Penn vs West Virginia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Penn admits 5.4% of applications, West Virginia admits 89%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 13.3% (Penn) against 1.7% (West Virginia).
Real money goes to international students at Penn ($75,356 on average), while West Virginia stops at $21,636.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Penn starts at $92,524 against $47,480 and ends at $21,553 against $30,750 (West Virginia).
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 89% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#14 vs #501-600). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $56K). West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 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 West Virginia for: lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Penn is more selective (5.4% vs 89% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1110).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $56K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 64.7%).
West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $71,236); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $16,730).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Penn | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #14 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% | 89% |
| Yield rate | 68% | 26.5% |
| Median SAT | 1553 | 1110 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.90 | 3.70 |
| Number of applications | 65,236 | 20,150 |
| International students | 13.3% | 1.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $111K | $56K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $70K | $36K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $84K |
| Graduation rate | 96.5% | 64.7% |
| Retention rate | 98.8% | 83.4% |
| Median debt | $15,715 | $22,500 |
| Tuition · year | $71,236 | $28,608 |
| Avg. aid package | $70,971 | $16,730 |
| % of need met | 100% | 63% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,558 | $36,010 |
| Application fee | $75 | $65 |
| Enrollment | 24,023 | 23,643 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Penn or West Virginia?
It's harder to get into Penn. Penn accepts 5.4% of applicants, while West Virginia accepts 89%.
Do Penn or West Virginia graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $56K.
How much is tuition at Penn vs West Virginia?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,236 per year at Penn and $28,608 per year at West Virginia.
What SAT score do you need for Penn or West Virginia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Penn and 1110 at West Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Penn or West Virginia?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #14 for Penn vs #501-600 for West Virginia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Penn or West Virginia?
The average aid package is $70,971 at Penn and $16,730 at West Virginia.
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