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Philadelphia , PA
The University of Pennsylvania, located in Philadelphia, is a prestigious Ivy League institution renowned for its academic excellence and commitment to interdisciplinary study. Founded in 1740, Penn is one of the oldest universities in the United States and has consistently been ranked among the top universities in the world. With its sprawling urban campus and an enrollment of over 25,000 students, Penn offers a diverse and vibrant learning environment.
Penn is known for its rigorous academic programs across various disciplines, including arts and sciences, business, engineering, law, and medicine. The university encourages students to explore different fields of study through a unique Core Curriculum that fosters critical thinking and intellectual flexibility. Penn's faculty comprises leading scholars and researchers who actively engage in groundbreaking research, contributing to advancements in their respective fields.
Beyond academics, Penn offers a rich and diverse student life experience. Students can participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities, including over 450 student organizations, cultural groups, and athletic programs. The university boasts a strong sense of community and provides ample support through its numerous resources and services, ensuring the overall well-being of its students. With its exceptional academic programs, vibrant campus life, and commitment to innovation and social impact, the University of Pennsylvania is an institution that attracts students from all around the world who aspire to make a lasting difference in their respective fields.
University of Pennsylvania is a private university located in Philadelphia, PA. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. Admissions is extremely competitive, with an acceptance rate of a mere 5%. The freshman retention rate at University of Pennsylvania is 98.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 97%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 5. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 15.
Read more about what you can expect if you get into University of Pennsylvania.
Quick Facts
10,013
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$63,204
Tuition
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
97%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Discover some essential data about admission at University of Pennsylvania.
In 2025, the school accepted 3,523 new students.
Test Scores
50% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 17% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.91. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 5. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university freshmen who return for their sophomore year. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for University of Pennsylvania was 98.8%, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 97%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the right fit for you is not simple. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 24,023 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 82.4. There was a total of 10,013 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 1,327 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 100.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 10,270 male and 12,630 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 2,964, and the number of African American students was 876. 1,163 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 537 as multirace. The school also had 2 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 15 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 546 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. Here are some important data on University of Pennsylvania costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about University of Pennsylvania estimated tuition fees.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $63,204 in 2025. As this is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Full-time students in 2025 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $8,032.
Books and Supplies
The estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant expense. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,412.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
At University of Pennsylvania, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $19,876. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 was $13,132 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $12,978.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 63,204 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,876 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,412 |
| Total Expense | $ 84,492 |
Financial Aid
Financial aid for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid at University of Pennsylvania.
According to the most recent data, 1,199 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $69,989.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
4,536 students were designated some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at University of Pennsylvania is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 4,612. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $14,648,791, and state $2,502,881. The students of University of Pennsylvania received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $274,928,838, and external in the amount of $4,756,537.
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $3,524,955 USD.
Majors
Faculty
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at University of Pennsylvania was 8:1: that means 8 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The faculty of this school consists of 1,920 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 1,037 men and 883 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some info about campus life at University of Pennsylvania.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
Those interested in music can join the University of Pennsylvania band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? University of Pennsylvania publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
FAQ
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University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, PA.
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University of Pennsylvania offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for University of Pennsylvania is 63,204 USD a year.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for University of Pennsylvania is 5%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for University of Pennsylvania is 98.8%.
Contact Information
University of Pennsylvania
1 College Hall, Room 100
Philadelphia , PA
19104-6228
215 898-7507
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.