Penn vs. Stanford

Deciding between University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University? 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 Pennsylvania
Stanford University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • Penn Large City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn 29,109
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn #23
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • Penn Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn $68,686
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn $68,686
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • Penn $19,174
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn $23,570
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn $65,458
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn 51%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn 65,226
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • Penn 3,523
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn 68%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn 1540
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn 35
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn 3.95
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn A
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn Elite
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn Extreme
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Penn 34/36
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Penn 1510/1570
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn Required
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Penn 8:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn 96%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn $123,600
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn 84%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn $20,633
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn $213
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn 44%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • Penn 56%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn Very High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • Penn No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • Penn 45%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • Penn 19%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • Penn 7%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn 10%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • Penn 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn 4%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • Penn 11%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn 3%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn 15%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn 70%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Stanford based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 18,625 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Pennsylvania 8:1; Stanford University 6:1.

Penn vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn or Stanford? 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 Stanford ($23,570 vs. $25,078).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pennsylvania are 10% lower than at Stanford University ($19,174 vs. $21,315).
  • University of Pennsylvania is 4.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Stanford (about $2,776 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.2% higher at Penn than at Stanford University (about $2,776 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at University of Pennsylvania (61% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 4.3% larger than aid received by Stanford University students ($65,458 vs. $62,755).

Penn vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn or Stanford? 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 Stanford and Penn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Penn (1540).
  • Incoming Penn students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Stanford).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pennsylvania 34/36; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn - Required; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Penn Jan 5, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Penn (3.95).
  • Penn has a higher acceptance rate (5.4%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68% at Penn vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Penn vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn and Stanford? 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).

  • The graduation rate at Penn is the same as at Stanford University (96% vs. 96%).
  • Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $700 more per year than Stanford graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $122,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $8,158 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($12,475 vs. $20,633).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($128 vs. $213).
  • More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.