Yale vs Penn - 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 ($72,500 against $71,236), 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 (#11 vs #14). 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 Yale for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher retention.
Choose Penn for: higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate, lower tuition.
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 | Yale | Penn |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #11 | #14 |
| Rank · THE | #10 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Yield rate | 68.4% | 68% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1553 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.90 |
| Number of applications | 50,264 | 65,236 |
| International students | 10.6% | 13.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $101K | $111K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $66K | $70K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $194K | $183K |
| Graduation rate | 95.7% | 96.5% |
| Retention rate | 99.4% | 98.8% |
| Median debt | $12,975 | $15,715 |
| Tuition · year | $72,500 | $71,236 |
| Avg. aid package | $74,353 | $70,971 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,185 | $32,558 |
| Application fee | $80 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 15,657 | 24,023 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Yale or Penn?
It's harder to get into Yale. Yale accepts 4.7% of applicants, while Penn accepts 5.4%.
Do Yale or Penn graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $101K.
How much is tuition at Yale vs Penn?
Sticker-price tuition is $72,500 per year at Yale and $71,236 per year at Penn.
What SAT score do you need for Yale or Penn?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Yale and 1553 at Penn; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Yale or Penn?
Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #11 for Yale vs #14 for Penn.
Which university offers more financial aid - Yale or Penn?
The average aid package is $74,353 at Yale and $70,971 at Penn.
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