Wellesley vs. Penn

Comparable Facts

Compare Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA 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 Wellesley based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Wellesley vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley 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 Wellesley College than Penn ($22,174 vs. $23,570).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pennsylvania are 8.8% lower than at Wellesley College ($19,174 vs. $21,024).
• University of Pennsylvania is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wellesley (about $1,510 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $67,176.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at Penn than at Wellesley College (about $1,510 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $67,176.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wellesley College than at University of Pennsylvania (54% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 2.1% larger than aid received by Wellesley College students ($65,458 vs. $64,116).

Wellesley vs. Penn Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wellesley 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 Wellesley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 30 points higher than at Wellesley (1510).
• Incoming Penn students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Wellesley).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 1460/1560; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; Penn - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Wellesley (3.86).
• Wellesley has a higher acceptance rate (14%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 68% at Penn.

Wellesley vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley 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 Wellesley College's (92%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $55,500 more per year than Wellesley graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $68,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $11,733 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($8,900 vs. $20,633).
• Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $121 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($92 vs. $213).
• More Wellesley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.