Yale vs Penn 2026: Admissions, Top Programs, Cost & Which Ivy League to Choose

Yale and Penn are both elite Ivy League universities, but they serve different students. Yale is stronger in humanities, law (Yale Law is ranked #1 nationally), medicine, drama, and liberal arts. Penn is stronger in business (Wharton, the world's most famous undergrad business school), nursing, engineering, and applied/pre-professional programs. Admissions are similarly competitive (Yale 3.7% acceptance rate vs Penn 5.8% in 2026), but the right choice depends almost entirely on your intended field: choose Penn if Wharton, business, or a direct pre-professional path is your goal; choose Yale if you're drawn to liberal arts, law, medicine, or haven't yet decided on a major.