Penn vs Yale - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Average aid for an international student is $84,185 (Yale) and $75,356 (Penn).
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Penn: $111K against $101K.
Both universities turn away more than nine applicants in ten (4.7% and 5.4%), so the outcome rests on how well your profile fits, not on the admission rate itself.
Tuition is practically the same ($71,236 against $72,500), 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
Yale is the more selective of the two (4.7% vs 5.4% acceptance). Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#14 vs #11). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $101K). Penn has lower sticker-price tuition ($71,236 vs $72,500 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: higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate, lower tuition.
Choose Yale for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher retention.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Yale is more selective (4.7% vs 5.4% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1540).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $101K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 95.7%).
Penn has lower sticker-price tuition ($71,236 vs $72,500); Yale offers a larger average aid package ($74,353 vs $70,971).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Penn | Yale |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #14 | #11 |
| Rank · THE | - | #10 |
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% | 4.7% |
| Yield rate | 68% | 68.4% |
| Median SAT | 1553 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.90 | - |
| Number of applications | 65,236 | 50,264 |
| International students | 13.3% | 10.6% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $111K | $101K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $70K | $66K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $194K |
| Graduation rate | 96.5% | 95.7% |
| Retention rate | 98.8% | 99.4% |
| Median debt | $15,715 | $12,975 |
| Tuition · year | $71,236 | $72,500 |
| Avg. aid package | $70,971 | $74,353 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,558 | $22,185 |
| Application fee | $75 | $80 |
| Enrollment | 24,023 | 15,657 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Penn or Yale?
It's harder to get into Yale. Penn accepts 5.4% of applicants, while Yale accepts 4.7%.
Do Penn or Yale graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $101K.
How much is tuition at Penn vs Yale?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,236 per year at Penn and $72,500 per year at Yale.
What SAT score do you need for Penn or Yale?
The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Penn and 1540 at Yale; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Penn or Yale?
Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #14 for Penn vs #11 for Yale.
Which university offers more financial aid - Penn or Yale?
The average aid package is $70,971 at Penn and $74,353 at Yale.
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