University of Pennsylvania vs University of Southern California

Philadelphia, PA · Los Angeles, CA · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate

Scorecard match plate

Pair PA:CA

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 PA × CA
  • 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 ENROLL-1SIDE · modest · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.

Decade path · College Scorecard

Only one enrollment path is a trend

ENROLL-1SIDE · modest · 2013–2023

Size changed directionally at one school over 2013–2023; the peer's series stays a range. Both acceptance rates still tightened, so the shared frame is selectivity, not enrollment.

  • University of Southern California: enrollment grew +15.1% over 2013–2023; fitted +285 students/yr fitted, r² 0.94.
  • 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 Southern California: acceptance rate tightened -49.5% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.80).

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

Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.

Largest gaps: University of Pennsylvania vs University of Southern California

  1. ACCEPTANCE-RATE University of Pennsylvania leads on acceptance rate (5.4% vs 9.8% at University of Southern California)
  2. MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 University of Pennsylvania leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($90,555 vs $74,461 at University of Southern California)
  3. MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(1 University of Pennsylvania leads on median earnings (10 yr) ($111,371 vs $92,498 at University of Southern California)

University of Pennsylvania profile · University of Southern California profile · Compare other colleges

Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions

On acceptance rate, who leads between University of Pennsylvania and University of Southern California?▼
University of Pennsylvania leads on acceptance rate at 5.4% versus 9.8% at University of Southern California. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between University of Pennsylvania and University of Southern California?▼
University of Pennsylvania leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $90,555 versus $74,461 at University of Southern California. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (10 yr), who leads between University of Pennsylvania and University of Southern California?▼
University of Pennsylvania leads on median earnings (10 yr) at $111,371 versus $92,498 at University of Southern California. 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