Penn vs Rochester - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Penn admits 5.4% of applicants, while Rochester admits 40.1%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Rochester: 22.1% of students against 13.3% (Penn).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Penn awards international students $75,356 on average, Rochester awards $41,269.
Ten years on, graduates of Penn earn noticeably more: $111K against $79K.
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
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 40.08% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#14 vs #151-200). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $79K). Rochester has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,284 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 Rochester 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 40.08% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1470).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $79K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 85.4%).
Rochester has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,284 vs $71,236); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $60,879).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Penn | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #14 | #151-200 |
| Rank · THE | - | #127 |
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% | 40.08% |
| Yield rate | 68% | 15.4% |
| Median SAT | 1553 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.90 | 3.72 |
| Number of applications | 65,236 | 21,384 |
| International students | 13.3% | 22.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $111K | $79K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $70K | $50K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 96.5% | 85.4% |
| Retention rate | 98.8% | 90.7% |
| Median debt | $15,715 | $21,000 |
| Tuition · year | $71,236 | $70,284 |
| Avg. aid package | $70,971 | $60,879 |
| % of need met | 100% | 96.1% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,558 | $32,304 |
| Application fee | $75 | $50 |
| Enrollment | 24,023 | 11,946 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Penn or Rochester?
It's harder to get into Penn. Penn accepts 5.4% of applicants, while Rochester accepts 40.08%.
Do Penn or Rochester graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $79K.
How much is tuition at Penn vs Rochester?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,236 per year at Penn and $70,284 per year at Rochester.
What SAT score do you need for Penn or Rochester?
The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Penn and 1470 at Rochester; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Penn or Rochester?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #14 for Penn vs #151-200 for Rochester.
Which university offers more financial aid - Penn or Rochester?
The average aid package is $70,971 at Penn and $60,879 at Rochester.
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