number of applications65,23614,325
International students24%17%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$111K$70K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$132K$60K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$183K$101K
Graduation rate96.5%70%
Retention rate98.8%85%
Median debt$15,715$19,500
Tuition · year$68,686$31,275
Avg. aid package$70,971$14,712
% of need met100%47%
Avg. graduate debt$32,558$22,450
Application fee$75$75
Enrollment24,02313,906

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Penn or Maryland (umbc)?

It's harder to get into Penn. Penn accepts 5.4% of applicants, while Maryland (umbc) accepts 72.4%.

Do Penn or Maryland (umbc) graduates earn more?

Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $70K.

How much is tuition at Penn vs Maryland (umbc)?

Sticker-price tuition is $68,686 per year at Penn and $31,275 per year at Maryland (umbc).

What SAT score do you need for Penn or Maryland (umbc)?

The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Penn and 1323 at Maryland (umbc); aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Penn or Maryland (umbc)?

Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #14 for Penn vs #601-700 for Maryland (umbc).

Which university offers more financial aid — Penn or Maryland (umbc)?

The average aid package is $70,971 at Penn and $14,712 at Maryland (umbc).

Compare Penn with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Cornell Johns hopkins Washington university Northwestern North carolina
Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) — admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "—" = not yet in canonical.