Mansi parihar Study Abroad Course Expert
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Pennsylvania State University (University Park) is a large public institution in State College, Pennsylvania in the Centre County region. It is an extremely large university with a student population of 40,363 undergraduates. Admissions are moderately selective with an acceptance rate of around 54%. The most popular majors are Engineering, Business, and Social Sciences. The four-year graduation rate is 63%, and the six-year graduation rate is 87%. Alumni proceed to earn a beginning salary of roughly INR 45,94,900 (converted from median income of $55,300 ten years into enrollment).
University of Pennsylvania is a top private school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania within the Philadelphia metropolitan region. It is a mid-sized institution with an enrollment of around 7,344 undergraduates (College of Arts & Sciences only; overall undergrad estimated at around 11,000–12,000). Admissions are highly competitive with an overall acceptance rate of approximately 5.9%. Some of the popular majors are Economics, Political Science, and Computer & Information Sciences. The four-year graduation rate is 87%, while the six-year graduation rate is 96%. Graduates proceed to have a starting salary of approximately INR 1,03,32,000 (equivalent to $123,600 average earnings a decade after matriculation).
| Pennsylvania State University | University of Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5.9 Out of 10 | 7.9 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 82 QS World University 2026 # 108 Times Higher Education 2026 # 57 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 14 Times Higher Education 2026 # 15 QS World University 2026 # 7 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 31 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 118 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 17 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 27 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 13 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -163 PG Programs -116 | UG Programs -63 PG Programs -71 Doctorate Programs -15 |
| Acceptance Rate | 54.0 % | 5.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1160 TOEFL-80 | Duolingo-120 GMAT-690 GRE-308 IELTS-6.5 TOEFL-80 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 35984 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 38198 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 26664 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 53166 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 56786 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 18966 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | PhD: $150,0000- $158,000 | University of Pennsylvania is one of the top private universities in Philadelphia, United States. It is ranked #13 in QS World University Rankings 2023. Average Salaries by Degree:
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| application requirements | Submit Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) along with application, SAT/ACT scores are also accepted as language proficiency proof. You may have to fulfill additional requriements as per the program. | Academic transcripts; Proof of English language proficiency; 2-3 LORs; SOPs; Resume; Personal Statement; Standardized test scores; Additional requirements (Digital portfolios, Writing samples, Research statements, etc.); Interviews (if required). |
| Campuses and B-Schools | Smeal College of Business | The Wharton School |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.5/10 Read 18 reviews | 7.8/10 Read 6 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 68 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 92 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 1 for Business by US News 2025 # 9 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 13 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | GMAT - 660/800IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 80/120 | Duolingo - 130/160GMAT - 735/800GRE - 325/340IELTS - 7.0/9TOEFL - 100/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -47940 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -132404 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Jun 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall 2025 Intake) | Jan 6, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Feb 20, 2026 (Round 2 Interview Invitations for 2026 Intake) Mar 31, 2026 (Round 2 Decisions for 2026 Intake) Apr 1, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Apr 17, 2026 (Round 3 Interview Invitations for 2026 Intake) May 12, 2026 (Round 3 Decisions for 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Pennsylvania State University | University of Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1855 | 1740 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 8:1:1 |
| Male:Female | 65% Male, 35% Female | 46% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | It has 24 campuses located throughout the state allowing students to explore the city while learning. University Park area is situated in located in State College and College township is located in Center Country. | Located in downtown Philadelphia earlier, is now situated in West Philadelphia. The area is now known as University City. |
| Library | Titles held: 7,240,616 | 6.67 million printed book volumes; 4.26 million microform items; 282,857 serials received; 2.01 million e-books; 279,206 e-journals; 4.31 million digitized images; 358,740 audio/video tapes, CDs, and DVDs. |
