University of Pennsylvania vs Yale University
Penn, in Philadelphia, had 29,384 students in Fall 2025, including 10,325 full-time undergraduates across four undergraduate schools, among them Wharton and Engineering; it admitted 5% of applicants for the Class of 2029 and has a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. Yale, in New Haven, was founded in 1701, has 15,657 students, a 5:1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, 14 residential colleges and 80+ majors, and 87% of students graduate debt-free. Choose by programs, size and campus life.
University of Pennsylvania
Ivy League university in Philadelphia with 29,384 students (Fall 2025).
Students wanting a large research university with business and engineering schools
Yale University
Ivy League university in New Haven, founded in 1701, with 15,657 students.
Students wanting a residential college experience
Penn, in Philadelphia, had 29,384 students in Fall 2025, including 10,325 full-time undergraduates across four undergraduate schools, among them Wharton and Engineering; it admitted 5% of applicants for the Class of 2029 and has a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. Yale, in New Haven, was founded in 1701, has 15,657 students, a 5:1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, 14 residential colleges and 80+ majors, and 87% of students graduate debt-free. Choose by programs, size and campus life.
Deciding factor: Penn for a large research university with Wharton and Engineering; Yale for a smaller body and residential colleges.
Key fact: Penn had 29,384 students in Fall 2025; Yale has 15,657 and a 5:1 undergraduate ratio.
Penn: 29,384 students, four undergraduate schools including Wharton, 10:1 ratio. Yale: 15,657 students, founded 1701, 5:1 undergraduate ratio, 14 residential colleges. Compare programs and financial aid offers.
Choose University of Pennsylvania if
Students wanting a large research university with business and engineering schools
Choose Yale University if
Students wanting a residential college experience
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Location:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania vs New Haven, Connecticut
- Total students:29,384 (Fall 2025) vs 15,657
- Student-faculty ratio:10:1 vs 5:1 (undergraduate)
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Key Differences
4 attributes compared head-to-head
- Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaLocationNew Haven, Connecticut
- 29,384 (Fall 2025)Total students15,657
- 10:1Student-faculty ratio5:1 (undergraduate)
- 6,049Faculty5,842
- Location
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
- Total students
University of Pennsylvania
29,384 (Fall 2025)
Yale University
15,657
- Student-faculty ratio
University of Pennsylvania
10:1
Yale University
5:1 (undergraduate)
- Faculty
University of Pennsylvania
6,049
Yale University
5,842
Full Comparison
| Attribute |  University of Pennsylvania |  Yale University |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty | 6,049 total | 5,842 university-wide |
| Undergraduates | 10,325 full-time | Students from all 50 states |
| Housing | On a 299-acre campus | 14 residential colleges; 77% live on campus |
| Admissions | 5% offered admission (Class of 2029) | 1,633 first-years enrolled |
| Endowment or aid | $24.81 billion endowment | 87% graduate debt-free |
University of PennsylvaniaYale UniversityPros & Cons
6 pros·4 cons across both
University of Pennsylvania
Pros
Cons
Yale University
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
6 questions
Penn had 29,384 students in Fall 2025; Yale has 15,657 students.
Penn reports a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. Yale reports a 5:1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio.
Penn received 72,544 applications for the Class of 2029 and offered admission to 3,570, or 5 percent.
In 1701, when the Connecticut legislature chartered the Collegiate School, which became Yale College in 1718.
Yes. 77% of undergraduates, and all first-year students, live on campus in one of 14 residential colleges.
Yes. The Wharton School is one of Penn's four undergraduate schools, with 1,841 undergraduates in Fall 2025.
Analysis: University of Pennsylvania vs Yale University
Penn, in Philadelphia, had 29,384 students in Fall 2025, including 10,325 full-time undergraduates across four undergraduate schools, among them Wharton and Engineering; it admitted 5% of applicants for the Class of 2029 and has a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. Yale, in New Haven, was founded in 1701, has 15,657 students, a 5:1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, 14 residential colleges and 80+ majors, and 87% of students graduate debt-free. Choose by programs, size and campus life.
Key takeaways
- Penn: 29,384 students (Fall 2025); Yale: 15,657 students. - Penn student-faculty ratio 10:1; Yale undergraduate ratio 5:1. - Penn admitted 3,570 of 72,544 applicants, 5%, for the Class of 2029. - Yale was founded in 1701 and houses undergraduates in 14 residential colleges. - Penn's endowment was $24.81 billion in fiscal year 2025.
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Size and schools
Penn enrols 10,325 full-time undergraduates and 14,006 full-time graduate and professional students. Its undergraduate schools are the College of Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Applied Science, Nursing and the Wharton School. Yale has 15 schools and 5,842 faculty members university-wide.
Admissions and aid
Penn received 72,544 applications for the Class of 2029 and offered admission to 3,570. At Yale, 54% of undergraduates receive financial aid, the average scholarship award for aid recipients is $75,800, and 87% graduate debt-free.
Campus life
1. Yale: 77% of undergraduates, and all first-year students, live on campus in one of 14 residential colleges. 2. Penn: a 299-acre West Philadelphia campus with 225 buildings, excluding the hospital, and 33 varsity sports.
Who should pick which
Pick Penn for a large research university with Wharton, Engineering and Nursing undergraduate schools. Pick Yale for a smaller student body and a residential college system. Visit both and compare programs and aid offers.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Wikipedia
External Resources
University of Pennsylvania: Facts (opens in new tab)
Fall 2025 enrolment, admissions, 10:1 ratio, schools, 299 acres, $24.81B endowment.
Yale University: Yale Facts (opens in new tab)
15,657 students, 5,842 faculty, 5:1 ratio, 14 residential colleges, aid figures.
Yale University: Traditions and History (opens in new tab)
Chartered 1701 as the Collegiate School; Yale College 1718.
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