Hunter vs. Penn

Deciding between CUNY Hunter 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.

CUNY Hunter College
University of Pennsylvania

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Hunter Large City
  • Penn Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Penn 29,109
  • Type
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hunter #297
  • Penn #23
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hunter -
  • Penn -
  • Status
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Penn Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hunter
  • Penn

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Penn $68,686
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Penn $68,686
  • Room & Board
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Penn $19,174
  • Average Net Price
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Penn $23,570
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hunter $9,755
  • Penn $65,458
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hunter 87%
  • Penn 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Penn 65,226
  • Admitted
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Penn 3,523
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Penn 68%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hunter 1260
  • Penn 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hunter
  • Penn 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Penn 3.95
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hunter A-
  • Penn A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hunter Very High
  • Penn Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hunter Low
  • Penn Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Hunter
  • Penn 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Penn 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Penn Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Hunter
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Penn 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hunter 46%
  • Penn 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Penn $123,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hunter 56%
  • Penn 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Penn $20,633
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hunter $119
  • Penn $213

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hunter 33%
  • Penn 44%
  • % Women
  • Hunter 67%
  • Penn 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hunter Very High
  • Penn Very High
  • HBCU
  • Hunter No
  • Penn No
  • % White
  • Hunter 27%
  • Penn 45%
  • % Asian
  • Hunter 26%
  • Penn 19%
  • % Black
  • Hunter 10%
  • Penn 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hunter 29%
  • Penn 10%
  • % Native American
  • Hunter 0%
  • Penn 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hunter 1%
  • Penn 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hunter 2%
  • Penn 4%
  • % International
  • Hunter 6%
  • Penn 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hunter 0%
  • Penn 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hunter 82%
  • Penn 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hunter 0%
  • Penn 70%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Hunter 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 Hunter based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 22,538 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY Hunter College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Hunter College 14:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Hunter vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hunter 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 CUNY Hunter College than Penn ($4,431 vs. $23,570).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 38.3% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($11,832 vs. $19,174).
  • University of Pennsylvania is 830.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $61,304 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 348% higher at Penn than at CUNY Hunter College (about $53,354 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at University of Pennsylvania (87% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 571% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($65,458 vs. $9,755).

Hunter vs. Penn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hunter 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 Hunter.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 280 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Pennsylvania 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hunter - Test optional; Penn - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Penn Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Penn (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Hunter vs. 68% at Penn.

Hunter vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hunter 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 CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $74,800 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $9,085 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($11,548 vs. $20,633).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $94 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($119 vs. $213).
  • More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 56%)

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.