Location
- Boston University
- Boston, MA
- University of Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA
Boston University vs University of Pennsylvania
Boston, MA · Philadelphia, PA · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair MA:PA
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE MA × PA
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-ACCEPT Largest gap · Acceptance Rate
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the NET-SPLIT · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
One campus shows net-price relief; the peer does not
NET-SPLIT · 2013–2023
Over 2013–2023, only one school has a directional decline in average net price; the other stays a measured range. Cost gaps on this board are moving targets, not fixed snapshot deltas.
- University of Pennsylvania: net price ranged $14,851–$31,229 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change +36.1% is not a trend (r² 0.03).
- Boston University: average net price fell -22.0% from $34,603 (2013) to $26,996 (2023), r² 0.75.
- Boston University: acceptance rate tightened -76.2% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.92).
- University of Pennsylvania: acceptance rate tightened -52.0% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.89).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
- Boston University
- 18,248
- University of Pennsylvania
- 10,650
Acceptance Rate
- Boston University
- 11.1%
Median Debt at Graduation
- Boston University
- $23,250
- University of Pennsylvania
- $15,715
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Boston University
- $65,655
- University of Pennsylvania
- $90,555
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Boston University
- $83,238
- University of Pennsylvania
- $111,371
Avg Net Price
- Boston University
- $24,402
- University of Pennsylvania
- $28,699
150%-Time Completion
- Boston University
- 89.3%
SAT Average
- Boston University
- 1,480
Retention Rate
- Boston University
- 94.7%
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Boston University Boston, MA | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Boston, MA | Philadelphia, PA |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 18,248 | 10,650 |
| Acceptance Rate | 11.1% | 5.4% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,250 | $15,715 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $65,655 | $90,555 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $83,238 | $111,371 |
| Avg Net Price | $24,402 | $28,699 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 89.3% | 96.7% |
| SAT Average | 1,480 | 1,553 |
| Retention Rate | 94.7% | 98.9% |
Largest gaps: Boston University vs University of Pennsylvania
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE University of Pennsylvania leads on acceptance rate (5.4% vs 11.1% at Boston University)
- MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA University of Pennsylvania leads on median debt at graduation ($15,715 vs $23,250 at Boston University)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 University of Pennsylvania leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($90,555 vs $65,655 at Boston University)
Boston University profile · University of Pennsylvania profile · Compare other colleges
Also on the Scorecard board
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between Boston University and University of Pennsylvania?▼
University of Pennsylvania leads on acceptance rate at 5.4% versus 11.1% at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median debt at graduation, who leads between Boston University and University of Pennsylvania?▼
University of Pennsylvania leads on median debt at graduation at $15,715 versus $23,250 at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between Boston University and University of Pennsylvania?▼
University of Pennsylvania leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $90,555 versus $65,655 at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); acceptance rate focus for this pair · 2025