Princeton vs Penn - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Statistically these are twins: on every comparable axis the differences sit within the noise.
Average aid for an international student is $86,736 (Princeton) and $75,356 (Penn).
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Princeton lists $95,624 against $92,524 (Penn), but after average aid what remains is $16,304 against $21,553.
At 4.4% and 5.4%, both admissions processes remain a lottery for any candidate; the difference between them is not an argument here.
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
Princeton is the more selective of the two (4.42% vs 5.4% acceptance). Princeton ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#7 vs #14). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($110K vs $111K). Princeton has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,454 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 Princeton for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Penn for: higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Princeton is more selective (4.42% vs 5.4% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1530).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $110K); Princeton has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 96.5%).
Princeton has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,454 vs $71,236); Princeton offers a larger average aid package ($79,320 vs $70,971).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Princeton | Penn |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #7 | #14 |
| Rank · THE | #4 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 4.42% | 5.4% |
| Yield rate | 75.4% | 68% |
| Median SAT | 1530 | 1553 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.96 | 3.90 |
| Number of applications | 42,303 | 65,236 |
| International students | 13.1% | 13.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $110K | $111K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $68K | $70K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $197K | $183K |
| Graduation rate | 97.6% | 96.5% |
| Retention rate | 99% | 98.8% |
| Median debt | $10,320 | $15,715 |
| Tuition · year | $68,454 | $71,236 |
| Avg. aid package | $79,320 | $70,971 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $21,251 | $32,558 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 9,281 | 24,023 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Princeton or Penn?
It's harder to get into Princeton. Princeton accepts 4.42% of applicants, while Penn accepts 5.4%.
Do Princeton or Penn graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $110K at Princeton and $111K at Penn.
How much is tuition at Princeton vs Penn?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,454 per year at Princeton and $71,236 per year at Penn.
What SAT score do you need for Princeton or Penn?
The median admitted SAT score is 1530 at Princeton and 1553 at Penn; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Princeton or Penn?
Princeton ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #7 for Princeton vs #14 for Penn.
Which university offers more financial aid - Princeton or Penn?
The average aid package is $79,320 at Princeton and $70,971 at Penn.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Yale
Cornell
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern
North Carolina
Duke