The University of Pennsylvania (commonly known as “Penn”) is a leading private research university (note that nearly all US universities named after their state are public-supported—Penn is an exception to this rule).
The sixth-oldest institution of higher learning in the country, Penn was the brain child of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, who also served as its first president. Franklin’s educational ideas were highly innovative for the time, inclining more towards the teaching of practical skills and preparation for the learned professions, in contrast to the traditional curriculum based on the Classical languages, literature, and history, which aimed primarily to produce ministers and “gentlemen.”
Accordingly, the first medical school in the 13 colonies (now known as the Perelman School of Medicine) was founded at Penn in 1765. Also, thanks in large part to Franklin’s guiding principles, the first business school in the country (the Wharton School) opened there in 1881.
Penn has had a major impact on American politics and history: nine signers of the Declaration of Independence were either graduates of the university or members of its Board of Trustees. Hundreds of Penn graduates have served in the two houses of Congress, at the cabinet level of the executive branch, and as ambassadors in their country’s diplomatic service. Nearly 50 have served as governors of many different states. Finally, Penn can boast three US Supreme Court Justices (James Wilson, Owen J. Roberts, and William J. Brennan) and two presidents (William Henry Harrison attended the Penn medical school, but did not graduate, and Donald Trump received his bachelor’s degree from the Wharton School).
Located in racially and economically diverse West Philadelphia, Penn today has a student body that is “majority minority,” comprising numerous African American, Hispanic, and Native American students, as well as many international students (just under 500 in all) hailing from East Asia, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and elsewhere.
Among notable alumni we may mention:
Altogether, some 28 Penn-connected persons have been recipients of the Nobel Prize, including:
According to Wikipedia, The University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The university, established as the College of Philadelphia in 1740, is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered prior to the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin, Penn's founder and first president, advocated an educational program that trained leaders in commerce, government, and public service, similar to a modern liberal arts curriculum with a practical perspective.
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Graduation Rate | Median SAT Score | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42,205 | 9% | 96% | 1505 | 34 |
| Tuition (in-state) |
|---|
| $61,710 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $3,181 |
| 30K - 48K | $4,833 |
| 48K - 75K | $12,752 |
| 75K - 110K | $20,632 |
| 110K+ | $41,421 |
If you graduate from University of Pennsylvania, then you can expect to earn an average of $131,600 per year. You also have a 90% chance of being employed after 10 years.
Demographic data is for full-time, on-campus students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 28,100 | 14,594 | 13,506 |
University of Pennsylvania is located at 34th & Spruce Street, Philadelphia PA 19104-6303
University of Pennsylvania is known for it's academic work in the following disciplines:
University of Pennsylvania's most influential alumni faculty include professors and professionals in the fields of Business, Social Work, and Criminal Justice. Here are some of University of Pennsylvania's most famous alumni:
