Barnard vs. Penn

Deciding between Barnard College and University of Pennsylvania? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Barnard College
University of Pennsylvania

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • Penn Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Penn 29,109
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • Penn #23
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Barnard -
  • Penn -
  • Status
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Penn Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Barnard
  • Penn

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Penn $68,686
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Penn $68,686
  • Room & Board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Penn $19,174
  • Average Net Price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Penn $23,570
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • Penn $65,458
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • Penn 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Penn 65,226
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Penn 3,523
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Penn 68%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • Penn 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • Penn 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Penn 3.95
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Barnard A
  • Penn A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • Penn Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • Penn Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Barnard 32/34
  • Penn 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Penn 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Penn Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Penn 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • Penn 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Penn $123,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • Penn 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Penn $20,633
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Barnard $184
  • Penn $213

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Barnard 2%
  • Penn 44%
  • % Women
  • Barnard 98%
  • Penn 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Barnard High
  • Penn Very High
  • HBCU
  • Barnard No
  • Penn No
  • % White
  • Barnard 53%
  • Penn 45%
  • % Asian
  • Barnard 14%
  • Penn 19%
  • % Black
  • Barnard 7%
  • Penn 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Barnard 12%
  • Penn 10%
  • % Native American
  • Barnard 0%
  • Penn 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Barnard 0%
  • Penn 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Barnard 6%
  • Penn 4%
  • % International
  • Barnard 8%
  • Penn 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Barnard 0%
  • Penn 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Barnard 20%
  • Penn 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Barnard 62%
  • Penn 70%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Barnard Yes
  • Penn Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Barnard No
  • Penn Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Barnard Yes
  • Penn Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Barnard No
  • Penn Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Barnard No
  • Penn Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY 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 Barnard based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Barnard College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Barnard College 10:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Barnard vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard 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 Barnard ($23,570 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pennsylvania are 11.7% lower than at Barnard College ($19,174 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn (about $1,202 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $68,686.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at Barnard than at University of Pennsylvania (about $1,202 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $68,686.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pennsylvania than at Barnard College (51% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 3.7% larger than aid received by Barnard College students ($65,458 vs. $63,131).

Barnard vs. Penn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard 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 Barnard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 20 points higher than at Barnard (1520).
  • Incoming Penn students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 33 at Barnard).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; Penn - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • Barnard has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Penn (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 68% at Penn.

Barnard vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard 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 Barnard College's (92%).
  • Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $56,700 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $2,786 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($17,847 vs. $20,633).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($184 vs. $213).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.