MEDFORD, MA

PHILADELPHIA, PA

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Tufts vs Penn — US university comparison

TUFTS

Medford, MA

World rank · ARWU#151-200

Acceptance11.5%

Median SAT1513

Graduation rate93.5%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$83K

PENN

Philadelphia, PA

World rank · ARWU#14

Acceptance5.4%

Median SAT1553

Graduation rate96.5%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$111K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Tufts University University of Pennsylvania

#151-200 World rank · ARWU #14

#179 Rank · THE —

11.5% Acceptance rate 5.4%

1513 Median SAT 1553

93.5% Graduation rate 96.5%

13,599 Enrollment 24,023

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

11.5% Acceptance rate 5.4%

45.5% Yield rate 68%

1513 Median SAT 1553

— Avg. GPA 3.90

34,432 Number of applications 65,236

17% Int'l students 24%

At a glance

Penn leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics

Acceptance11.5% vs 5.4%

Yield45.5% vs 68%

Earnings$83K vs $111K

EXPERT TAKE

Penn is the more selective of the two (5.4% vs 11.5% 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 $83K). Penn has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,686 vs $70,704 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 Tufts for: 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

Admissions

Penn is more selective (5.4% vs 11.5% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1513).

Graduate outcomes

Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $83K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 93.5%).

Cost and aid

Penn has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,686 vs $70,704); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $59,574).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

Each dot is a comparable US university; Tufts and Penn highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Tufts	Penn
World rank · ARWU	#151-200	#14
Rank · THE	#179	—
Acceptance rate	11.5%	5.4%
Yield rate	45.5%	68%
Median SAT	1513	1553
Avg. GPA	—	3.90
Number of applications	34,432	65,236
International students	17%	24%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$83K	$111K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs	$103K	$132K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$132K	$183K
Graduation rate	93.5%	96.5%
Retention rate	95.5%	98.8%
Median debt	$16,250	$15,715
Tuition · year	$70,704	$68,686
Avg. aid package	$59,574	$70,971
% of need met	100%	100%
Avg. graduate debt	$25,584	$32,558
Application fee	—	$75
Enrollment	13,599	24,023

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Tufts or Penn?

It's harder to get into Penn. Tufts accepts 11.5% of applicants, while Penn accepts 5.4%.

Do Tufts or Penn graduates earn more?

Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $83K.

How much is tuition at Tufts vs Penn?

Sticker-price tuition is $70,704 per year at Tufts and $68,686 per year at Penn.

What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Penn?

The median admitted SAT score is 1513 at Tufts and 1553 at Penn; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Tufts or Penn?

Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #14 for Penn.

Which university offers more financial aid — Tufts or Penn?

The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $70,971 at Penn.

Compare Tufts with

Harvard

Stanford

Massachusetts institute of technology

Washington university

Northwestern

North carolina

Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).

All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) — admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "—" = not yet in canonical.