University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) vs NorthWestern

When it comes to choosing the right university, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and Northwestern University (NU) stand out as two of the most prestigious institutions in the United States. Both offer world-class academics, vibrant campus life, and excellent career prospects. However, there are some key differences between the two that prospective students should consider. UPenn has a slightly higher acceptance rate and a larger student body, while NU has a stronger endowment and a more diverse student population. Additionally, UPenn is known for its strong programs in business, engineering, and law, while NU excels in journalism, communication, and theater. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that highlights the key differences between these two outstanding universities. Dive in to find the best fit for your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	Northwestern University	University of Pennsylvania
Overview
Location	Evanston, Illinois	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Campus setting	City: Small	City: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Quarter	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	99.0%	98.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	7.0%	5.9%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $95	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $90
SAT range	1470 - 1570	1480 - 1570
ACT range	34 - 35	33 - 35
Students submitting SAT score	43.0%	49.0%
Students submitting ACT score	39.0%	30.0%
Total number of applicants	47,636	56,332
Total number of admissions given out	3,321	3,304
Admitted students who chose to enroll	2,086	2,418
Yield rate	62.8%	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)	Required	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$83,838	$80,496
Average net price	$29,999	$14,578
Tuition	$60,276	$54,652
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $11,271 Meal plan: $6,993	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)	57.0% Average amount $51,087	52.0% Average amount $50,778
Students receiving federal student loan	23.0% Average amount $4,625	9.0% Average amount $5,030
Students taking out private loans	2.0% Average amount $38,595	2.0% Average amount $27,160

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	8,847 Men 46.1% Women 53.9%	11,292 Men 44.7% Women 55.3%
Graduate students	14,562 Men 47.3% Women 52.7%	16,746 Men 43.8% Women 56.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	82.7%
International students	17.8%	22.8%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	4,409	6,400
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	Pennsylvania New York California New Jersey Florida

Academics
Popular study areas	Business Communication and Journalism Engineering Health Professions Legal Profession	Health Professions Business Education Legal Profession Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio	6:1	6:1
Institutional accreditation	Higher Learning Commission	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	95.2%	96.2%
Dropout rate	4.2%	2.8%
Transferred out	N/A	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $150,242 Year 2: $188,472 Year 3: $221,242 Business/Commerce, General (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $188,472 Year 3: $216,176 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $187,194 Year 2: $170,971 Year 3: $206,288 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $120,709 Year 2: $189,565 Year 3: $194,961 Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $162,478 Year 2: $163,561 Year 3: $177,652 Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $111,200 Year 2: $157,779 Year 3: $159,304 Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $140,321 Year 2: $141,586 Year 3: $154,556 Medical Illustration and Informatics (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $88,288 Year 2: $118,465 Year 3: $132,325 Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $118,780 Year 2: $111,323 Year 3: $130,124 Community Organization and Advocacy (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $115,760 Year 2: $113,668 Year 3: $128,046	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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