University of Pennsylvania combines Ivy League prestige with exceptional career outcomes, ranking in the 99th percentile for long-term earnings. As a Selective Achievers institution, Penn delivers outstanding returns on investment while maintaining debt levels below peer institutions, supporting long-term financial success for graduates.
Outstanding long-term earnings relative to educational investment and among Penn's strongest competitive advantages
The high costs typical of elite private institutions despite substantial financial aid
Above-average enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students relative to similar elite private institutions
Exceptional low-income graduate earnings and solid uplift relative to expectations
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisUniversity of Pennsylvania delivers outstanding earnings outcomes with manageable debt levels for an elite private institution. Graduates earn a median of $111,371 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 99th percentile nationally and $34,800 above the peer median of $76,571.
Earnings range from $69,735 at the 25th percentile to $183,142 at the 75th percentile, reflecting the premium career paths available to Penn graduates across diverse fields. The institution generates $3,085 in earnings beyond expectations, demonstrating solid value creation relative to student demographics.
Students seeking exceptional career outcomes from an Ivy League institution, particularly those targeting high-earning fields like artificial intelligence, finance, and business. Well-suited for academically elite students (SAT 1500-1570) who can handle intense competition and want access to top-tier professional networks and graduate school opportunities.
University of Pennsylvania admits approximately 5.9% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 17 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Penn among the most selective universities in the United States, competing directly with other Ivy League institutions for the strongest academic performers.
The peer median admission rate of 69.4% highlights the stark difference between Penn's selectivity and typical four-year institutions. Even among elite private research universities, Penn's acceptance rate falls well below average.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Pennsylvania's published cost of attendance reaches $85,738 per year, including $66,104 in tuition, $18,496 for room and board, and $1,358 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $31,229 after financial aid, representing savings of $54,509 through institutional support.
This net price falls $2,302 below the peer median of $33,531, indicating Penn's financial aid policies are more generous than similar elite private institutions. The university's substantial endowment enables need-based aid that makes attendance feasible for students across income levels, with particularly generous support for lower-income families.
Net prices vary dramatically by family income, ranging from $1,026 for families earning under $30,000 to $57,603 for families earning over $110,000. This progressive aid structure concentrates discounts where they have the greatest impact on college access, reflecting Penn's commitment to economic diversity within its highly selective framework.
Families should use Penn's net price calculator and our Financial GPS tool to estimate their specific costs, as published prices significantly overstate what most students pay.
Artificial Intelligence.
153 graduates
Banking and Financial Support Services.
390 graduates
Computer Science.
107 graduates
Mathematical Statistics and Probability.
85 graduates
Applied Economics.
225 graduates
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lehigh University Higher acceptance rate (23.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 46 miles away; similar graduate earnings | PA | 29% | $105,584 | Compare |
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of Pennsylvania hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/university-of-pennsylvania/analysis.
Top 5% nationally for graduate earnings
University of Pennsylvania ranks #79 nationally with return performance at the 98.6th percentile, placing it among the highest we track for long-term investment value. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private nonprofit university maintains highly selective admission standards with a 5.9% acceptance rate while delivering exceptional post-graduation outcomes.
Penn enrolls 15.7% Pell-eligible students and 18.8% first-generation students, typical for elite private institutions but reflecting strong outcomes for diverse backgrounds. Graduates earn $3,085 beyond expectations relative to similar students, ranking at the 67.7th percentile nationally.
Median earnings reach $111,371 ten years after enrollment, placing Penn in the 99th percentile for long-term earnings. Compared to a peer median of $76,571, graduates earn $34,800 more annually.
This combination of highly selective admissions, strong outcomes for enrolled students, and exceptional earnings growth places University of Pennsylvania within the Selective Achievers quadrant, where institutions serve fewer low-income students while delivering outstanding career results.
This level of selectivity means that even exceptionally qualified students—those with perfect test scores, outstanding academic records, and compelling extracurriculars—face significant uncertainty in the admission process. The vast majority of qualified applicants will not receive admission due to the sheer volume of competitive candidates.
For this reason, students considering Penn should treat it as a reach school regardless of their qualifications and build comprehensive college lists that include schools with higher acceptance rates but comparable academic quality and career outcomes. The alternatives section below provides schools that deliver similar post-graduation results with more accessible admission processes.
University of Pennsylvania graduates demonstrate strong earnings growth throughout their careers. Median earnings rise from $90,555 six years after enrollment to $100,118 at eight years and $111,371 at ten years, representing 23% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes are based on a ten-year cohort of 1,523 graduates, providing high confidence in the reported figures across Penn's diverse program portfolio. Graduates earn $3,085 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Penn at the 67.7th percentile for earnings uplift.
Low-income graduates earn $113,100, ranking among the top 5% nationally and exceeding even Penn's overall median, indicating exceptional mobility outcomes for students from modest backgrounds. Earnings span from $69,735 at the 25th percentile to $183,142 at the 75th percentile, a 2.6:1 ratio reflecting differences in program choice and career trajectory.
Approximately 26.5% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, with high confidence in this estimate based on program mix, indicating balanced preparation for both immediate workforce entry and advanced education pathways.
University of Pennsylvania offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for analysis. Artificial Intelligence ranks #1 nationally, producing 153 graduates with median earnings of $246,946 and a perfect value score of 100.0.
Banking and Financial Support Services also ranks #1 nationally, graduating 390 students with median earnings of $206,646 and representing Penn's largest high-earning program at 12.6% of graduates. Applied Economics ranks #5 nationally and #1 in Pennsylvania, graduating 225 students with median earnings of $125,816.
Actuarial Science ranks #3 nationally and #1 in Pennsylvania, with 219 graduates earning $104,502. Mathematical Statistics and Probability ranks #3 nationally, graduating 85 students with median earnings of $129,732.
These programs reflect Penn's particular strength in quantitative fields, business, and emerging technology sectors that command premium salaries in the labor market.
Villanova University Higher acceptance rate (19.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 10 miles away; similar graduate earnings | PA | 25% | $100,423 | Compare |
Stevens Institute Of Technology Higher acceptance rate (37.6 percentage points higher) and located 82 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NJ | 43% | $108,772 | Compare |
Santa Clara University Higher acceptance rate (38 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | CA | 44% | $109,183 | Compare |
Bentley University Higher acceptance rate (42.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MA | 48% | $120,959 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Chicago Similar quality tier (#85 ranked) | IL | 5% | $91,885 | #85 | Compare |
University Of Southern California Similar quality tier (#74 ranked) | CA | 10% | $92,498 | #74 | Compare |
Vanderbilt University Similar quality tier (#69 ranked) | TN | 6% | $91,565 | #69 | Compare |
Rice University Similar quality tier (#90 ranked) | TX | 8% | $89,718 | #90 | Compare |
Yale University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#67 ranked) | CT | 5% | $100,533 | #67 | Compare |
