University of Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA, PA
New Jersey Institute of Technology
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Penn vs Njit — 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
New Jersey Institute of Technology
NJIT
Newark, New Jersey
World rank · ARWU#701-800
Acceptance65.1%
Median SAT1337
Graduation rate72.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$84K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Pennsylvania New Jersey Institute of Technology
#14 World rank · ARWU #701-800
— Rank · THE —
5.4% Acceptance rate 65.1%
1553 Median SAT 1337
96.5% Graduation rate 72.8%
24,023 Enrollment 13,247

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

5.4% Acceptance rate 65.1%
68% Yield rate 17.2%
1553 Median SAT 1337
3.90 Avg. GPA 3.70
65,236 Number of applications 15,607
24% Int'l students 25%
$111K Median earnings · 10 yrs $84K
$132K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $70K
$183K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $113K
96.5% Graduation rate 72.8%
98.8% Retention rate 90%
$15,715 Median debt $21,000
$68,686 Tuition · year $37,664
$70,971 Avg. aid package $18,661
100% % of need met 0.6%
$32,558 Avg. graduate debt $32,459
$75 Application fee $75
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Penn leads in 10 of 12 measured metrics
% of need100% vs 0.6%
Acceptance5.4% vs 65.1%
Yield68% vs 17.2%

EXPERT TAKE

Penn is the more selective of the two (5.4% vs 65.1% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#14 vs #701-800). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $84K). Njit has lower sticker-price tuition ($37,664 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 Njit 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 65.1% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1337).

Graduate outcomes

Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $84K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 72.8%).

Cost and aid

Njit has lower sticker-price tuition ($37,664 vs $68,686); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $18,661).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Penn Njit
World rank · ARWU#14#701-800
Rank · THE——
Acceptance rate5.4%65.1%
Yield rate68%17.2%
Median SAT15531337
Avg. GPA3.903.70
Number of applications65,23615,607
International students24%25%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$111K$84K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$132K$70K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$183K$113K
Graduation rate96.5%72.8%
Retention rate98.8%90%
Median debt$15,715$21,000
Tuition · year$68,686$37,664
Avg. aid package$70,971$18,661
% of need met100%0.6%
Avg. graduate debt$32,558$32,459
Application fee$75$75
Enrollment24,02313,247

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Penn or Njit?

It's harder to get into Penn. Penn accepts 5.4% of applicants, while Njit accepts 65.1%.

Do Penn or Njit graduates earn more?

Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $84K.

How much is tuition at Penn vs Njit?

Sticker-price tuition is $68,686 per year at Penn and $37,664 per year at Njit.

What SAT score do you need for Penn or Njit?

The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Penn and 1337 at Njit; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Penn or Njit?

Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #14 for Penn vs #701-800 for Njit.

Which university offers more financial aid — Penn or Njit?

The average aid package is $70,971 at Penn and $18,661 at Njit.

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.