What makes Penn different
- Four undergraduate schools on one campus. Liberal arts, business, engineering and nursing students share classes, dorms and activities.
- Practical and interdisciplinary. Penn's coordinated dual-degree programs combine two schools, such as business with engineering or international studies.
- City campus. A defined campus in West Philadelphia, with Center City a short walk or ride away.
What the admissions office says (as of October 2026)
- Testing: Penn requires the SAT or ACT, with a hardship waiver available.
- What they look for: Dean of Admissions Whitney Soule wrote: "When you apply to Penn, we want to get to know you, the real you."
- Takeaway: Write about things you actually care about, in your own voice.
See all eight side by side: Ivy League testing policies · What Ivy admissions officers look for.
What Penn students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): finance (about 330, from Wharton), computer science (about 240), nursing (194), economics (161), biology (160) and neuroscience (152). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at Penn if…
- You like connecting ideas to real-world careers.
- You want to combine fields, such as business with engineering or health.
- You'd enjoy a busy city campus with a strong school spirit.
Worth asking about
- How easy is it to move between Penn's four schools?
- How do students who aren't pre-professional find their community?
How Penn compares with the other Ivies
Like Cornell, Penn has you apply to a specific undergraduate school, and it's the Ivy with the strongest business and nursing presence. See how the 8 Ivy League schools differ.
FAQ
Is UPenn an Ivy League school? Yes. The University of Pennsylvania is one of the eight Ivy League schools. It's often confused with Penn State, a separate public university in the Big Ten.
What are Penn's undergraduate schools? The College of Arts & Sciences, the Wharton School, Penn Engineering and Penn Nursing.
How hard is it to get into Penn? Penn admitted 5.4% of applicants for fall 2024.
How much does Penn cost? Published tuition and fees are $68,686 a year and the total cost of attendance is $89,028, before any aid.
How much is Penn tuition per semester? About $34,343 a semester, half the published $68,686 a year, before aid.
Is Penn an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, the University of Pennsylvania is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to Penn? About 10,600 undergraduates (fall 2024).
Torn between a pre-professional school and a liberal arts path?
Lens's Major Ideas suggest which areas may suit your interests and strengths. Start with Lens →