Location
- University of Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA
- Harvard University
- Cambridge, MA
University of Pennsylvania vs Harvard University
Philadelphia, PA · Cambridge, MA · largest Scorecard gap: avg net price
Scorecard match plate
Pair PA:MA
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-NET
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE PA × MA
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-NET Largest gap · Avg Net Price
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
University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University each posted a directional decline in acceptance rate over the same College Scorecard window. The squeeze is shared; the magnitude is close.
- University of Pennsylvania: acceptance rate tightened -52.0% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.89).
- Harvard University: acceptance rate tightened -40.9% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.89).
- 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).
- Harvard University: net price ranged $13,259–$19,500 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change +19.7% is not a trend (r² 0.10).
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
- University of Pennsylvania
- 10,650
- Harvard University
- 7,601
Avg Net Price
- University of Pennsylvania
- $28,699
- Harvard University
- $19,066
Acceptance Rate
- Harvard University
- 3.6%
Median Debt at Graduation
- University of Pennsylvania
- $15,715
- Harvard University
- $14,000
In-State Tuition
- University of Pennsylvania
- $68,686
- Harvard University
- $61,676
Out-of-State Tuition
- University of Pennsylvania
- $68,686
- Harvard University
- $61,676
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- University of Pennsylvania
- $90,555
- Harvard University
- $99,572
Loan Repayment Rate (Completers)
- Harvard University
- 82.6%
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- University of Pennsylvania
- $111,371
- Harvard University
- $101,817
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair · 1 tied metrics omitted. Teal = better side.
| Metric | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Harvard University Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Philadelphia, PA | Cambridge, MA |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 10,650 | 7,601 |
| Avg Net Price | $28,699 | $19,066 |
| Acceptance Rate | 5.4% | 3.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $15,715 | $14,000 |
| In-State Tuition | $68,686 | $61,676 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $68,686 | $61,676 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $90,555 | $99,572 |
| Loan Repayment Rate (Completers) | 90.5% | 82.6% |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $111,371 | $101,817 |
Largest gaps: University of Pennsylvania vs Harvard University
- AVG-NET-PRICE Harvard University leads on avg net price ($19,066 vs $28,699 at University of Pennsylvania)
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Harvard University leads on acceptance rate (3.6% vs 5.4% at University of Pennsylvania)
- MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA Harvard University leads on median debt at graduation ($14,000 vs $15,715 at University of Pennsylvania)
University of Pennsylvania profile · Harvard University profile · Compare other colleges
Also on the Scorecard board
Avg Net Price and other Scorecard questions
On avg net price, who leads between University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University?▼
Harvard University leads on avg net price at $19,066 versus $28,699 at University of Pennsylvania. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On acceptance rate, who leads between University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University?▼
Harvard University leads on acceptance rate at 3.6% versus 5.4% at University of Pennsylvania. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median debt at graduation, who leads between University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University?▼
Harvard University leads on median debt at graduation at $14,000 versus $15,715 at University of Pennsylvania. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); avg net price focus for this pair · 2025