University of Pennsylvania vs Northwestern University

University of Pennsylvania and Northwestern University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: University of Pennsylvania is more selective with a 5.9% acceptance rate compared to Northwestern University's 7.2%. Average SAT scores are 1545 and 1526 respectively.

Cost: Northwestern University offers a lower average net price at $27,143, which is $4,086 less than University of Pennsylvania ($31,229). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median salary of $111,371 ten years after enrollment, which is $22,008 more than Northwestern University graduates ($89,363).

Graduation: University of Pennsylvania leads with a 96.5% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 98.1% vs 97.4%.

Campus Size: University of Pennsylvania is the larger campus with 10,768 total students, while Northwestern University has 8,960.

Bottom Line: Northwestern University wins on affordability while University of Pennsylvania leads in career earnings. Your choice depends on whether upfront cost or long-term ROI matters more.