Babson vs. Penn

Comparable Facts

Compare Babson College in Wellesley, MA with University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Babson based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 3,932 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Babson College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Babson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Babson College 15:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Babson vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Babson or Penn? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Pennsylvania than Babson ($23,570 vs. $32,019).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pennsylvania are 11% lower than at Babson College ($19,174 vs. $21,550).
• University of Pennsylvania is 20.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Babson (about $11,534 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $57,152.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.2% higher at Penn than at Babson College (about $11,534 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $57,152.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pennsylvania than at Babson College (51% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 35.9% larger than aid received by Babson College students ($65,458 vs. $48,173).

Babson vs. Penn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Babson or Penn? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn and Babson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 80 points higher than at Babson (1460).
• Incoming Penn students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at Babson).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Babson College 1390/1530; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Babson College 31/34; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Babson - Test optional; Penn - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Babson Jan 3, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Babson (3.79).
• Babson has a higher acceptance rate (17.1%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 39% at Babson vs. 68% at Penn.

Babson vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Babson and Penn? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Babson College's (90%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $15,100 more per year than Babson graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $108,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $5,367 lower median loan debt than Babson graduates ($20,633 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Babson graduates ($213 vs. $268).
• More Babson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.