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Summary
University of Pennsylvania is a private institution that was founded in 1740. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 9,779, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 279 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Pennsylvania's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 8. Its tuition and fees are $43,738 (2012-13).
The University of Pennsylvania, located in Philadelphia, was founded by Benjamin Franklin. The Penn Quakers have more than 25 NCAA Division I sports that compete in the Ivy League, and are noted for successful basketball and lacrosse teams. Penn offers housing in any of the 12 College Houses, but many students live in the numerous off-campus apartments and houses available. More than 25 percent of the student body is involved in Greek life, which encompasses about 45 fraternities and sororities. The school also offers a number of clubs and organizations, ranging from performance groups like the Latin and Ballroom dance club to student publications such as the Penn Political Review. Penn works closely with the West Philadelphia area through community service and advocacy groups.
Penn has 12 schools: Four offer undergraduate and graduate studies and eight offer only graduate studies. Penn’s highly ranked graduate programs include its Wharton School, School of Education, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Law School, and School of Medicine. Penn’s other notable graduate programs include its Design School and School of Dental Medicine. Penn, though secular, has a strong religious life with its Hillel for Jewish students, Penn Newman Catholic Center, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. More than 1700 students each year participate in international study programs offered in 50 or so countries around the world. Notable Penn alumni include former U.S. President William Henry Harrison, poet William Carlos Williams, and businessman Donald Trump.
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Inspired by the intellectual audacity and educational ideals of our founder, Benjamin Franklin, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) offers a compelling mixture of world-class liberal arts coursework and pre-professional education. Students apply to one of four undergraduate schools---Arts and Sciences, Nursing, Engineering and Applied Science, or Wharton. Penn also offers an array of exciting interdisciplinary programs and courses which leverage the resources of different departments or schools, such as the Fisher Program in Management and Technology, the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business, and the Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management. Students are strongly encouraged to engage the world beyond Penn, both locally and globally. Civic House provides a "hub" for students interested in all kinds of community service while the Center for Community Partnerships coordinates over 150 Academically Based Community Service courses each term which link theory and practice through activities that make a significant difference in West Philadelphia and the City. Opportunities for global engagement include Penn Abroad, through which more than 600 Penn undergraduates each year spend a semester or longer abroad, more than any other Ivy League school. Nearly 15% of our undergraduates come to Penn from other countries, providing a linguistically and culturally diverse environment. As one of the world's premier research universities, Penn offers students the opportunity to learn by participating in the hands-on creation of new knowledge. The Center for Undergraduate Research, the Kelly Writers House, the Weiss Tech House, and the Penn Museum are places that connect undergraduates to leading researchers at Penn and to the cutting-edge ideas of its laboratories and seminar rooms. The academic experience at Penn is integrated with social and extra-curricular life. Almost all first-year students reside within the eleven College Houses at Penn, which link intellectual and social experiences through close contact with faculty-in-residence and student resident assistants. Penn has over 300 student groups ranging from political action to performing arts to sports clubs to student publications offering all students opportunities to pursue a wide-range of interests. Such opportunities extend beyond campus to the City of Philadelphia where students can experience the rich cultural, athletic, social, and political life of America's most historic city. Today Ben Franklin would marvel at the intellectual and social excitement of the diverse and dynamic institution he founded. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1740 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2011 Endowment | $6,582,030,000 |
Applying
When applying to University of Pennsylvania, it's important to note the application deadline is January 1, and the early decision deadline is November 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due February 1. The application fee at University of Pennsylvania is $75. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 12.4 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | most selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 12.4% |
| Application deadline | January 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | February 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at University of Pennsylvania is 6:1, and the school has 71.5 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Pennsylvania include: Finance, General; Economics, General; Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse; Political Science and Government, General; and History, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 97.8 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 6:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 87% | ||||||||||
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Student Life
University of Pennsylvania has a total undergraduate enrollment of 9,779, with a gender distribution of 48.9 percent male students and 51.1 percent female students. At this school, 56.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 39.0 percent of students live off campus. University of Pennsylvania is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at University of Pennsylvania.
| Total enrollment | 19,919 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
University of Pennsylvania offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. University of Pennsylvania also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at University of Pennsylvania, 3 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at University of Pennsylvania.
| Students who have cars on campus | 3% |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At University of Pennsylvania, 47.4 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $34,655.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $43,738 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $12,368 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data