University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) vs University of Maryland-College Park (UMD)
When it comes to higher education, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and University of Maryland-College Park (UMD) stand out as two prominent institutions with distinct offerings. UPenn, an Ivy League school located in Philadelphia, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 7.4%, while UMD, a public research university in College Park, Maryland, offers a more accessible route with an acceptance rate of 43.4%. Both universities excel in various academic disciplines, with UPenn known for its strength in business, engineering, and law, and UMD recognized for its programs in engineering, computer science, and public policy. While UPenn's student body is predominantly undergraduate, UMD has a larger graduate student population. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two esteemed institutions, including popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and more.
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![]() University of Maryland-College Park |
![]() University of Pennsylvania |
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Overview |
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Location | College Park, Maryland | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 98.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 52.0% | 5.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$90
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SAT range | 1330 - 1510 | 1480 - 1570 |
ACT range | 30 - 34 | 33 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 34.0% | 49.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 9.0% | 30.0% |
Total number of applicants | 50,183 | 56,332 |
Total number of admissions given out | 26,109 | 3,304 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 6,072 | 2,418 |
Yield rate | 23.3% | 73.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$30,997
Out of state:
$58,678
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$80,496 |
Average net price | $17,146 | $14,578 |
Tuition |
In state:
$9,000
Out of state:
$36,681
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$54,652 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,072
Meal plan:
$5,578
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Room/dormitory:
$11,358
Meal plan:
$5,946
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
56.0%
Average amount $10,645 |
52.0%
Average amount $50,778 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
20.0%
Average amount $5,065 |
9.0%
Average amount $5,030 |
Students taking out private loans |
4.0%
Average amount $22,924 |
2.0%
Average amount $27,160 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
30,922
Men 50.8% Women 49.2% |
11,292
Men 44.7% Women 55.3% |
Graduate students |
10,350
Men 50.7% Women 49.3% |
16,746
Men 43.8% Women 56.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 29.5% | 82.7% |
International students | 10.3% | 22.8% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 11,846 | 6,400 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Maryland New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Virginia | Pennsylvania New York California New Jersey Florida |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 18:1 | 6:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 87.7% | 96.2% |
Dropout rate | 4.0% | 2.8% |
Transferred out | 7.7% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
International/Global Studies (Master's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
Real Estate (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
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