Barnard vs. Penn

Barnard College and University of Pennsylvania side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Barnard College
University of Pennsylvania

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn (5.4% admitted vs 8.8%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1520.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn. Average net price is $23,570 vs $26,407 at Barnard.
  • Graduation: Barnard 92% vs Penn 96%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Barnard $66,900 vs Penn $123,600 (median).
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Key differences

Barnard College University of Pennsylvania
Acceptance rate
Penn more selective
Barnard8.8%
Penn5.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn higher
Barnard1470-1560
Penn1510-1570
Average net price
Penn $2,837 less
Barnard$26,407
Penn$23,570
In-state tuition
Penn $1,202 less
Barnard$69,888
Penn$68,686
Out-of-state tuition
Penn $1,202 less
Barnard$69,888
Penn$68,686
Graduation rate
Penn +4 pts
Barnard92%
Penn96%
Median earnings (10 years)
Penn +$56,700
Barnard$66,900
Penn$123,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Penn 65,226
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Penn 3,523
  • Acceptance rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Penn 68%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • Penn 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • Penn 35
  • Average high school GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Penn 3.95
  • Typical high school grades
  • Barnard A
  • Penn A
  • Admissions standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • Penn Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • Penn Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Barnard 1470-1560
  • Penn 1510-1570
  • ACT range
  • Barnard 32-34
  • Penn 34-36
  • Submit test scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Penn Required
  • Application deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Penn $68,686
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Penn $68,686
  • Room & board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Penn $19,174
  • Average net price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Penn $23,570
  • Average grant aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • Penn $65,458
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • Penn 51%
  • Graduation rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • Penn 96%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Penn $123,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • Penn 84%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Penn $20,633
  • Median loan payment
  • Barnard $184
  • Penn $213
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Penn 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • Penn Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Penn 29,109
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • Penn #23

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY with University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 3,487 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Barnard College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Barnard College 10:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pennsylvania are 11.7% lower than at Barnard College ($19,174 vs. $21,714).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at Barnard than at University of Pennsylvania (about $1,202 more per year; $69,888 vs. $68,686).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pennsylvania than at Barnard College (51% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 3.7% larger than aid received by Barnard College students ($65,458 vs. $63,131).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Penn than at Barnard (35 vs. 33, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Barnard, required at Penn.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Penn average a 3.95 high school GPA, 0.1 higher than at Barnard (3.85).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 68% at Penn.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $2,786 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($17,847 vs. $20,633).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($184 vs. $213).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 84%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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