University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) vs Harvard

In the realm of higher education, two institutions stand out as beacons of academic excellence: the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University. While both share a reputation for rigor and prestige, they offer distinct experiences that cater to different aspirations and preferences. This side-by-side comparison delves into the intricacies of each university, highlighting key differences in acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Whether you're a prospective student seeking the ideal academic environment or an inquisitive mind eager to explore the nuances of these esteemed institutions, this comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights to guide your exploration.
Harvard University logo

Harvard University

University of Pennsylvania logo

University of Pennsylvania

Overview

Location Cambridge, Massachusetts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Campus setting City: Midsize 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 96.0% 98.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 4.0% 5.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $105
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $90
SAT range 1480 - 1580 1480 - 1570
ACT range 33 - 36 33 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 54.0% 49.0%
Students submitting ACT score 31.0% 30.0%
Total number of applicants 57,786 56,332
Total number of admissions given out 2,318 3,304
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,951 2,418
Yield rate 84.2% 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) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $78,028 $80,496
Average net price $13,910 $14,578
Tuition $51,143 $54,652
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,705

Meal plan: $7,236
Room/dormitory: $11,358

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

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

56.0%
Average amount $59,840
52.0%
Average amount $50,778
Students receiving federal student loan 3.0%
Average amount $5,180
9.0%
Average amount $5,030
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $8,080
2.0%
Average amount $27,160

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 9,579
Men 49.0% Women 51.0%
11,292
Men 44.7% Women 55.3%
Graduate students 21,766
Men 46.3% Women 53.7%
16,746
Men 43.8% Women 56.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 82.7%
International students 23.9% 22.8%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Large
Dormitory capacity 12,874 6,400
First year students are required to live on campus? Yes No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York California Texas Illinois New Jersey Pennsylvania New York California New Jersey Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Education
  • Legal Profession
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Legal Profession
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 7:1 6:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 96.7% 96.2%
Dropout rate 2.0% 2.8%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Statistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,193
  • Year 2: $128,716
  • Year 3: $240,408
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $184,307
  • Year 2: $165,340
  • Year 3: $199,043
Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $171,333
  • Year 2: $171,907
  • Year 3: $187,553
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $140,072
  • Year 2: $128,737
  • Year 3: $163,896
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $151,371
  • Year 2: $174,023
  • Year 3: $163,512
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $123,508
  • Year 2: $117,916
  • Year 3: $129,281
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $121,832
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $102,707
  • Year 2: $90,856
  • Year 3: $121,771
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,905
  • Year 2: $98,670
  • Year 3: $107,389
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,745
  • Year 2: $71,486
  • Year 3: $106,375
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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