UConn vs. Penn

Deciding between University of Connecticut 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.

University of Connecticut
University of Pennsylvania

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • Penn Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UConn 28,306
  • Penn 29,109
  • Type
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UConn #106
  • Penn #23
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UConn -
  • Penn -
  • Status
  • UConn Non-profit
  • Penn Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UConn
  • Penn

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UConn $21,044
  • Penn $68,686
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UConn $43,712
  • Penn $68,686
  • Room & Board
  • UConn $14,380
  • Penn $19,174
  • Average Net Price
  • UConn $25,310
  • Penn $23,570
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UConn $16,503
  • Penn $65,458
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UConn 81%
  • Penn 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UConn 55,479
  • Penn 65,226
  • Admitted
  • UConn 29,065
  • Penn 3,523
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UConn 52.4%
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UConn 15.4%
  • Penn 68%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UConn 1330
  • Penn 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UConn 30
  • Penn 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • UConn 3.74
  • Penn 3.95
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UConn A-
  • Penn A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UConn Very High
  • Penn Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UConn Low
  • Penn Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UConn 28/33
  • Penn 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • Penn 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UConn Test optional
  • Penn Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UConn 17:1
  • Penn 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UConn 83%
  • Penn 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UConn $62,000
  • Penn $123,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UConn 78%
  • Penn 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UConn $21,500
  • Penn $20,633
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UConn $222
  • Penn $213

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UConn 45%
  • Penn 44%
  • % Women
  • UConn 55%
  • Penn 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UConn Medium
  • Penn Very High
  • HBCU
  • UConn No
  • Penn No
  • % White
  • UConn 61%
  • Penn 45%
  • % Asian
  • UConn 10%
  • Penn 19%
  • % Black
  • UConn 5%
  • Penn 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UConn 9%
  • Penn 10%
  • % Native American
  • UConn 0%
  • Penn 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UConn 0%
  • Penn 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UConn 3%
  • Penn 4%
  • % International
  • UConn 5%
  • Penn 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UConn 7%
  • Penn 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UConn 53%
  • Penn 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UConn 42%
  • Penn 70%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT 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 UConn based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 28,306 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Connecticut is located in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • University of Connecticut is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Connecticut 17:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

UConn vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UConn 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 UConn ($23,570 vs. $25,310).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 25% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($14,380 vs. $19,174).
  • University of Pennsylvania is 226.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UConn (about $47,642 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $21,044.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 57.1% higher at Penn than at University of Connecticut (about $24,974 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $43,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at University of Pennsylvania (81% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 296.6% larger than aid received by University of Connecticut students ($65,458 vs. $16,503).

UConn vs. Penn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UConn 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 UConn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 210 points higher than at UConn (1330).
  • Incoming Penn students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 30 at UConn).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 1210/1440; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 28/33; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UConn - Test optional; Penn - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UConn Jan 15, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at UConn (3.74).
  • UConn has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than Penn (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at UConn vs. 68% at Penn.

UConn vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UConn 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 University of Connecticut's (83%).
  • Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $61,600 more per year than UConn graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $867 lower median loan debt than UConn graduates ($20,633 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UConn graduates ($213 vs. $222).
  • More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UConn students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 78%)

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.