Location
- University of Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA
- University of California-San Diego
- La Jolla, CA
University of Pennsylvania vs University of California-San Diego
Philadelphia, PA · La Jolla, CA · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair PA:CA
MIXED-SECTOR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-GAP · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-PAR · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- MIXED-SECTOR Mixed sector
- CROSS-STATE PA × CA
- ACCEPT-GAP Admission gap
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- 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 ENROLL-1SIDE · brisk · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Headcount surged on one side only
ENROLL-1SIDE · brisk · 2013–2023
University of California-San Diego posted a brisk directional enrollment rise over 2013–2023 while its peer's size series stays a range, and both acceptance rates tightened. Do not read this as parallel growth under the same selectivity story.
- University of California-San Diego: enrollment grew +42.0% over 2013–2023; fitted +1,028 students/yr fitted, r² 0.97.
- University of Pennsylvania: enrollment ranged 10,507–10,774 (2013–2023, 11 points) without a stable fitted direction.
- University of Pennsylvania: acceptance rate tightened -52.0% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.89).
- University of California-San Diego: acceptance rate tightened -34.6% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.46).
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
Type
- University of Pennsylvania
- Private Nonprofit
Undergraduate Enrollment
- University of Pennsylvania
- 10,650
Acceptance Rate
In-State Tuition
- University of Pennsylvania
- $68,686
Avg Net Price
- University of Pennsylvania
- $28,699
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- University of Pennsylvania
- $90,555
Out-of-State Tuition
- University of Pennsylvania
- $68,686
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- University of Pennsylvania
- $111,371
150%-Time Completion
Retention Rate
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Philadelphia, PA | La Jolla, CA |
| Type | Private Nonprofit | Public |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 10,650 | 34,948 |
| Acceptance Rate | 5.4% | 26.7% |
| In-State Tuition | $68,686 | $16,758 |
| Avg Net Price | $28,699 | $12,470 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $90,555 | $65,669 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $68,686 | $50,958 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $111,371 | $84,943 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 96.7% | 86.8% |
| Retention Rate | 98.9% | 94.0% |
Largest gaps: University of Pennsylvania vs University of California-San Diego
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE University of Pennsylvania leads on acceptance rate (5.4% vs 26.7% at University of California-San Diego)
- IN-STATE-TUITION University of California-San Diego leads on in-state tuition ($16,758 vs $68,686 at University of Pennsylvania)
- AVG-NET-PRICE University of California-San Diego leads on avg net price ($12,470 vs $28,699 at University of Pennsylvania)
University of Pennsylvania profile · University of California-San Diego profile · Compare other colleges
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between University of Pennsylvania and University of California-San Diego?▼
University of Pennsylvania leads on acceptance rate at 5.4% versus 26.7% at University of California-San Diego. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On in-state tuition, who leads between University of Pennsylvania and University of California-San Diego?▼
University of California-San Diego leads on in-state tuition at $16,758 versus $68,686 at University of Pennsylvania. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On avg net price, who leads between University of Pennsylvania and University of California-San Diego?▼
University of California-San Diego leads on avg net price at $12,470 versus $28,699 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); acceptance rate focus for this pair · 2025