Is the University of Pennsylvania harder to get into than the University of Maryland?

The University of Pennsylvania is substantially harder to get into overall than the University of Maryland. Penn is an Ivy League institution with a highly selective national and international applicant pool, while Maryland is a strong public research university with a broader admissions profile.

Penn’s applicant pool includes many students with top grades, rigorous coursework, significant extracurricular leadership, and strong recommendations. Admission is holistic, but even applicants with excellent academic records face a very competitive process because Penn has limited space relative to demand.

Maryland is selective as well, but it admits a larger and more academically varied incoming class. Maryland also gives priority consideration to in-state applicants as a public flagship university, although out-of-state admission can be more competitive.

For a college list, Penn should be treated as a high reach for nearly every applicant, including students with exceptional credentials. Maryland may range from a target to a reach depending on residency and academic record, but it is not as selective overall as Penn.