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Northwestern University vs University of Pennsylvania

Odds, test scores, cost, aid and graduation rates, side by side from each school's own Common Data Set. Add more schools

Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University7%admitted · 2025-26University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania5%admitted · 2025-26

Getting in

Acceptance rate7.5%4.9%
Early decision rate20.4%13.3%
SAT middle 50%1520–1560~1510–1570
ACT middle 50%34–3534–35
Applicant reports on our site1,0211,224

Cost and aid

Tuition$71,802$65,670
Food and housing$22,941—
Sticker price per year$96,003—
Average need-based grant$65,946$70,867
Average % of need met100%100%

Outcomes

First-year retention98%98.6%
6-year graduation rate96%96.9%
Undergraduates9,0399,989

Best value in each row is highlighted. Sticker price uses out-of-state tuition for public universities and leaves out books, travel and aid. "—" means the school left the item blank in its Common Data Set.

Northwestern University or University of Pennsylvania?

Is Northwestern University harder to get into than University of Pennsylvania?

University of Pennsylvania is more selective. It admitted 4.9% of first-year applicants, compared with 7.5% at Northwestern University, per each school's latest Common Data Set.

What SAT scores do Northwestern University and University of Pennsylvania students have?

The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1520–1560 at Northwestern University and about 1510–1570 at University of Pennsylvania.

Does Northwestern University or University of Pennsylvania have a higher graduation rate?

96% of Northwestern University students graduate within six years, compared with 96.9% at University of Pennsylvania.

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