Penn vs Washington University - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Penn admits 5.4%, Washington University admits 12.1%.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Penn: $111K against $86K.
The fight for an admitted student is won more often by Penn: 68% of them enrol, against 46.7%.
Tuition is practically the same ($71,236 against $69,594), so financial aid, not the sticker price, will decide the cost.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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 12.1% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#14 vs #23). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $86K). Washington University has lower sticker-price tuition ($69,594 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 Washington University for: lower tuition, a larger aid package, 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 12.1% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1540).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $86K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 94.3%).
Washington University has lower sticker-price tuition ($69,594 vs $71,236); Washington University offers a larger average aid package ($75,604 vs $70,971).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Penn | Washington University |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #14 | #23 |
| Rank · THE | - | #69 |
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% | 12.1% |
| Yield rate | 68% | 46.7% |
| Median SAT | 1553 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.90 | 4.19 |
| Number of applications | 65,236 | 32,754 |
| International students | 13.3% | 9.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $111K | $86K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $70K | $61K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $137K |
| Graduation rate | 96.5% | 94.3% |
| Retention rate | 98.8% | 95% |
| Median debt | $15,715 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $71,236 | $69,594 |
| Avg. aid package | $70,971 | $75,604 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,558 | $26,666 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 24,023 | 16,357 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Penn or Washington University?
It's harder to get into Penn. Penn accepts 5.4% of applicants, while Washington University accepts 12.1%.
Do Penn or Washington University graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $86K.
How much is tuition at Penn vs Washington University?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,236 per year at Penn and $69,594 per year at Washington University.
What SAT score do you need for Penn or Washington University?
The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Penn and 1540 at Washington University; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Penn or Washington University?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #14 for Penn vs #23 for Washington University.
Which university offers more financial aid - Penn or Washington University?
The average aid package is $70,971 at Penn and $75,604 at Washington University.
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