University of Pennsylvania Tuition and Fees

By Melissa Brock

The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), located in the historic city of Philadelphia, is known for its rich liberal arts and sciences tradition and world-class education. A total of 29,109 students in fall 2024 strolled down Locust Walk, cheered on the Quakers, and took classes among its four undergraduate and 12 graduate schools.

The storied institution is a member of the Ivy League, alongside seven others: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.

Keep reading for a closer look at University of Pennsylvania tuition costs, housing expenses, top majors, and more.

Total Cost of Attendance

In 2024-25, University of Pennsylvania tuition was $68,686. The cost is similar to the tuition of other Ivy League institutions, which range from $61,676 (Harvard) to $71,845 (Columbia).

Financial Aid

Of full-time students beginning at the University of Pennsylvania in the 2022-23 academic year, 62% received a combination of financial aid. Specifically, 48% received a grant or scholarship and 9% received federal student loans, for an average award of $59,721 in grants or scholarships and $5,054 in federal student loans.

Explore financial aid options: Pennsylvania Student Loan & Scholarship Information

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students that qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, or nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, and financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and non-profit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than those on private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state and federal and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities at sources such as:

•  U.S. Department of Education – Learn more about the grants that are bestowed by the federal government

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

•  Scholarship Search Tool

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

Of the full-time beginning undergraduate students who take advantage of student loans at UPenn, 4% use private student loans to cover the costs. These students receive an average of $28,622 in private loans.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations, so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, because it generally has better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: A Complete Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

UPenn’s cost for four years (tuition, room and board on campus, and fees) would be about $369,152 — but note that cost doesn’t include scholarships and grants.

For the 2023-24 academic year, here are the average price of tuition and fees among colleges and universities across the country:

•   $41,540 at private colleges ($166,160 for four years)

•   $11,260 for in-state residents at public colleges ($45,040 for four years)

•   $29,150 for out-of-state residents at public colleges ($116,600 for four years)

This student loan and scholarship information may be valuable as you research schools and costs.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Tuition, fees, and books cost $70,044 for UPenn in 2024-25. To compare to another Ivy League institution, Harvard’s tuition is $61,676, while fees and books cost $1,000 — a total of $62,676. Here’s a breakdown of UPenn’s costs without housing:

Graduate Tuition and Fees

The average cost of graduate student tuition and fees was $43,174 in 2024-25, with $4,670 in fees.

How does this compare to other graduate schools across the country? The average cost of a master’s degree is $62,820. A master of arts degree usually costs $71,140, while a master of science degree typically costs $61,380.

Students can get graduate loans to help with the costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

The cost per credit is $2,612 for one credit unit (c.u.), plus an online services fee of $162. Two credit units cost $5,224, three credit units cost $7,836, and four credit units cost $10,448. The cost per credit unit also comes with online services fees as well. Note that one credit unit typically represents a four-semester-hour course.

There are always year-to-year changes in cost per credit units, so it’s a good idea to keep tabs on those charges, which usually increase.

Campus Housing Expenses

UPenn offers 13 undergraduate College Houses, with 5,500 undergraduates living on campus. Upperclass students can live in high-rises with apartment-style living. UPenn’s off-campus housing marketplace site lists a plethora of opportunities for students living off campus, and you can also find roommates and housing opportunities based on your budget.

University of Pennsylvania Acceptance Rate

The UPenn acceptance rate is only 6%, cementing its standing as a competitive Ivy League institution.

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for UPenn include the following:

Required:

•  High school transcript with GPA

•  High school record

•  Letters of recommendation

Items considered:

•  High school rank

•  Completion of college prep program

•  Formal competency demonstration

•  Personal statement or essay

•  SAT or ACT scores

•  English proficiency test

SAT and ACT Scores

In 2023, 51% of UPenn students submitted SAT scores and 19% submitted ACT scores. UPenn is test-optional, but of the students who took the tests, here were their scores at the 25th and 75th percentiles:

Popular Majors at University of Pennsylvania

UPenn offers 100 majors across four schools for undergraduates. Check out the most popular majors at the University of Pennsylvania as of 2023-24.

1. Financial Analytics

Students in this major develop the ability to make data-driven business decisions and use statistical analysis and business analytics in competitive markets. Graduates will help businesses and organizations use data to improve decisions using a wide variety of data.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 261

2. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics

Among the top 10 in the country, the UPenn economics department is research-oriented and geared toward training the world’s foremost research economists. Successful graduates develop analytical and economic literacy and commonly hold academic and research positions in both the private or public sector. The department is famous for its Penn Institute for Economic Research and its International Economic Review, a leading economics journal.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 210

3. Registered Nursing

Ranked as the best nursing school worldwide, UPenn’s registered nursing curriculum blends the science of health care (theoretical knowledge) with clinical expertise (applied knowledge). The nursing faculty are among the world’s expert clinicians and researchers. UPenn’s nursing program also has a state-of-the-art simulation center, research opportunities, and rigorous clinical experience.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 174

4. Philosophy

Philosophy at UPenn examines concepts involving the formal sciences, natural sciences, humanities, the arts, and social, legal, and political theory. Undergraduates read texts, consider positions and arguments, and develop reasoning skills. UPenn’s philosophy graduates work in the following areas: law, medicine, business, journalism, computer science, the natural sciences, government, and philosophy.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 148

5. Biology/Biological Sciences

The internationally recognized biology department at UPenn contains strong research and educational programs. The department’s research areas include ecology, evolution, plant sciences, molecular and cellular biology, genomics, quantitative biology, and neuroscience. The department integrates biology across interdisciplinary areas to explore the constantly changing natural world at various angles.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 145

6. Computer and Information Sciences

Computer and information sciences at UPenn propels students’ experiences into complex software and hardware systems, digital media design, AI, computer vision, machine learning, and more. Penn’s students will become tomorrow’s leaders and visionaries in computer science. Undergraduates receive a wide variety of research opportunities and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 126

7. Neuroscience

A premiere institution for neuroscience research and training, interdisciplinary collaboration is the hallmark of the neuroscience program at UPenn, where numerous students gain an understanding of the brain and its diseases. Undergraduate students work with many Penn professors to study and contribute to world-renowned neuroscience research and discovery.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 97

8. Political Science and Government

Political science offers the opportunity to explore various levels and subfields of political science, including international relations, American politics, comparative politics, political theory, and more. Students can work with renowned faculty members, work through real-world problems, and have the opportunity to study abroad and engage in internships and a wide array of extracurricular activities. Political science majors at Penn go on to have careers in government, law, business, international and civic organizations, journalism, and education.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 96

9. Computer Science

Computer science at UPenn prepares future professionals for careers in network and computer services consulting companies, financial institutions, healthcare organizations, research labs, and other related fields. Computer science majors combine expertise in many areas, including areas where large amounts of data are manipulated, such as in health industries or financial institutions. Computer science majors at UPenn become computer scientists and engineers and regularly earn advanced degrees.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 83

10. Research and Experimental Psychology

Psychology at UPenn studies the mind, how people perceive information, and how they respond. This major offers analytical and conceptual skills, providing a foundation for a wide number of careers upon graduation.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 73

Graduation Rate

The following are graduation rates for entering full-time students who began at UPenn in Fall 2017 for specified periods:

•  4-year: 88%

•  6-year: 97%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

Ten years after entering the school and graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, the median earnings of former students is $111,371. That’s considerably more than the average of bachelor’s degree graduates nationwide, who earn a median salary of $80,236.