University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

In the realm of higher education, two prominent institutions stand out: the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). While both universities share a reputation for academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences for their students. UPenn, located in the heart of Philadelphia, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of undergraduate programs, including popular majors like business, engineering, and nursing. MIT, situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is renowned for its strength in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, attracting students passionate about innovation and research. With acceptance rates of 7.4% for UPenn and 4.1% for MIT, both universities are highly selective, ensuring a rigorous and intellectually stimulating learning environment. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details about these prestigious institutions, including graduation rates, student demographics, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology logo

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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 4-1-4 Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 99.0% 98.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 4.1% 5.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $90
SAT range N/A 1480 - 1570
ACT range N/A 33 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 49.0%
Students submitting ACT score 30.0%
Total number of applicants 33,240 56,332
Total number of admissions given out 1,365 3,304
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,177 2,418
Yield rate 86.2% 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 $58,920 $80,496
Average net price $30,958 $14,578
Tuition $55,510 $54,652
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,550

Meal plan: $6,550
Room/dormitory: $11,358

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

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $32,562
52.0%
Average amount $50,778
Students receiving federal student loan 6.0%
Average amount $5,112
9.0%
Average amount $5,030
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $17,891
2.0%
Average amount $27,160

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 4,638
Men 51.9% Women 48.1%
11,292
Men 44.7% Women 55.3%
Graduate students 7,296
Men 62.0% Women 38.0%
16,746
Men 43.8% Women 56.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 82.7%
International students 29.2% 22.8%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Large
Dormitory capacity 6,280 6,400
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Texas New York Florida New Jersey Pennsylvania New York California New Jersey Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Architecture
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Legal Profession
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 3:1 6:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 96.2% 96.2%
Dropout rate 3.0% 2.8%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $144,716
  • Year 2: $150,045
  • Year 3: $183,153
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $170,089
  • Year 2: $165,236
  • Year 3: $182,183
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,191
  • Year 2: $127,993
  • Year 3: $163,496
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,796
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $155,540
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $133,685
  • Year 2: $137,214
  • Year 3: $155,079
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,229
  • Year 2: $121,226
  • Year 3: $139,548
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $141,603
  • Year 2: $126,504
  • Year 3: $132,987
Mechanical Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $112,885
  • Year 3: $124,425
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $135,266
  • Year 2: $111,435
  • Year 3: $112,404
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $109,955
  • Year 2: $104,749
  • Year 3: $109,672
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

Compare Similar Colleges

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