Simmons University vs. Penn

Should I go to Simmons University or University of Pennsylvania? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Simmons University or Penn is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Simmons University vs. University of Pennsylvania comparison
Simmons University University of Pennsylvania College 3 College 4
Simmons University University of Pennsylvania
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Overview

Simmons University Penn
Location Boston, MA Philadelphia, PA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 5,053 28,711
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #122 #23
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website simmons.edu upenn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Simmons University Penn
Tuition (In State) $44,208 $58,620
Tuition (Out of State) $44,208 $58,620
Room & Board $17,104 $18,496
Avg Net Price $29,575 $26,017
Avg Grant Aid $33,874 $59,721
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 48%

Admission

Simmons University Penn
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,871 59,465
Admitted 3,215 3,489
Acceptance Rate 66% 5.9%
Enrolled % 11.3% 69.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.87 3.95
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 26/31 34/35
SAT Range 1230/1390 1500/1570
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026 Jan 5, 2026

Academics

Simmons University Penn
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (37%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Business (6%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Simmons University Penn
Graduation Rate 69% 96%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,800 $123,600
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $20,633
Median Loan Payment $268 $213

Diversity

Simmons University Penn
% Men 8% 26%
% Women 57% 33%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 45%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 6% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 3% 11%
% Unknown Race 4% 3%

Students

Simmons University Penn
% In-State 57% 14%
% Out-of-State 37% 69%

Campus

Simmons University Penn
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Pennsylvania is larger than than Simmons University based on total student enrollment (28,711 students vs. 5,053 students)

Simmons University vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Simmons University or Penn?

  • University of Pennsylvania is 32.6% more expensive to attend than Simmons University for in-state tuition ($58,620.00 vs. $44,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.6% higher at Penn than Simmons University ($58,620.00 vs. $44,208.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Pennsylvania than Simmons University ($26,017 vs. $29,575)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Simmons University are 8.1% lower than costs at University of Pennsylvania ($17,104 vs. $18,496)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Simmons University than University of Pennsylvania (99% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 76.3% larger than aid received Simmons University ($59,721 vs. $33,874)

Simmons University vs. Penn Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Simmons University or Penn? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn or Simmons University .

  • The average SAT score at University of Pennsylvania (1457) is 294 points higher than at Simmons University (1163)
  • Incoming Penn students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Simmons University (27)
  • Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Simmons University (3.87)
  • Simmons University has a higher acceptance rate (66%) than Penn (5.9%)

Simmons University vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Simmons University or Penn? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn and Simmons University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn is higher than Simmons University (96% vs. 69%)
  • Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn on average $70,800 more per year than Simmons University graduates after ten years. ($123,600 vs. $52,800)
  • University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $5,367 lower median federal student loan debt than Simmons University graduates. ($20,633 vs. $26,000)
  • Penn graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Simmons University graduates. ($213 vs. $268)
  • More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Simmons University students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/