University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) vs Cornell

When it comes to choosing the right university, it's essential to compare institutions to find the best fit. University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University, both esteemed Ivy League schools, offer distinct experiences. Penn, located in the heart of Philadelphia, boasts a lower acceptance rate (7.4%) compared to Cornell's (10.3%). While Cornell, situated in Ithaca, New York, has a larger student body, Penn's student population is more diverse. Both universities excel in various fields, with Penn known for its Wharton School of Business and Cornell for its College of Engineering. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details, including graduation rates, popular majors, and more, to make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Cornell University logo

Cornell University

University of Pennsylvania logo

University of Pennsylvania

Overview

Location Ithaca, New York Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Campus setting City: Small City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 97.0% 98.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 8.7% 5.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $80

Graduate: $105
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $90
SAT range 1450 - 1560 1480 - 1570
ACT range 33 - 35 33 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 41.0% 49.0%
Students submitting ACT score 20.0% 30.0%
Total number of applicants 67,380 56,332
Total number of admissions given out 5,852 3,304
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,718 2,418
Yield rate 63.5% 73.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $80,287 $80,496
Average net price $24,262 $14,578
Tuition $60,286 $54,652
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,962

Meal plan: $6,434
Room/dormitory: $11,358

Meal plan: $5,946
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

50.0%
Average amount $52,674
52.0%
Average amount $50,778
Students receiving federal student loan 26.0%
Average amount $3,924
9.0%
Average amount $5,030
Students taking out private loans 16.0%
Average amount $8,357
2.0%
Average amount $27,160

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 15,503
Men 46.1% Women 53.9%
11,292
Men 44.7% Women 55.3%
Graduate students 10,079
Men 51.0% Women 49.0%
16,746
Men 43.8% Women 56.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 64.3% 82.7%
International students 24.4% 22.8%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Large
Dormitory capacity 7,422 6,400
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York California New Jersey Florida Pennsylvania Pennsylvania New York California New Jersey Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Agriculture
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Legal Profession
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Legal Profession
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 6:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 94.1% 96.2%
Dropout rate 5.2% 2.8%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $185,154
  • Year 2: $172,867
  • Year 3: $207,272
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $150,786
  • Year 2: $145,332
  • Year 3: $167,695
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $127,764
  • Year 2: $122,485
  • Year 3: $158,076
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $147,241
  • Year 2: $127,397
  • Year 3: $155,653
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $114,311
  • Year 2: $111,926
  • Year 3: $126,082
Operations Research (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,067
  • Year 2: $109,763
  • Year 3: $124,590
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,459
  • Year 2: $92,277
  • Year 3: $109,597
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,672
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $109,553
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,847
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $107,658
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $101,072
  • Year 3: $106,693
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $189,905
  • Year 2: $201,334
  • Year 3: $249,574
International/Global Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $162,528
  • Year 2: $182,280
  • Year 3: $234,875
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,404
  • Year 2: $198,043
  • Year 3: $227,605
Real Estate (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $119,383
  • Year 2: $169,894
  • Year 3: $224,847
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $186,571
  • Year 2: $177,119
  • Year 3: $218,410
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $245,155
  • Year 3: $214,930
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $177,203
  • Year 2: $202,922
  • Year 3: $214,927
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $169,238
  • Year 2: $174,994
  • Year 3: $208,033
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $102,195
  • Year 2: $138,932
  • Year 3: $197,810
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $179,063
  • Year 2: $175,674
  • Year 3: $186,790

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