| Campus Life | Engage in varsity athletics, 31 intercollegiate athletic teams, intramural clubs, Center for Spiritual and ethical development, LGBTQ resource center. | 165 Research centers; Double decker college football stadium; 450+ student organizations; Penn Museum & other galleries; Penn Relays Carnivals (longest uninterrupted collegiate track meet in America with 100,000 spectators yearly); PennRec (offers activities such as yoga, fitness classes, sports clubs, outdoor adventures, etc.); hundreds of retail shops, restaurants, etc.; Vending activities (includes 90 trucks, carts, & tables); University media including news & media (Almanac, Penn Today, Daily Pennsylvanian), communications (WQHS, WXPN 88.5 FM, etc.). |
| Hostel | #On campus - $11280 #Off campus (not with family) - $11280 #Off campus (with family) - $4104 | #Rooms - $12978 |
| Famous Alumni | Saquon Barkley (American Footballer), Adam Huber (Actor), Jerry Sandusky (football coach- America), Dan Bongino (American commentator), Safaa Al- Hashim (politician), Bo Nickal (Freestyle Wrestler). Alumni are famously called Nittany Lions. | 36 Nobel laureates; 29 Rhodes Scholars; 16 Pulitzer Prize winners; Elon Musk (CEO of SpaceX); Warren Buffet (CEO of Berkshire Hathaway); John Legend (American singer-songwriter); Ivanka Trump (American businesswoman); Tory Burch (American fashion designer); Donald Trump (45th President of USA); Anand Ahuja (Businessperson); Shweta Bachchan-Nanda (Indian author); Sundar Pichai (CEO of Alphabet Inc. & Google LLC); |
| City Life | State College, Pennsylvania is the largest borough area. Downtown Improvement District and University Park are two major sections in State College. The neighborhood has Orchard Parks, West End, College Heights, South State College, and more. Penn State University is the largest employer followed by Mount Nittany Medical Center. You can enjoy art fests, dance night marathons, and more. | Philadelphia- largest city in Pennsylvania; 6th most populous city in USA; Famous tourist attractions include Liberty Bell Pavilion, Independence Hall, Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia Museum of Arts, Reading Terminal Market, Barnes Foundation, Fairmount Park, City Hall, etc.; Birthplace of US Marine Corps, several firsts in USA such as library, hospital, medical school, zoo, business school, etc.; Unemployment rate- 4.5% |
| Weather |
Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) vs. University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
Subject Strength
Penn State boasts strong programs in engineering, agriculture, environmental science, and applied sciences. Fields such as Mineral & Mining Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Materials Science, and Mechanical Engineering are among the strongest in the world. UPenn, an Ivy League college, is globally recognized for its Business, Medicine, Nursing, Communications, and Law strengths. The Wharton School is perpetually ranked among the world's top business schools, and Nursing and Medicine courses are also highly ranked globally.
General Information
Penn State is a huge public land-grant research institution with more than 100,000 students over 24 campuses. Its University Park campus has over 46,000 undergraduates alone, and it is one of the biggest campuses in the US. UPenn is a private Ivy League school in Philadelphia with approximately 22,500 students. It has a smaller number of undergraduates and a huge percentage of graduate and professional students due to its heavy postgraduate emphasis.
Global and National Rankings (2025/26)
In the 2026 QS World University Rankings, Penn State ranks #82 worldwide, with a strong reputation for research and academic achievement, and ranking in the top 25 U.S. universities overall. UPenn is much higher ranked, at #15 worldwide by QS World University Rankings and #10 by US News & World Report.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
UPenn is one of the world's most selective universities, with an acceptance rate of roughly 5.9%. Penn State, however, is selective at its flagship University Park campus but has a far higher acceptance rate of around 54%, and accepts more students across its various campuses.
Research Impact & Facilities
Penn State stands out in its international collaborations and sustainability research, being ranked very high in international research networks and environmental efforts. UPenn is similarly research-focused but has a strong bias toward professional and applied disciplines, primarily business, medicine, and law. Its research hospitals, Wharton Business School, and cross-disciplinary centers provide it with wider international involvement in social science and professional education.
Cost, Financial Aid & Student Life
UPenn, being a private Ivy League school, has a higher tuition price but with open-handed need-based financial aid for, among others, international students. Penn State, being a public school, has lower in-state tuition, albeit out-of-state and international students pay more. Financial aid is offered but typically not as complete as UPenn. Penn State is renowned for its enormous alumni base, lively campus culture, and sports, whereas UPenn provides a compact, city-based campus life with robust professional networks.
Alumni and Career Outcomes
UPenn alumni tend to have opportunities in high-level careers, especially in the fields of finance, consulting, medicine, and law. Its Ivy League reputation and Wharton School affiliation present a strong international career advantage. Penn State, being less well-known, has a reputation for graduating well-prepared engineers, technologists, and applied scientists. Its alumni group ranks among the largest worldwide, presenting career assistance across industries.
