University of Pennsylvania

Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is a private Ivy League research university. Penn is one of the nine colonial colleges established before the Declaration of Independence was written. It was founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin, who sought to educate future leaders in commerce, government, and public service. Penn is known across the world as a top-tier institution, and its programs in business, engineering, and nursing are among the best in the world. Notable alumni include Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Grammy Award-winner John Legend, and women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred.

Ranked 9 in the nation, Penn is a very selective school. Its acceptance rate is 9%, and its graduation rate is 96%. Penn’s annual tuition is $41,664, plus fees. Over 10,000 undergraduates and more than 12,000 postgraduates are enrolled. Penn has four undergraduate schools as well as twelve graduate and professional schools. Undergraduates can choose from nearly 100 majors, plus they can pursue double-degree programs and other unique majors. Graduate students can choose from over 100 degree programs. Penn follows a semester-based academic calendar.

Penn takes an interdisciplinary approach to learning and research. Students can pursue world-class research initiatives that lead to groundbreaking discoveries and innovation. While the university is divided into several schools, Penn’s “One University” policy allows undergraduates take to classes at every school except the medical, veterinary, and dental schools. Because Penn is part of the Quaker Consortium, students can also take classes at Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore. Students also explore the world through Penn’s study abroad program, which produces the most study-abroad students of all the Ivy Leagues. On campus, students participate in over 30 collegiate athletic teams, 37 club sports teams, and 18 intramural leagues and special athletic events. Or, many get involved in the university’s 450 clubs and organizations and 40 sororities and fraternities.