Acceptance Rate
5%
Avg. SAT
1570
75th percentile
“Ben Franklin's urban powerhouse where pre-professional hustlers chase Wharton deals, biotech breakthroughs, and Ivy ambition amid Philly's historic grit.”
Philadelphia, PA
Location
Large City
Campus Setting
You'll trace University of Pennsylvania's roots to 1740, when Benjamin Franklin launched America's first university—not as an elite academy, but a practical school blending trades, science, and civic duty in a then-swampy Philadelphia. This Franklinian ethos lingers: Penn thrives on applied knowledge, entrepreneurship, and real-world impact, setting it apart from ivory-tower Ivies. Ambitious doers flourish here—think relentless networkers eyeing Wall Street or Silicon Valley, comfortable in a high-pressure, interdisciplinary buzz—but introverted dreamers or rural romantics might wilt in the relentless urban pace and cutthroat peer competition. Philly envelops you: walkable blocks of cheesesteak joints, Revolutionary War sites, and SEPTA trains, but trade pastoral quads for West Philly's vibrant-yet-edgy neighborhoods, where muggings spike after dark and winters bite with gray slush.
Photo Gallery
+28
+20
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
Test-optional schools still weigh strong scores. Submitting can help.
Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Available Online
Degree Levels Offered
In Penn's classrooms, expect Socratic seminars in Locust Walk's shadow and hands-on labs where undergrads co-author papers with profs—your 8:1 student-faculty ratio means professors know your name, fueling research gigs at places like the Wistar Institute for cancer breakthroughs. Wharton dominates as the undergrad business cradle, pumping out future CEOs with dual degrees in engineering or nursing, while Vagelos scholars fast-track to Perelman Med School and bioengineers tinker in state-of-the-art CRB labs. You'll juggle core liberal arts with pre-professional tracks, but the tradeoff hits hard: grade deflation in core courses crushes GPAs, and the quarter system rushes you through 10-week blitzes that demand laser focus.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
11,478 undergrad • 17,631 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
30%
Black / African American
7%
Hispanic / Latino
8%
Asian
19%
Other / Multi-racial
36%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Philadelphia, PA
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Penn's vibe pulses with urban energy—picture tailgates at Franklin Field amid 100k screaming fans, late-night Wawa runs, and 450+ clubs from improv troupes to hackathons. Residential life clusters you into 16 themed colleges like Hill House for artsy types or Warehouse for performers, easing the sprawl of 10k undergrads, though freshmen cram into high-rise dorms with iffy elevators. Traditions bind it: Hey Day lets seniors ditch classes for provost-rung beer bells and open bars, while Greek life claims 20% but yields to diverse scenes in Hill Square parties. A typical week blends 8am econ lectures, club meetings at Houston Hall, and Center City bar crawls, but challenges lurk—Philly's crime shadows late walks, social hierarchies favor the bold, and burnout stalks the always-on grinders.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
The Ivy League
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
Yes
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
-$6,500
$30K – $48K
-$5,282
$48K – $75K
$3,300
$75K – $110K
$13,819
$110K+
$36,472
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
99%
4 Years Graduation Rate
90%
6 Years Graduation Rate
96%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$111,371
99% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at University of Pennsylvania and return in the fall. 90% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 96% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
90%
4-5 years
6%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
3%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$56,212
Acceptance
5%
Undergrads
11,478
4-Year Grad Rate
90%
Endowment
$10.9B
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303