University of Pennsylvania
| Type | Private research university |
|---|---|
| Address | 3451 Walnut Street |
| Map | View on Google Maps |
| Neighborhood | University City |
| Phone | (215) 898-5000 |
| Website | Official site |
| Established | 1740 |
| Founder | Benjamin Franklin |
| Owner | Board of Trustees |
| Employees | 55,000+ (including health system) |
| Products | Higher education |
| Status | Active |
The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn or UPenn) is a private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia. Founded in 1740 and organized by Benjamin Franklin in 1749, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. The university is located in University City, West Philadelphia, where its 299-acre main campus includes over 220 buildings housing 12 schools and numerous research centers.[1]
Penn is home to the Wharton School, the nation's first business school and consistently ranked among the world's best. The university also established the first medical school in the American colonies (1765), the first university teaching hospital (1874), and was the first American institution to be designated a "university" (1779). With an endowment of $22.35 billion and a research budget exceeding $1.45 billion, Penn is one of the wealthiest and most research-intensive universities in the world. The university employs over 55,000 people including its health system, making it one of Philadelphia's largest employers.[2]
History
Founder
The University of Pennsylvania was founded by Benjamin Franklin, the renowned Founding Father, inventor, and civic leader. In 1749, Franklin circulated a pamphlet titled "Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvania," outlining his vision for a "Public Academy of Philadelphia" that would train young people for leadership in business, government, and public service.
Franklin's educational philosophy was revolutionary for its time. While other colonial colleges primarily trained students for the Christian ministry, Franklin proposed a practical curriculum combining classical education with instruction in science, mathematics, history, logic, and philosophy. This innovative approach laid the groundwork for the modern liberal arts curriculum.[3]
Franklin organized 24 trustees from Philadelphia's leading citizens—the first non-sectarian board of trustees in America. He served as president of the Academy from 1749 to 1755 and remained on the Board of Trustees until his death in 1790.
Founding Date
Penn officially uses 1740 as its founding date. That year, a group of Philadelphians began constructing a large preaching hall for George Whitefield, a traveling Anglican evangelist. The building was the largest in Philadelphia at the time, but the project stalled due to insufficient funding.
When Franklin established his academy in 1749, the trustees acquired this unfinished building on Fourth Street. Because Franklin's institution inherited and completed the 1740 structure, the university claims 1740 as its founding year. Other significant dates in Penn's early history include:
- 1749 - Franklin convenes the first Board of Trustees
- 1751 - First classes taught
- 1755 - Collegiate charter granted
- 1757 - First graduating class
- 1765 - First medical school in the American colonies established
- 1779 - First American institution designated a "university"
Historical Firsts
Penn has pioneered numerous academic and institutional innovations:
- First collegiate business school in the world (Wharton, 1881)
- First university teaching hospital in the United States (1874)
- First student union (Houston Hall, 1896)
- First Catholic student organization at a secular university (Newman Club, 1893)
- First general-purpose electronic computer (ENIAC, 1946)
Academics
Ivy League Membership
The University of Pennsylvania is a member of the Ivy League, the prestigious athletic conference comprising eight private universities in the Northeastern United States. The Ivy League includes:
- Brown University
- Columbia University
- Cornell University
- Dartmouth College
- Harvard University
- Princeton University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Yale University
While the Ivy League is technically an NCAA Division I athletic conference, the term has become synonymous with academic excellence, selective admissions, and social prestige. Penn competes in all Ivy League sports and has won numerous conference championships.
Notable Schools and Programs
Penn is known for its exceptional programs across multiple disciplines:
Wharton School of Business The Wharton School, founded in 1881, is the world's first collegiate business school and consistently ranks among the top business schools globally. Wharton enrolled 1,841 undergraduates and 2,486 graduate students in Fall 2024. Notable alumni include Warren Buffett, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and Sundar Pichai.
Perelman School of Medicine Founded in 1765, Penn's medical school is the oldest in North America. The school is affiliated with Penn Medicine, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.
Other Notable Schools
- School of Engineering and Applied Science
- School of Arts and Sciences
- Law School
- School of Design
- School of Nursing
- Graduate School of Education
- Annenberg School for Communication
- School of Social Policy and Practice
- School of Veterinary Medicine
Penn maintains 214 research centers and institutes with a total research budget of $1.45 billion.
