University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a private Ivy League research university. It is one of the nine colonial colleges and was chartered before the U.S. Declaration of Independence, founded by Benjamin Franklin, who envisioned an institution that would educate leaders in academia, commerce, and public service.
Penn is recognized as the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, though this claim is debated by Princeton and Columbia, as the College of Philadelphia, its precursor, was not chartered until 1755, and its first board of trustees did not convene until 1749, which could place it as the fifth or sixth oldest.
Penn offers four undergraduate schools and 12 graduate and professional schools. The undergraduate schools include the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing.
Notable graduate schools include its law school, where the first professor, James Wilson, contributed to drafting the U.S. Constitution; its medical school, which was the first established in North America; and the Wharton School, the first collegiate business school in the country.
2025 Rankings
by U.S. News & World Report
by QS World University Rankings
by Times Higher Education
Undergraduate Admissions Process Summary
Application Deadlines
Early Decision: November 1
Regular Decision: January 5
Application Portal
Common Application, Coalition Application and QuestBridge Application
Standardized Tests
Optional
Recommendation Letters
Counselor or College Official: 1 Letter
Teacher in Core Subject: 1 Letter
Another Teacher or Supporter in Your Community: 1 Letter
On Campus Residence for Freshmen
Required
International Students
English Proficiency - TOEFL:
minimum score 100
IELTS: minimum score 7.0
Duolingo: minimum score 130.
Interview
Optional
Offered Alumni Conversations
University Specific Requests
None
Application Fee
$75
-
Finance 10.8%
-
Econometrics and quantitative economic 6.4%
-
Registered nursing/registered nurse 5.3%
-
Computer and information sciences 4.7%
-
Philosophy 4.7%
-
Biology/biological sciences 4.1%
-
Management science 3.8%
-
Neuroscience 3.6%
-
Political science and government 3.3%
-
Computer science 3%
Popular
Majors
Acceptance Rate
Total Students
-
African American: 6.74%
-
Asian: 16.6%
-
Hispanic: 7.38%
-
International (Non-Citizen): 23.6%
-
Multiracial: 3.57%
-
Native American: 0.3%
-
Pacific Islander: 0.1%
-
Unknown: 0.5%
-
White: 41%
Campus
The University of Pennsylvania’s campus is an urban oasis located in the heart of Philadelphia, blending historic architecture with modern facilities. Spanning over 300 acres, the campus includes a mix of collegiate Gothic buildings, contemporary structures, and green spaces. At the heart of the campus is College Green, which is surrounded by several of the university’s iconic buildings, such as the Fisher Fine Arts Library and the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
The campus is divided into different areas, with academic buildings, residential halls, and recreational facilities all within close proximity. The quad-like spaces, such as the iconic College Green, provide areas for students to relax, study, or engage in extracurricular activities. The campus also offers several well-maintained athletic facilities, including the Palestra, one of the most famous college basketball arenas in the U.S.
One of the highlights of the campus is the combination of old and new architecture, with cutting-edge buildings such as the Pennovation Center and the Singh Center for Nanotechnology standing side by side with traditional structures.
Penn’s campus is also known for its extensive green spaces, including the Morris Arboretum, a 92-acre public garden just off-campus. The campus is well-connected by public transportation, making it easy to explore the city of Philadelphia, which offers a range of cultural, historical, and social attractions.
In addition to its academic and recreational spaces, the campus is home to a range of dining options, from casual eateries to more upscale restaurants, catering to a diverse student body.
Cost of Attendance
At Penn, 34% of undergraduates qualified for the Pell Grant
Notable Affiliations
Penn alumni, faculty, and trustees have made significant contributions across various fields, including science, academia, politics, business, the military, sports, arts, and media.
Among them are two U.S. Presidents, Donald Trump and William Henry Harrison, as well as eight other presidents who received honorary doctorates from Penn.
Additionally, nine foreign heads of state, including former Philippine Prime Minister Cesar Virata, Nigeria’s first president Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ghana’s first president Kwame Nkrumah, and the current president of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara.
Penn has been home to eight Founding Fathers of the United States who signed the Declaration of Independence, seven who signed the U.S. Constitution, and 24 members of the Continental Congress.
The university’s alumni also include 32 U.S. senators, 163 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, 19 U.S. Cabinet Secretaries, 46 governors, and 28 State Supreme Court justices. Penn alumni, trustees, and faculty have been part of every U.S. Congress since its beginning in 1789, representing 26 different states.
In the realms of business, finance, and investment banking, Penn alumni include figures such as Warren Buffett (CEO of Berkshire Hathaway), Elon Musk (co-founder of PayPal, Tesla, OpenAI, and Neuralink, and founder of SpaceX, The Boring Company, and xAI), Sundar Pichai (CEO of Alphabet and Google), Frank Quattrone (founder of Qatalyst Partners), and Peter Lynch (former manager of the Fidelity Magellan Fund). Additionally, Penn has the most undergraduate alumni (36) who are billionaires, with a combined wealth of $367 billion.
Penn alumni have also made their mark in the arts, winning 53 Tony Awards, 17 Grammy Awards, 25 Emmy Awards, 13 Oscars, and 1 EGOT (John Legend).
A total of at least 43 different Penn alumni have earned 81 Olympic medals, including 26 gold medals.
Also, figures such as poets Ezra Pound and William Carlos Williams, Lutheran religious leader William Augustus Muhlenberg, civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., linguist and political theorist Noam Chomsky, architect Louis Kahn, cartoonist Charles Addams, actresses Candice Bergen and Elizabeth Banks, journalist Joe Klein, fashion designer Tory Burch, and even murder suspect Luigi Mangione.
Similar to other Ivy League institutions, Penn does not offer scholarships based on academic or athletic achievement. Instead, Penn’s financial aid policy is need-based, meaning aid is awarded solely based on your family’s financial need as assessed by Student Financial Services.
The university fosters a collaborative atmosphere, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning.
Student organizations are central to Penn’s campus culture, with over 400 groups representing various academic, cultural, political, and social interests. Penn also boasts a rich Greek life, vibrant student-run arts and music scenes, and an active service community, with students regularly engaging in volunteer work and community outreach.
Athletics also play a role in campus life, with the Penn Quakers competing in the Ivy League across multiple sports.
The graduation rate at the University of Pennsylvania is approximately 96%.
Wharton School of Business, which is one of the most prestigious business schools in the world. Wharton offers a renowned undergraduate business program, as well as graduate and executive education.
In addition to business, Penn is also highly regarded for its strong programs in fields such as computer science, engineering, nursing, and the social sciences.
Penn seeks students who are motivated to follow in the footsteps of the founder, Benjamin Franklin, by dedicating themselves to “service to society”—whether that’s through contributions to the community, the city of Philadelphia, or the global stage.