← All colleges

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA · Private · Large city · Carnegie R1/R2 · Penn · Pennsylvania University · U of P · U of PA · U-Penn · UPenn · University of Pennsylvania · Wharton · Wharton School of Business

Private institution in Philadelphia, PA · 10,768 undergraduates · 6% acceptance rate · $111,371 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price
$31,2291,769th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees
$66,1042,021st cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees
$66,1042,021st cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance
$85,7381,982nd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt
$15,715357th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry
$111,37116th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$90,55525th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year)
96.8%26th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention
98.1%64th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate
5.9%13th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT
154510th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT
349th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates
10,768236th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio
8.0:1216th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share
15.7%1,905th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 6 mi (PHL)

On 20 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

Common App member
Yes
Application fee
$75
Personal essay
Required
Writing supplement
No

Supplemental prompts (2025-26)

  • Prompts for All Applicants
  • Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words, only required for first-year applicants)
  • How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)
  • School-specific prompts:
  • School of Nursing
  • Penn Nursing intends to meet the health needs of society in a global and multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare by advancing science. Why have you decided to apply to Nursing? Where do you see yourself professionally in the future and how will you contribute to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare? (150-200 words)
  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • The flexible structure of The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences? (150-200 words)
  • The Wharton School
  • Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues. Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a Wharton education would help you to explore it. (150-200 words)
  • The School of Engineering and Applied Science
  • Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics with depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. Please share how you plan to pursue your engineering interests at Penn, particularly within the intended major you selected. (150-200 words)

Source: Aristotle Circle 2025-26 supplemental prompt roundup

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Admitted class profile (Fall 2024 entering class (Class of 2029))

SAT composite (median)
1550
ACT composite (median)
35
Top 10% of high-school class
92%
States represented
50
International
15%
First-generation
21%

Sources: admissions.upenn.edu, admissionsight.com

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 74 reported programs.

FieldLevel1 yr2 yr
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBusinessbachelors$127,535$122,725
Computer Sciencebachelors$115,339$125,015
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Sciencebachelors$114,892$138,932
StatisticsMathematics & Statisticsbachelors$102,190—
EconomicsSocial Sciencesbachelors$83,446$77,087
International/Global StudiesMultidisciplinary Studiesbachelors$80,541$84,653
Chemical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$78,343$74,576
Mechanical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$77,715$80,858
MarketingBusinessbachelors$74,200$68,592
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$73,215$82,440
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusinessbachelors$71,255$67,101
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professionsbachelors$70,719$70,009

Campus facts

Athletics — 18 sports

NCAA Division I-FCS · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.

Notable alumni

Illustrative alumni only — not exhaustive and not a quality ranking. Affiliation claims cite Wikipedia/Wikidata; confirm on primary bios before relying on them.

Campus news

Heard this week

Public forum titles that mention this school. Not official, not advice, and not a ranking input.

From the weekly discussion digest · Public forum titles from the last 7 days. Not official campus news, not admissions advice, and not a ranking input. Threads are linked outbound; we do not quote bodies or verify claims.