College comparison

Penn vs UVA

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	Penn Philadelphia, PA	UVA Charlottesville, VA
Acceptance rateUniversity of Pennsylvania is more selective	5%	17%
SAT (25–75)	1510–1570	1410–1540
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	10,650	17,597
Avg net price	$28,699	$21,565
Median earnings (10 yr)Penn reports higher median earnings	$111,371	$86,863
Graduation rate	97%	96%
Median debt	$15,715	$17,500
Economic mobility	2.1%	—
Test policy	—	—
Type	Private (nonprofit)	Public

Quick answers

Is University of Pennsylvania or University of Virginia-Main Campus harder to get into?

University of Pennsylvania is more selective: University of Pennsylvania's acceptance rate is approximately 5% and University of Virginia-Main Campus's is approximately 17% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for University of Pennsylvania vs University of Virginia-Main Campus?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1510–1570 at University of Pennsylvania and 1410–1540 at University of Virginia-Main Campus. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.