Harvard vs. Penn

Deciding between Harvard University 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.

Harvard University
University of Pennsylvania

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Penn Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Penn 29,109
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Penn #23
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Penn -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Penn Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Penn

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Penn $68,686
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Penn $68,686
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Penn $19,174
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Penn $23,570
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Penn $65,458
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Penn 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Penn 65,226
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Penn 3,523
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Penn 68%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Penn 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Penn 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Penn 3.95
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Penn A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Penn Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Penn Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Penn 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Penn 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Penn Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Penn 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Penn 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Penn $123,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Penn 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Penn $20,633
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Penn $213

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Penn 44%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Penn 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Penn Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Penn No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Penn 45%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Penn 19%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Penn 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Penn 10%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Penn 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Penn 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Penn 4%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Penn 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Penn 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Penn 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Penn 70%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Penn based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 29,109 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Harvard vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Penn ($17,525 vs. $23,570).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pennsylvania are 9.5% lower than at Harvard University ($19,174 vs. $21,190).
  • University of Pennsylvania is 11.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $7,010 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.4% higher at Penn than at Harvard University (about $7,010 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at University of Pennsylvania (56% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 3.9% larger than aid received by University of Pennsylvania students ($68,015 vs. $65,458).

Harvard vs. Penn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Penn (1540).
  • Incoming Harvard students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 35) as students at Penn (35).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Penn - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Penn (3.95).
  • Penn has a higher acceptance rate (5.4%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 68% at Penn.

Harvard vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than University of Pennsylvania's (96%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $13,100 more per year than Penn graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $123,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $14,133 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($6,500 vs. $20,633).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $146 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($67 vs. $213).
  • More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 70%)

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.