Study at the University of Pennsylvania
Join one of the world's leading Ivy League universities, where innovation, interdisciplinary education, research excellence, and global leadership come together in the heart of Philadelphia.
An Ivy League Powerhouse
The University of Pennsylvania (Penn), founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1740, is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States. As a founding member of the Ivy League, Penn is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world for research, teaching, and innovation.
Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Penn is home to 12 schools spanning the arts, sciences, engineering, medicine, business, law, nursing, dental medicine, veterinary medicine, design, education, and communication. Penn's commitment to interdisciplinary education β rooted in Franklin's vision of combining theory with practical application β distinguishes it among its peers.
Penn has produced 36 Nobel laureates, multiple Pulitzer Prize winners, Supreme Court Justices, heads of state, and founders of transformative companies. With over 4,000 faculty members, 300+ research centres, and students from over 100 countries, Penn is a global hub for knowledge creation and academic excellence.
Academic Excellence
12 schools offering world-class programmes across every discipline
School of Arts & Sciences
Main Campus
Penn Engineering (SEAS)
Main Campus
The Wharton School
Main Campus
Perelman School of Medicine
Main Campus
School of Nursing
Main Campus
Stuart Weitzman School of Design
Main Campus
Penn Carey Law
Main Campus
School of Dental Medicine
Main Campus
School of Veterinary Medicine
New Bolton Center Campus
Graduate School of Education
Main Campus
School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2)
Main Campus
Annenberg School for Communication
Main Campus
Investment in Your Future
Penn meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students
Undergraduate
- tuition: USD $63,452/year (2024β2025)
- fees: USD $7,058/year
- housing: USD $12,640/year
- dining: USD $6,344/year
- books supplies: USD $1,358/year
- personal expenses: USD $2,548/year
- transportation: USD $1,146/year
- total cost of attendance: Approximately USD $87,860/year
- note: Penn meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students, including international students.
Graduate
- wharton mba: USD $88,072/year (2024β2025)
- law jd: USD $73,906/year
- medicine md: USD $63,986/year
- engineering masters: USD $45,890β$55,000/year (varies by programme)
- arts sciences phd: Full tuition fellowship + stipend (typically funded)
- note: Graduate tuition varies significantly by school and programme. Many PhD programmes offer full funding including tuition, stipend, and health insurance.
Living in Philadelphia
- on campus housing: USD $12,640/year (average, varies by College House)
- off campus housing: USD $1,000β$1,800/month (University City area)
- health insurance: USD $4,164/year (Penn Student Insurance Plan β PSIP)
- personal expenses: USD $2,000β$3,000/year
- total estimate: USD $25,000β$30,000/year for living expenses in Philadelphia
Tuition fees and cost of attendance are reviewed and updated annually by the University of Pennsylvania. The figures above are for the 2024β2025 academic year. Students should always verify the latest official figures on the University of Pennsylvania website before applying.
Funding Your Penn Education
100% of demonstrated financial need met for all admitted students β including international students
Penn Grant (Need-Based Aid)
Varies β Penn meets 100% of demonstrated financial need with grants (no loans) for all admitted students, including international students
Eligibility: All admitted students who demonstrate financial need
Penn's financial aid is entirely need-based and need-blind for domestic applicants. International students receive need-aware admission with full-need financial aid once admitted.
Wharton Fellowships
Partial to full tuition β varies by programme
Eligibility: Outstanding MBA and PhD applicants to the Wharton School
Awarded based on merit and leadership potential. MBA fellowships are competitive and awarded at admission.
Penn Engineering Dean's Scholarship
Partial to full tuition for graduate programmes
Eligibility: Outstanding applicants to SEAS graduate programmes
Merit-based awards for exceptional engineering students.
PhD Funding Packages
Full tuition + annual stipend + health insurance (typically 5β6 years)
Eligibility: All admitted PhD students in most programmes
Most PhD programmes at Penn provide full funding as a standard package. Includes tuition, stipend (approximately $38,000β$45,000/year), and health insurance.
Graduate & Professional Fellowships
Varies by school and programme
Eligibility: Admitted graduate and professional students across all 12 schools
Each school offers merit-based fellowships. External fellowships (NSF, Fulbright, Gates Cambridge) are also supported.
External Scholarships (Supported)
Varies β Fulbright, Gates, Rhodes, Marshall, Schwarzman, etc.
Eligibility: Varies by programme
Penn's Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships (CURF) provides guidance on prestigious external scholarships for both current students and applicants.
How to Get In
Deadlines: Early Decision: November 1 | Regular Decision: January 5
- Common Application or Coalition Application with Penn-specific supplement
- Official high school transcripts (all years of secondary school)
- School Report and Counselor Recommendation
- Two Teacher Evaluations (from academic subjects)
- SAT or ACT scores (test-flexible policy β Penn also accepts AP, IB, or other standardized exams)
- Penn Writing Supplement (essay)
- English proficiency: TOEFL (minimum 100 iBT), IELTS (minimum 7.5), or Duolingo English Test (minimum 125) β required if English is not primary language of instruction
- Mid-Year School Report (after first semester senior grades are available)
- Portfolio or audition (for specific programmes in Fine Arts or Music)
Penn receives approximately 65,000+ applications annually and admits around 5β6% of applicants. International applicants follow the same application process as domestic applicants. Penn practices need-blind admission for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, and need-aware admission for international students. Admitted international students receive 100% of demonstrated financial need.
Life at Penn
A vibrant residential campus in the heart of Philadelphia
College Houses
12 College Houses provide a vibrant residential experience with faculty-in-residence, themed programming, and diverse communities β from historic Quadrangle to modern New College House West.
Libraries
Penn's library system includes over 7 million volumes across 15 libraries, anchored by the iconic Fisher Fine Arts Library and Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center.
