University of Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA, PA
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Penn vs North carolina — 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NORTH CAROLINA
Chapel Hill, NC
World rank · ARWU#35
Acceptance15.3%
Median SAT1439
Graduation rate91.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Pennsylvania University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
#14 World rank · ARWU #35
— Rank · THE #70
5.4% Acceptance rate 15.3%
1553 Median SAT 1439
96.5% Graduation rate 91.2%
24,023 Enrollment 32,680

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

5.4% Acceptance rate 15.3%
68% Yield rate 45.5%
1553 Median SAT 1439
3.90 Avg. GPA 4.50
65,236 Number of applications 66,535
24% Int'l students 9%
$111K Median earnings · 10 yrs $72K
$132K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $69K
$183K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $112K
96.5% Graduation rate 91.2%
98.8% Retention rate 96.6%
$15,715 Median debt $14,000
$68,686 Tuition · year $41,203
$70,971 Avg. aid package $20,705
100% % of need met 100%
$32,558 Avg. graduate debt $20,382
$75 Application fee $85
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Penn leads in 7 of 12 measured metrics
Aid$70,971 vs $20,705
Acceptance5.4% vs 15.3%
Tuition$68,686 vs $41,203

EXPERT TAKE

Penn is the more selective of the two (5.4% vs 15.3% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#14 vs #35). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $72K). North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 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 North carolina 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 15.3% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1439).

Graduate outcomes

Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $72K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 91.2%).

Cost and aid

North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $68,686); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $20,705).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Penn North carolina
World rank · ARWU#14#35
Rank · THE—#70
Acceptance rate5.4%15.3%
Yield rate68%45.5%
Median SAT15531439
Avg. GPA3.904.50
Number of applications65,23666,535
International students24%9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$111K$72K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$132K$69K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$183K$112K
Graduation rate96.5%91.2%
Retention rate98.8%96.6%
Median debt$15,715$14,000
Tuition · year$68,686$41,203
Avg. aid package$70,971$20,705
% of need met100%100%
Avg. graduate debt$32,558$20,382
Application fee$75$85
Enrollment24,02332,680

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Penn or North carolina?

It's harder to get into Penn. Penn accepts 5.4% of applicants, while North carolina accepts 15.3%.

Do Penn or North carolina graduates earn more?

Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $72K.

How much is tuition at Penn vs North carolina?

Sticker-price tuition is $68,686 per year at Penn and $41,203 per year at North carolina.

What SAT score do you need for Penn or North carolina?

The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Penn and 1439 at North carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Penn or North carolina?

Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #14 for Penn vs #35 for North carolina.

Which university offers more financial aid — Penn or North carolina?

The average aid package is $70,971 at Penn and $20,705 at North carolina.

Compare Penn with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Cornell Johns hopkins Washington university Northwestern Duke
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.