Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Penn's yield is 13 pts higher than Northwestern's
Yield rate - 2
Penn admits 5.4% vs. 7.7% at Northwestern
Acceptance rate
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- NorthwesternUltra selective
- PennUltra selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1400–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 29–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- NorthwesternTest-optional
- PennTest-optional
How they read a record
Northwestern
The high school record and a college-prep program are required; GPA and class rank are considered.
Penn
GPA and the high school record are required; class rank and a college-prep program are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Northwestern | Penn |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Considered | Required |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Considered |
| Recommendations | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Considered |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Not considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Not considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Considered |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why