Rochester vs Penn - 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 (#151-200 vs #14). 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 Rochester for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Penn for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
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 | Rochester | Penn |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #151-200 | #14 |
| Rank · THE | #127 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 40.08% | 5.4% |
| Yield rate | 15.4% | 68% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1553 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.72 | 3.90 |
| Number of applications | 21,384 | 65,236 |
| International students | 22.1% | 13.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $79K | $111K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $50K | $70K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $183K |
| Graduation rate | 85.4% | 96.5% |
| Retention rate | 90.7% | 98.8% |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $15,715 |
| Tuition · year | $70,284 | $71,236 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,879 | $70,971 |
| % of need met | 96.1% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,304 | $32,558 |
| Application fee | $50 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 11,946 | 24,023 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Rochester or Penn?
It's harder to get into Penn. Rochester accepts 40.08% of applicants, while Penn accepts 5.4%.
Do Rochester or Penn graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $79K.
How much is tuition at Rochester vs Penn?
Sticker-price tuition is $70,284 per year at Rochester and $71,236 per year at Penn.
What SAT score do you need for Rochester or Penn?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Rochester and 1553 at Penn; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Rochester or Penn?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Rochester vs #14 for Penn.
Which university offers more financial aid - Rochester or Penn?
The average aid package is $60,879 at Rochester and $70,971 at Penn.
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