Philadelphia, PA
Common questions prospective students and families ask about University of Pennsylvania.
About 98% of first-time, full-time students who start at University of Pennsylvania return for their second year, a commonly used early signal of student satisfaction and fit.
University of Pennsylvania reports a student-to-faculty ratio of about 8:1.
University of Pennsylvania reports that SAT/ACT scores are considered but not required (test-optional) as part of undergraduate admission.
University of Pennsylvania offers programs including Accounting and Related Services, Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences, Anthropology, Anthrozoology, Applied Mathematics, Archeology, Architectural Sciences and Technology, Architecture, and 128 more programs.
Penn is a private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia and one of nine colonial colleges; the evidence links its founding leadership to Benjamin Franklin's idea of training leaders in academia, commerce and public service. Wikipedia reports that Penn had $2.172 billion in fiscal-year 2024 research expenditures, ranking second among U.S. universities in the NSF HERD survey.
Penn's main campus is in the University City neighborhood of West Philadelphia, centered around College Hall, and Penn's own pages emphasize its ties to the colonial city of Philadelphia.
Penn's global initiatives page says diversity of thought, background and experience guides its teaching and research, and that the university serves as a home to thousands of international students.
Penn's medical school is described by Wikipedia as the first in North America, and Penn's schools page states that Wharton was founded in 1881 as the world's first collegiate business school.
Penn markets a contiguous-campus model where its 12 schools enable collaboration and interdisciplinary study in formal and informal settings every day.
University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, PA, in a city setting.
University of Pennsylvania is a private nonprofit institution.
University of Pennsylvania enrolls approximately 10,650 undergraduate students.
University of Pennsylvania admits approximately 5% of undergraduate applicants.
Admitted students at University of Pennsylvania typically report SAT scores near 745 (Reading) and 780 (Math) and an ACT composite near 34 (midpoint of the reported range).
The total cost of attendance at University of Pennsylvania is about $89,028 per year. Published tuition is about $68,686 for in-state students and $68,686 for out-of-state students. The average net price actually paid, after grants and scholarships, is about $28,699.
About 17% of students at University of Pennsylvania receive a federal Pell Grant, a commonly used marker of how many lower-income students the institution serves.
About 97% of first-time, full-time students complete a degree within 150% of normal time (e.g. 6 years for a 4-year program) at University of Pennsylvania.
Former students of University of Pennsylvania report median earnings of about $111,371 ten years after entry.