Penn vs Northeastern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Average aid for an international student is $75,356 (Penn) and $24,539 (Northeastern).
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Penn starts at $92,524 against $92,337 and ends at $21,553 against $45,782 (Northeastern).
Ten years on, graduates of Penn earn noticeably more: $111K against $93K.
Both universities turn away more than nine applicants in ten (5.2% and 5.4%), so the outcome rests on how well your profile fits, not on the admission rate itself.
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
Northeastern is the more selective of the two (5.2% vs 5.4% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#14 vs #201-300). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $93K). Northeastern has lower sticker-price tuition ($69,289 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 graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Northeastern for: higher selectivity, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northeastern is more selective (5.2% vs 5.4% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1490).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $93K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 90.5%).
Northeastern has lower sticker-price tuition ($69,289 vs $71,236); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $46,555).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Penn | Northeastern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #14 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Yield rate | 68% | 53.8% |
| Median SAT | 1553 | 1490 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.90 | - |
| Number of applications | 65,236 | 98,425 |
| International students | 13.3% | 13.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $111K | $93K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $70K | $62K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $135K |
| Graduation rate | 96.5% | 90.5% |
| Retention rate | 98.8% | 96.9% |
| Median debt | $15,715 | $24,250 |
| Tuition · year | $71,236 | $69,289 |
| Avg. aid package | $70,971 | $46,555 |
| % of need met | 100% | 86.7% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,558 | $32,461 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 24,023 | 39,774 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Penn or Northeastern?
It's harder to get into Northeastern. Penn accepts 5.4% of applicants, while Northeastern accepts 5.2%.
Do Penn or Northeastern graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $93K.
How much is tuition at Penn vs Northeastern?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,236 per year at Penn and $69,289 per year at Northeastern.
What SAT score do you need for Penn or Northeastern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Penn and 1490 at Northeastern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Penn or Northeastern?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #14 for Penn vs #201-300 for Northeastern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Penn or Northeastern?
The average aid package is $70,971 at Penn and $46,555 at Northeastern.
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