Penn vs Northwestern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Penn: $111K against $89K.
Both universities turn away more than nine applicants in ten (5.4% and 7.7%), so the outcome rests on how well your profile fits, not on the admission rate itself.
The fight for an admitted student is won more often by Penn: 68% of them enrol, against 55.3%.
Tuition is practically the same ($71,236 against $70,589), so financial aid, not the sticker price, will decide the cost.
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 7.69% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#14 vs #33). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $89K). Northwestern has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,589 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 Northwestern 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 7.69% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1540).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $89K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 95.1%).
Northwestern has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,589 vs $71,236); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $68,110).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Penn | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #14 | #33 |
| Rank · THE | - | #31 |
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% | 7.69% |
| Yield rate | 68% | 55.3% |
| Median SAT | 1553 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.90 | - |
| Number of applications | 65,236 | 49,474 |
| International students | 13.3% | 11.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $111K | $89K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $70K | $61K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $139K |
| Graduation rate | 96.5% | 95.1% |
| Retention rate | 98.8% | 98% |
| Median debt | $15,715 | $15,000 |
| Tuition · year | $71,236 | $70,589 |
| Avg. aid package | $70,971 | $68,110 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,558 | $32,540 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 24,023 | 23,431 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Penn or Northwestern?
It's harder to get into Penn. Penn accepts 5.4% of applicants, while Northwestern accepts 7.69%.
Do Penn or Northwestern graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $89K.
How much is tuition at Penn vs Northwestern?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,236 per year at Penn and $70,589 per year at Northwestern.
What SAT score do you need for Penn or Northwestern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Penn and 1540 at Northwestern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Penn or Northwestern?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #14 for Penn vs #33 for Northwestern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Penn or Northwestern?
The average aid package is $70,971 at Penn and $68,110 at Northwestern.
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