Higher Learning
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Featured Institution

University of Pennsylvania

A+

Grade

6%

Acceptance

$22,100

Net Price

1460-1560

SAT Range

location_on Philadelphia, PA
• www.upenn.edu •
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What the School is Known For

From the School

The University of Pennsylvania, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1740, is a world-class research university and a member of the Ivy League best known for its integration of professional and liberal arts education. Penn's Wharton School is the world's first collegiate business school and remains one of the most influential, and the Perelman School of Medicine is among the top medical schools in the country.

Penn's distinctive model — which encourages students across its four undergraduate schools to take courses in any school — produces graduates who are simultaneously rigorous thinkers and practical problem-solvers.

The Student Body

From the School

Penn enrolls approximately 10,000 undergraduates across its four schools — Wharton, Engineering, Nursing, and the College — and 12,000 graduate and professional students. The student body is entrepreneurial, globally minded, and career-focused while maintaining genuine intellectual ambition.

Penn students often cite the balance between intellectual depth and practical application as defining their experience — the opportunity to study philosophy and business, or neuroscience and entrepreneurship, in the same semester is a feature unique to Penn's structure.

Getting In

From the School

Penn's acceptance rate is approximately 7%, making it one of the most selective universities in the country. Each of Penn's four undergraduate schools — Wharton, Engineering and Applied Science, Nursing, and the College of Arts and Sciences — has its own admissions profile, and applicants apply directly to a school.

Penn offers Early Decision (binding) and Regular Decision rounds. The University is need-blind for U.S. citizens and permanent residents and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.

Academic Programs & Research

From the School

Penn's four undergraduate schools offer distinct academic cultures: Wharton for business; the College for the liberal arts; Engineering for technical fields; and Nursing for health sciences. Cross-registration allows students to take courses in any school, enabling truly interdisciplinary programs.

The Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER), the Roy and Diana Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management, and the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business are examples of Penn's signature dual-degree programs that span two schools simultaneously.

Life on Campus

From the School

Penn's campus in West Philadelphia is a vibrant urban community with over 40th Street serving as a social hub alongside Locust Walk, the tree-lined pedestrian spine of the campus. Philadelphia — the nation's sixth-largest city — provides cultural, culinary, and professional resources immediately adjacent to campus.

Over 600 student organizations, a thriving Greek life, and the Penn Activities Council ensure a rich and varied extracurricular life. Penn's entrepreneurship ecosystem, centered at the Penn Center for Innovation, connects students with funding, mentorship, and startup resources.

Living & Getting Involved

From the School

Penn guarantees on-campus housing for all four undergraduate years in a range of options from traditional dormitories to apartment-style upperclassman housing. The Hill House, Kings Court, and Harrison College House anchor first-year residential life.

Penn's fraternity and sorority system is one of the most active of any Ivy League university, with chapters that play a significant role in undergraduate social life alongside independent student organizations and residential programming.

Athletics & Recreation

From the School

Penn competes in the Ivy League and fields 33 varsity sports in NCAA Division I. The Penn Relays — one of the oldest and largest track and field events in the world — is held each spring at Franklin Field, one of the oldest football stadiums in the country.

The Pottruck Health and Fitness Center provides extensive recreational facilities. Club and intramural sports engage thousands of non-varsity athletes each year.

Student Support Services

From the School

Penn's Weingarten Learning Resources Center provides academic support, tutoring, and disability accommodations. Each undergraduate school has its own network of academic advisors who know their school's curriculum and career pathways in depth.

Penn's Career Services operates one of the largest on-campus recruiting programs at any university, with particularly strong pipelines to finance, consulting, technology, and health fields.

Wellness & Mental Health

From the School

Penn's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides free individual therapy, group counseling, crisis support, and psychiatric services. CAPS operates a walk-in urgent care schedule for students who need same-day support.

Penn's student wellness programming is extensive, including Mindfulness at Penn, the Meditating Quakers student group, and residential programming designed to build community and reduce isolation.

Plan a Campus Visit

From the School

Penn Undergraduate Admissions hosts information sessions and student-led tours on most weekdays and select Saturdays during the academic year. Tours focus on the main campus quadrangle, Hill House, the Wharton building, and key research facilities.

Penn Preview Days in April invite admitted students for immersive program-specific events alongside a campus-wide community experience. Philadelphia's accessible transport network makes campus easy to reach from all major East Coast cities.

Career Outcomes & Placement

From the School

Penn graduates are among the most sought-after across finance, consulting, technology, medicine, and law. Wharton undergraduates in particular command some of the highest starting salaries of any undergraduate business program in the world.

Penn's alumni network of over 320,000 living alumni spans every major industry. The Penn Wharton Entrepreneurship ecosystem, the Pennovation Center, and the Penn Center for Innovation provide startup resources and alumni mentors for students with entrepreneurial ambitions.

Fields of Study

From the School

Finance, Economics, Computer Science, Biology, and Nursing are among Penn's most enrolled programs. Wharton's concentration system covers Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Management, and Operations, among others, while the College offers over 90 majors across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Penn's dual-degree programs — which allow students to earn two degrees from two schools simultaneously over four years — are a distinctive feature of the Penn curriculum and attract highly motivated students.

Cost of Attendance

From the School

Penn's undergraduate tuition is approximately $67,000 per year across all four schools, with total cost of attendance — including room, board, and fees — reaching approximately $88,000 annually. Penn's financial aid program significantly reduces the net cost for eligible students.

Penn does not charge differential tuition by school — a Wharton student and a College student pay the same rate, reflecting the integrated nature of the Penn education.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

From the School

Penn meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted domestic undergraduates with a grant-only policy — no required loans. Families earning below $65,000 typically pay nothing; those between $65,000 and $130,000 pay a sliding, income-based contribution.

Penn awarded over $280 million in undergraduate financial aid in a recent year. Merit scholarships, including the Penn Pell Partnership for first-generation and low-income students, extend the university's commitment to broad access.

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