Rankings
Penn consistently ranks among the top universities in the United States and the world:
- U.S. News & World Report: Top 10 national universities
- QS World University Rankings: Top 15 globally
- Times Higher Education: Top 15 globally
- Forbes: Top 10 American universities
- Wharton School: Perennially ranked #1 or #2 among business schools
Individual programs, particularly in business, medicine, nursing, and law, consistently receive top rankings in their respective fields.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
The University of Pennsylvania's acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was approximately 5%, making it one of the most selective universities in the United States. Penn received over 65,000 applications for approximately 3,500 spots in the incoming class.[4]
| Admission Cycle | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| Class of 2029 | ~5% |
| Class of 2028 | 5.4% |
| Class of 2027 | 4.1% |
| Class of 2026 | 4.47% |
Penn admits approximately 51% of its class through Early Decision, which typically has a higher acceptance rate (approximately 13-15%) than Regular Decision (approximately 3-4%).
Test Scores
Admitted students typically have SAT scores in the top percentiles:
- Middle 50% SAT (Evidence-Based Reading/Writing): 740-770
- Middle 50% SAT (Math): 770-800
- Middle 50% ACT: 34-36
Penn became test-optional during the COVID-19 pandemic but has since reinstated testing requirements. Students should aim for scores in the 1510-1570 SAT range to be competitive.
GPA Requirements
The average GPA of admitted students is approximately 3.9 on a 4.0 scale. Nearly 92% of admitted students ranked in the top 10% of their high school graduating class.
Penn practices holistic admissions, considering academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, essays, recommendations, and demonstrated interest alongside grades and test scores.
Financial Aid
Penn does not offer merit-based scholarships. All financial aid is need-based, meaning awards are determined solely by a family's demonstrated financial need.
However, Penn meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. For families with income below $75,000, Penn typically covers full tuition, room, and board with grant aid (no loans required). Approximately 46% of undergraduates receive need-based financial aid.
Penn's financial aid program includes:
- 100% of demonstrated need met
- No loans required for families earning under certain thresholds
- Aid available to international students
- Consistent aid throughout four years
Costs
Tuition and Costs
For the 2024-2025 academic year, costs are:[1]
| Cost Category | Amount (2024-25) |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $68,686 |
| Room and board | $19,174 |
| Books and supplies | ~$1,300 |
| Personal expenses | ~$1,900 |
| Total Estimated Cost | ~$91,000 |
While sticker price exceeds $90,000 annually, Penn's generous financial aid program significantly reduces costs for many families. The average financial aid package for students receiving aid exceeds $60,000 per year.
Campus
Campus Location
The University of Pennsylvania's main campus is located in University City, a neighborhood in West Philadelphia, approximately two miles west of Center City. The campus spans 299 acres and includes 222 buildings.
Campus Address: 3451 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104
Getting to Campus:
- SEPTA Market-Frankford Line (The L): 34th Street Station (on campus)
- SEPTA Regional Rail: 30th Street Station (short walk or LUCY shuttle)
- SEPTA Bus: Multiple routes serve campus
- Amtrak: 30th Street Station (Philadelphia's main train station)
Campus Boundaries:
- West: 40th Street
- East: 32nd Street
- South: Baltimore Avenue
- North: Market Street
The campus is adjacent to Drexel University and near the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and other Penn Medicine facilities.
Campus Landmarks
Historic Buildings
- College Hall - The university's oldest building on the current campus (1872)
- Fisher Fine Arts Library - Frank Furness masterpiece (1891), a National Historic Landmark
- Houston Hall - America's first student union (1896)
Academic Buildings
- Jon M. Huntsman Hall - Wharton School's flagship building
- Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine - Penn Medicine research facility
- Singh Center for Nanotechnology
Athletics
- Franklin Field - Historic stadium, former home of the Philadelphia Eagles (1958-1970)
- The Palestra - "Cathedral of College Basketball," opened 1927
- Penn Park - 24-acre athletic complex
Notable Alumni
Penn has produced numerous leaders across fields:
Business
- Warren Buffett (Wharton undergraduate)
- Elon Musk (Wharton/Penn dual degree)
- Donald Trump (Wharton '68)
- Sundar Pichai (Wharton MBA)
Politics
- William Henry Harrison (9th U.S. President, attended)
- Arlen Specter (Senator)
- Andrea Mitchell (journalist)
Entertainment
- Elizabeth Banks (actress)
- John Legend (musician)
- Candice Bergen (actress)
Science and Medicine
- Numerous Nobel laureates
- Pioneers in medicine, computer science, and engineering
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Facts". University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved December 22, 2025
- ↑ "Penn's History". University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved December 22, 2025
- ↑ "About Our Founder". University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved December 22, 2025
- ↑ "Incoming Class Profile". Penn Admissions. Retrieved December 22, 2025