Key differences on Students & campus

1
Penn has 4 pts more first-gen students than Northwestern (19% vs. 15%)
First-generation students
2
Northwestern has 2 pts more Pell recipients than Penn (19% vs. 17%)
Pell Grant recipients
3
Penn is a bit larger (10,650 vs. 9,201)
Undergrads

Students

Students & campus

Who's on each campus, how many get Pell Grants or are the first in their family, and campus life.

Who's on campus

Undergrads

Penn10.7KLargest

Northwestern9.2K

Pell Grant share

Penn17%

Northwestern19%Highest

First-gen share

Penn19%Highest

Northwestern15%

Diversity index

Penn0.80

Northwestern0.81Most

Who they are

Men

Penn45%

Northwestern46%

Part-time students

Penn4%

Northwestern3%

Students 25 and older

Penn7%

Northwestern3%

Race & ethnicity

Penn

Northwestern

White
Asian
Hispanic/Latino
Black
Two or more
International
Other/unknown

Where they're from

First-years from in state

Penn15%

Northwestern19%

First-years from other states

Penn70%

Northwestern66%

First-years from abroad

Penn13%

Northwestern15%

New transfer students this fall

Penn99

Northwestern277

Transfers, share of new undergraduates

Penn4%

Northwestern12%

Campus

Penn

Large cityNCAA D-I FCS · Ivy GroupROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

Northwestern

Small cityNCAA D-I FBS · Big Ten ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

LGBTQ+ policies

Each item is dated: either the college's own page, checked on that date, or a national list's claim, read on that date — never a plain “yes” or “no.” A key missing for a college isn't shown as “no”: nothing was found for it.

Policy	Penn	Northwestern
Nondiscrimination policy covers gender identity or expression	Nondiscrimination policy covers gender identity or expression: listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse (2026-10-04)	Nondiscrimination policy covers gender identity or expression: listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse (2026-10-04)
Gender-inclusive housing	Gender-inclusive housing: listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse (2026-10-04)	Gender-inclusive housing, per the college's own page (checked 2026-10-04)
Chosen name and pronouns on campus records	Chosen name and pronouns on campus records: listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse (2026-10-04)	Chosen name and pronouns on campus records: listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse (2026-10-04)
Gender-inclusive restrooms listed online	Gender-inclusive restrooms listed online: listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse (2026-10-04)	Gender-inclusive restrooms listed online, per the college's own page (checked 2026-10-04)
Student health plan covers transition-related care	Student health plan covers transition-related care: listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse (2026-10-04)	Student health plan covers transition-related care: listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse (2026-10-04)

All student numbers in the table

Sources:College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level), Fall 2024;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26About 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