Penn vs. William & Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA with William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Pennsylvania is larger than William & Mary based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 9,818 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); William & Mary is in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Pennsylvania 8:1; William & Mary 12:1.

Penn vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn or William & Mary? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William & Mary than Penn ($19,686 vs. $23,570).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William & Mary are 15.6% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($16,182 vs. $19,174).
• University of Pennsylvania is 165.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $42,772 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.6% higher at Penn than at William & Mary (about $17,648 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pennsylvania than at William & Mary (51% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 182.8% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($65,458 vs. $23,144).

Penn vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn or William & Mary? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between William & Mary and Penn.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 70 points higher than at William & Mary (1470).
• Incoming Penn students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 33 at William & Mary).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570; William & Mary 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pennsylvania 34/36; William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn - Required; William & Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Penn Jan 5, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at William & Mary (3.85).
• William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (34.1%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68% at Penn vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

Penn vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn and William & Mary? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than William & Mary's (91%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $54,900 more per year than William & Mary graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $68,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $1,133 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,633).
• Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($201 vs. $213).
• More William & Mary graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.