Due to their similar name and locations, UPenn (University of Pennsylvania) and Penn State (Pennsylvania State University) are sometimes confused. But they’re two separate universities located in the same state.
One of their main differences is that UPenn is a private university, and Penn State is a public university. In this article, we dive deeper into the UPenn vs. Penn State comparison and discuss their degree programmes, costs, locations, campus life, and more.
UPenn vs Penn State at a glance
Let’s start with a quick comparison.
University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) | Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) | |
Type | Private research university | Public research university |
Main campus | West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | University Park, Pennsylvania |
Other campuses | New Bolton Center, Morris Arboretum | 20+ campuses in Abington, Berks, Scranton, and more |
Part of the Ivy League? | Yes | No |
Studyportals Meta Ranking in 2026 | #12 globally | #74 globally |
Acceptance rate | 5.8% for Class of 2030 | 60.56% for Class of 2028 |
Main campus size | 299 acres, 225 buildings | 8,500 acres, 300 buildings |
Number of full-time undergraduate students | 10,325 (Fall 2025) | 42,822 (Fall 2025) |
Lifestyle | Smaller campus close to a big city | Large main campus in a university town |
Academics and degree programmes
Penn State offers a larger selection of undergraduate programmes, with over 275 majors available across a wide range of colleges. These include:
College | Example degrees |
Smeal College of Business | Finance, Marketing, Risk Management |
Engineering | Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering |
Eberly College of Science | Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Premedicine, Statistics |
Information Sciences and Technology | Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Sciences |
Agricultural Sciences | Agribusiness Management, Food Science, Environmental Resource Management |
Arts and Architecture | Acting, Architecture, Art History, Music, Theatre |
Liberal Arts | Comparative Literature, Digital Humanities, Economics, English, Human Resources |
UPenn is one of the eight Ivy League universities in the US. The Ivy League is formally an athletic conference, although its member universities are also known for selective admissions and strong academic reputations.
UPenn has more than 90 majors across four undergraduate schools:
School | Example degrees |
College of Arts & Sciences | History, Biology, Digital Humanities, Music, Communication, English, Economics |
The Wharton School | Accounting, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Marketing |
School of Engineering and Applied Science | Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Robotics |
School of Nursing | Nursing, Nutrition Science |
Besides undergraduate programmes, you’ll also find graduate degrees in the schools above. UPenn also offers graduate programmes through other schools, including the School of Dental Medicine, Communication, and Education.
Both universities rank in the top 100 of the Studyportals World University Meta Rankings as of September 2026, indicating very strong academic performance.
Admission requirements
Admissions are one of the biggest differences between UPenn and Penn State. UPenn is highly selective, while Penn State admits a much larger proportion of applicants to University Park.
UPenn has not published an overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2030. However, the university reported receiving more than 61,000 Regular Decision applications for this class, showing how competitive admission remains - they accepted only 5.8% of applicants.
Admission requirements include:
- Filling out application forms
- Writing a personal statement
- Detailing your activities both in and outside school
- Providing secondary school transcripts and letters of recommendation
- Answering UPenn’s short questions on why you’ve chosen that university and that specific degree programme
- Submitting SAT or ACT, and English proficiency test results
Penn State has a higher acceptance rate. Out of the 88,478 applications it received for the Class of 2028, it admitted 53,579 students, meaning 60.56% of students were accepted.
As an international first-year applicant to Penn State, you generally need:
- An application through MyPennState or the Common App
- Your academic record, usually submitted through the Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS)
- Proof of English language proficiency, if required
- Any additional materials required by your chosen programme
Penn State is currently test-optional, meaning international applicants do not normally have to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, students whose native language is not English generally need to meet its English proficiency requirements.
Some programmes have additional requirements. For example, applicants to certain arts programmes may need to submit a portfolio or complete an audition.
Campus: Philadelphia vs University Park
UPenn is in Philadelphia, which is one of the largest cities in the US. Here, you can easily combine campus life with city life, as you’ll find many museums, restaurants, and cultural events around.
