Location
- Northwestern University
- Evanston, IL
- University of Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA
Northwestern University vs University of Pennsylvania
Evanston, IL · Philadelphia, PA · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair IL:PA
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-PAR · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-PAR · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE IL × PA
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-PAR Net near-par
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-PAR Debt near-par
- 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 TWIN-TIGHTEN · adm · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Both acceptance rates tightened, 2013–2023
TWIN-TIGHTEN · adm · 2013–2023
Northwestern University and University of Pennsylvania each posted a directional decline in acceptance rate over the same College Scorecard window. The squeeze is shared; the magnitude is close.
- Northwestern University: acceptance rate tightened -53.3% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.86).
- University of Pennsylvania: acceptance rate tightened -52.0% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.89).
- Northwestern University: net price ranged $23,279–$28,544 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change -4.9% is not a trend (r² 0.16).
- 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).
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
- Northwestern University
- 9,201
- University of Pennsylvania
- 10,650
Acceptance Rate
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Northwestern University
- $89,363
- University of Pennsylvania
- $111,371
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Northwestern University
- $76,844
- University of Pennsylvania
- $90,555
Median Debt at Graduation
- Northwestern University
- $15,000
- University of Pennsylvania
- $15,715
Avg Net Price
- Northwestern University
- $29,167
- University of Pennsylvania
- $28,699
SAT Average
- Northwestern University
- 1,533
150%-Time Completion
- Northwestern University
- 95.5%
Loan Repayment Rate (Completers)
- Northwestern University
- 91.3%
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Evanston, IL | Philadelphia, PA |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 9,201 | 10,650 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7.7% | 5.4% |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $89,363 | $111,371 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $76,844 | $90,555 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $15,000 | $15,715 |
| Avg Net Price | $29,167 | $28,699 |
| SAT Average | 1,533 | 1,553 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 95.5% | 96.7% |
| Loan Repayment Rate (Completers) | 91.3% | 90.5% |
Largest gaps: Northwestern University vs University of Pennsylvania
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE University of Pennsylvania leads on acceptance rate (5.4% vs 7.7% at Northwestern University)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(1 University of Pennsylvania leads on median earnings (10 yr) ($111,371 vs $89,363 at Northwestern University)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 University of Pennsylvania leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($90,555 vs $76,844 at Northwestern University)
Northwestern University profile · University of Pennsylvania profile · Compare other colleges
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between Northwestern University and University of Pennsylvania?▼
University of Pennsylvania leads on acceptance rate at 5.4% versus 7.7% at Northwestern University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (10 yr), who leads between Northwestern University and University of Pennsylvania?▼
University of Pennsylvania leads on median earnings (10 yr) at $111,371 versus $89,363 at Northwestern University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between Northwestern University and University of Pennsylvania?▼
University of Pennsylvania leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $90,555 versus $76,844 at Northwestern 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