University of Southern California vs University of Pennsylvania

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

Scorecard match plate

Pair CA: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 CA × 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 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 Southern California: acceptance rate tightened -49.5% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.80).
  • 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

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

Largest gaps: University of Southern California vs University of Pennsylvania

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

Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions

On acceptance rate, who leads between University of Southern California and University of Pennsylvania?
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 Southern California and University of Pennsylvania?
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 Southern California and University of Pennsylvania?
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