With Penn State, you’ll have a very large main campus – University Park has more than 40,000 residential undergraduate students. It’s in the State College area, which is a university town.
The two settings therefore offer quite different experiences. UPenn may suit you if you want to live in a major city, while Penn State may appeal to you if you prefer a large, traditional university campus and a college-town atmosphere.
Penn State also has campuses in other parts of Pennsylvania, so your experience and costs can differ depending on where you study.
Student life at UPenn vs Penn State
No matter what your interests are, you can find a club related to it in both UPenn and Penn State. UPenn has over 800 student organisations, and Penn State over 1,200, covering everything from languages to sports.
If you’re interested in sororities, fraternities, and Greek Life in general, like you might have seen in American films, you’ll be glad to know that both universities offer them.
Sports are a part of the culture in both universities. UPenn has NCAA Division I (the highest level of college athletics in the US) sports teams competing in the Ivy League. At Penn State, the university competes in NCAA Division I as a member of the Big Ten Conference, and its football team plays at Beaver Stadium, one of the largest stadiums in the US.
How much do UPenn and Penn State cost?
UPenn is more expensive than Penn State. Check out the table below for fixed tuition fees and estimated living expenses.
University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) | Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) | |
Undergraduate tuition fees for international students (2026-2027) | $73,978 (covering tuition, activities, technology, and clinical fees) | $46,714 (covering tuition, activities, and an international fee) |
Housing and food | $18,966 to $20,604 | $13,608 to $18,516 |
Other expenses like transport, books, and personal life | $4,500 | $6,646 |
* All figures are based on information from the universities’ official websites as of September 2026.
At UPenn, tuition for 2026–2027 is $65,670 and standard university fees total $8,308. The university estimates a total annual budget of $99,082 for an undergraduate living on campus, including housing, food, books, transport and personal expenses.
At Penn State University Park, 2026–2027 tuition for a first- or second-year non-Pennsylvania undergraduate is $44,574 before additional fees. Tuition can increase during the third and fourth years and varies for some subjects, including Business and Engineering.
Housing costs at Penn State also depend heavily on your room type and meal plan. For example, a traditional double room costs $4,150 per semester in 2026–2027, while University Park meal plans start at $2,737 per semester.
International students should also budget for health insurance. At Penn State, international students must have qualifying health coverage. If you do not have an approved alternative plan, the university’s undergraduate Student Health Insurance Plan costs $4,365 for 2026–2027.
All figures are based on information published by the universities for the 2026–2027 academic year. Always check the latest university fees before applying, as costs can change between academic years.
What financial aid is available?
Financial aid works quite differently at the two universities.
UPenn does not offer merit-based scholarships. Instead, all undergraduate financial aid is based on financial need. International students can apply for financial aid, and UPenn says it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for international students who are admitted with aid.
However, UPenn is need-aware for most international applicants, which means your request for financial aid can be considered as part of the admissions process. International students also need to apply for aid at the same time as they apply for admission.
At Penn State, funding for international undergraduate students is more limited. International students are not eligible for US federal financial aid, although you may find individual scholarships or other funding opportunities for which you qualify.
Because the funding systems are so different, check the universities’ official financial aid information before deciding which option is affordable for you.
Deciding between UPenn vs Penn State
UPenn and Penn State might be located in the same state, but the student experience is quite different. UPenn offers an urban campus in Philadelphia while Penn State has a much larger campus in a quieter university town. When deciding, take this factor into account, in addition to your degree programme, tuition and cost of living, and university facilities.
FAQs
Is UPenn harder to get into than Penn State?
Yes. UPenn admitted 5.8% of applicants for the Class of 2030, while the acceptance rate for Penn State is around 60%.
Is UPenn an Ivy League university?
Yes. The University of Pennsylvania is one of the eight Ivy League universities in the US.
Is Penn State an Ivy League school?
No. Ivy League universities are Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, UPenn, and Cornell. That said, while Penn State isn’t an Ivy League university, it is considered one of the Public Ivies, which is a group of public US universities often compared to the Ivy League for their high teaching standards.