Student Organizations
Over 450 student organizations spanning arts, culture, athletics, community service, entrepreneurship, media, performance, politics, and social life.
Athletics & Recreation
33 varsity sports (NCAA Division I, Ivy League), world-class recreation facilities at Pottruck Health & Fitness Center, and Franklin Field β America's oldest football stadium.
Philadelphia City Life
Philadelphia offers world-class museums, restaurants, music, history, and culture β all within walking distance or a short transit ride from campus in University City.
Locust Walk
The heart of Penn's campus β a tree-lined pedestrian walkway connecting academic buildings, residences, and social spaces where the Penn community gathers daily.
Research Facilities
World-class laboratories, the Singh Center for Nanotechnology, Pennovation Works innovation complex, and Penn Medicine's advanced biomedical research facilities.
International Community
Students from over 100 countries with comprehensive support from International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS), cultural organizations, and global programming.
Career Outcomes
Research Strengths
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Penn is a leader in AI research through GRASP Lab, Penn Research in Machine Learning (PRiML), and cross-school initiatives spanning natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, and AI ethics.
Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Perelman School of Medicine and Penn Medicine drive breakthrough research in gene therapy (CAR-T cell therapy), cancer immunology, genomics, neuroscience, and precision medicine.
Business & Finance Innovation
Wharton's research centres lead globally in finance, entrepreneurship, analytics, and management β bridging academic research with real-world business impact.
Nanotechnology & Materials
The Singh Center for Nanotechnology is a world-class facility for nanoscale research, advanced manufacturing, and materials innovation across engineering and science.
Energy & Sustainability
Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, Penn Sustainability, and cross-disciplinary research on clean energy, climate science, and sustainable urban design.
Data Science & Computing
Warren Center for Network and Data Sciences connects researchers across departments for interdisciplinary data science, network analysis, and computational social science.
International Student Support
Over 5,500 international students from 100+ countries
- International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
- Student visa (F-1/J-1) guidance and documentation
- International student orientation
- On-campus housing assistance
- Academic advising and programme support
- Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP) β health coverage
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
- International student organizations and cultural events
- Global engagement and exchange programmes (250+ partner institutions)
- English language programmes and support
- Career services for international students (OPT/CPT guidance)
- Tax and financial advising for international students
Your Path to Penn
Expert guidance from enquiry to enrolment
Programme Selection
We help you navigate Penn's 12 schools and interdisciplinary offerings β from dual-degree programmes to the unique One University Policy that lets you take courses across all schools.
Application Strategy
Expert guidance on Penn's application process β essays, Common App supplements, interview preparation, Early Decision strategy, and portfolio requirements for Design programmes.
Financial Aid Guidance
Navigate Penn's need-based financial aid system, CSS Profile, IDOC documentation, and understand how international student aid works. Maximize your financial aid package.
Research & Academic Fit
For graduate and PhD applicants, we help identify faculty research alignment, craft compelling research proposals, and build relationships with potential supervisors.
Visa & Housing Support
F-1 student visa guidance, College House preferences, off-campus housing in University City, health insurance enrollment, and banking setup assistance.
Pre-Departure & Arrival
Comprehensive pre-departure briefing for the US, Philadelphia orientation, airport pickup coordination, first-week settling-in support, and ongoing guidance throughout your studies.
Apply to Penn
Free expert guidance β no hidden fees
Hear From Penn Students
βWharton's global network and rigorous academics transformed my career. The access to Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and international business leaders through Penn's ecosystem is unmatched.β
βPenn Engineering's AI research is extraordinary. Working at the GRASP Lab alongside world-leading faculty and receiving full PhD funding made Penn the perfect choice for my doctoral studies.β
βPenn's financial aid made my Ivy League education possible. The interdisciplinary culture β taking Wharton courses while studying economics in Arts & Sciences β gave me a unique edge.β
Frequently Asked Questions
Penn is one of the most selective universities in the world, admitting approximately 5β6% of applicants from a pool of over 65,000 applications annually. International applicants are held to the same academic standard as domestic applicants. A strong academic record, compelling essays, extracurricular achievements, and recommendations are essential.
International applicants whose primary language of instruction is not English must submit English proficiency scores: TOEFL iBT (minimum 100), IELTS (minimum 7.5), or Duolingo English Test (minimum 125). Applicants who have studied in English-medium institutions for at least 4 years may request a waiver.
Penn provides need-based financial aid to international students. Once admitted, Penn meets 100% of demonstrated financial need with grants (not loans). Penn does not offer merit-based scholarships for undergraduates β all aid is need-based. Graduate programmes vary: most PhD programmes are fully funded, while professional programmes offer fellowships and loans.
Undergraduate tuition for 2024β2025 is approximately USD $63,452/year, with a total cost of attendance of approximately $87,860/year including housing, dining, and fees. Graduate tuition varies by school β for example, Wharton MBA is approximately $88,072/year. Fees are reviewed annually.
Yes. Educational Hub provides expert guidance on programme selection, application strategy, essay development, documentation, interview preparation, visa processing, and pre-departure support specifically for Penn applicants.
All first-year undergraduates live on campus in one of Penn's College Houses. Upper-class students may choose on-campus housing or off-campus apartments in University City. Graduate students have access to university-affiliated housing and off-campus options.
Yes. Penn is one of few universities that meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for international students. Admission for international students is need-aware (financial need is considered in the admissions decision), but once admitted, students receive full financial aid packages with no loans.
Penn graduates are recruited by the world's leading employers across finance, technology, consulting, healthcare, law, and research. Wharton and SEAS graduates in particular see near-universal placement. Penn Career Services, alumni networks, and on-campus recruiting provide extensive support.