University of Pennsylvania

Q: Is UPenn an Ivy League?

Yes , UPenn is an Ivy League university. The Ivy League includes the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Harvard University, Dartmouth College, Yale University, Cornell University, Brown University, and Princeton University.

University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League university established in 1740. The university is currently home to 29,000+ students, including 9,100 international student population. UPenn has a low acceptance rate of 5.4%, showcasing a selective admission process. International students aiming to get admission at the University of Pennsylvania need to have the following GPA:

Minimum GPA of 3.0 (85%) in high school for UG
Minimum GPA of 3.9 (98%) for PG.
There are no minimum GPA requirements for UPenn MBA admissions. However, the average GPA of recently admitted students is 3.6 (91%).

University of Pennsylvania ranks in top for sustainability among the Ivy League institutes and 15th globally in the QS Ranking 2026.

Established	1740
University Type	Private Ivy League Research University
University Motto	“Laws without morals are useless”
Acceptance Rate	5.4%
Faculty to Student Ratio	8:1
Endowment	$24.8 billion (2025)
Campus Size	299 acres
Top School	Wharton School of Business
6-Year Graduation Rate for UG	97%
Employment Rate	91%
Contact Details	215-898-5000
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

University of Pennsylvania Rankings

According to the 2026 QS University Rankings and US News rankings, the university ranks 15th. Some of the notable University of Pennsylvania rankings are tabulated below.

Ranking Agency	Ranking
QS World University Rankings (2026)	15
U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities (2026)	15
THE World University Rankings (2026)	14

University of Pennsylvania Admissions

Getting into UPenn is tough—it only accepts 4% of applicants. To boost your chances, aim for a GPA of 3.9/4 or higher. You’ll also need strong scores on tests like the SAT or ACT. Indian students should focus on high grades, good test scores, essays, recommendations, and possibly an interview to meet UPenn’s admission standards.

University of Pennsylvania Top Graduate Courses and Fees

UPenn offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programmes across disciplines such as Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Medicine, Law, and Social Sciences. The university is especially known for globally recognised schools like the Wharton School of Business, Penn Engineering, and the Perelman School of Medicine, attracting students from around the world.

Following are the top graduate programs at UPenn:

Programs	Total Annual Fees (USD)
Doctor of Medicine [M.D]	71,935
Master of Science in Nursing	37,930
Master of Science Engineering – Data Science	56,560
MBA	87,970
Master of Public Health	40,950
Master of Biotechnology	40,875
Master of Science Robotics	40,875
Master of Computer & Information Technology (MCIT)	73,522

University of Pennsylvania Top Undergraduate Courses and Fees

For its undergraduate students, UPenn offers 99 majors to choose from, catering to the diverse interests of its 1,758 undergraduates. Meanwhile, over 16,000 graduate and professional students at UPenn pursue more than 300 degree and certificate programs, reflecting the university’s commitment to advanced education across various disciplines. Following are the top undergraduate programs at UPenn:

Programs	Total Annual Fees
Bachelor of Science Computational Biology	74,000
Bachelor of Arts Architecture	63,204
Bachelor of Science Computer Science	65,670
Bachelor of Arts Digital Media Design	63,204
Bachelor of Science Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering	63,204

University of Pennsylvania Admissions for UG

International students aiming to get a undergraduate degree from University of Pennsylvania will have to fulfill the following admission requirements:

Category	Requirement
Application Fee	75 USD (6,228 INR)
Academic Requirement	Minimum GPA of 3.0/4 (85%)
English proficiency test scores	TOEFL iBT– 100 \| IELTS– 7.0
Standardized Exam Scores	SAT score of 1510-1560 \| ACT score of 34-35
Additional Requirement	2 Letters of recommendation \| Essay \| Interview or portfolio (By invitation) \| Financial statement

University of Pennsylvania Admissions for PG

International students aiming to get a masters degree from University of Pennsylvania will have to fulfill the following admission requirements:

Category	Requirement
Application Fee	PG: 90 USD (7,474 INR) \| MBA: 275 USD (22,839 INR)
GPA Requirement	Recommended- GPA score of 3.9/4 (94%)
English proficiency test scores	TOEFL iBT- 100 \| IELTS- 7.0
Standardized Exam Scores	Average GMAT– 738 \| Average GRE– 324
Additional Requirement	2 Essays + 1 optional essay \| 2 LORs \| Interview (By Invite) \| Resume \| Work experience-Average 5 years (for MBA students)

University of Pennsylvania Campus

University of Pennsylvania campuses are spread across 3 locations – University city campus; New Bolton Center; Morris Arboretum. UPenn’s main 299-acre campus is situated in the vibrant West Philadelphia neighborhood of University City, adjacent to Center City Philadelphia across the Schuylkill River. Additionally, UPenn operates the 23-acre Pennovation Works campus in Grays Ferry, along with locations in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Beijing.

UPenn boasts a rich history reflected in its architecture, with buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries alongside modern structures designed by renowned architects.
The campus includes numerous cultural venues such as the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, museums, galleries, and recreational facilities like the Pottruck Health and Fitness Center.

University of Pennsylvania Accommodation

The University of Pennsylvania’s residential system consists of 12 undergraduate College Houses and Sansom Place, accommodating approximately 5,500 undergraduates on campus. Each College House offers unique room types, amenities, and communities, catering to diverse student preferences and fostering a personalized living experience. This setup allows students to choose accommodations that best suit their needs and interests, enhancing their overall campus life and community engagement.

All first-year student rooms have the same rate, which is $12,640.
The upperclass rooms have two room rates, $12,640 or $16,580, which vary depending on room type selected.

University of Pennsylvania Scholarships

Like other Ivy League schools, Penn undergraduate aid is entirely need-based. The University does not award scholarships based on academic or athletic merit. On the other hand each of Penn’s 12 graduate and professional schools administers their own financial aid program. University of Pennsylvania offers 56,000 USD on average as scholarships. Following are some of the scholarships offered to international students, who got admission at UPenn:

Scholarship Program	Eligibility	Benefits
Dean’s Scholarship	For master’s students	10,000 USD
The Foreign Fulbright Student Program	For all master’s students receiving Fulbright Fellowship offers	15,000 USD
Named Scholarships	Based on Alumni’s region and residence	Varies
International UG Need-Based Aid	International students must submit the CSS Profile during admission. UPenn follows a need-aware policy for international applicants	Eligible admitted students receive 100% demonstrated need through grants and work-study programs

University of Pennsylvania Placements

According to UPenns’s placement reports, around 97% of UG graduates and 91% of PG graduates secure placements after graduating from University of Pennsylvania.

91% of graduates get job offers after graduation. Median salary for the graduates tends to be around 100,000 USD (83.47 lakh INR).
Some of the top recruiters at university are Accenture, BCG, Bain & Co., Deloitte, McKinsey & Co., EY Parthenon, PWC, and Tesla. Most of the students got job placements during on-campus interviews.

UPenn School	Employment Rate
Graduate School of Education	76.1%
College of Liberal and Professional Studies, School of Arts and Sciences Master’s	76.8%
School of Social Policy & Practice	73.5%
School of Engineering and Applied Science Master’s	78.8%
Weitzman School of Design	80.9%
School of Nursing (MSN, DNP, PhD)	76.1%

University of Pennsylvania Alumni

The University of Pennsylvania has 28 Penn alumni and students represented on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. The UPenn Association is a global community of around 300,000 alumni that is dedicated to supporting the University and its graduates. Following are some of the notable alumni at University of Pennsylvania:

Alumni Name	Achievement
Donald Trump	45th President of the United States, CEO of The Trump Organization
Anil Ambani	Chairman of Reliance Group, one of the largest conglomerates in India
Elon Musk	CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, The Boring Company
Elizabeth Banks	Starred in “The Hunger Games” and “Pitch Perfect” franchises, directed “Charlie’s Angels” (2019)
Jennifer Egan	Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “A Visit from the Goon Squad” and “Manhattan Beach”

Location of University of Pennsylvania

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Wharton School at UPenn known for?

The Wharton School of Business at UPenn is one of the world’s most prestigious business schools and is especially popular among Indian students pursuing careers in consulting, finance, entrepreneurship, and technology. The Wharton MBA is known for its highly competitive admissions process, strong recruiter network, and connections with companies such as McKinsey, BCG, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, and Google. Popular programmes include the Wharton MBA, Executive MBA (EMBA), and specialised business and finance programmes.

Is UPenn an Ivy League?

Yes, UPenn is an Ivy League university. The Ivy League includes the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Harvard University, Dartmouth College, Yale University, Cornell University, Brown University, and Princeton University.

Is it difficult to get into the University of Pennsylvania?

For the class of 2026, UPenn received a total of over 55,000 applications and accepted only 3.300 candidates. With an acceptance rate of 5.4%, the university showcases a highly selective admission process. Students fulfilling the admission requirements for the program they want to apply for, have higher chances of getting admission at UPenn.

How do I get into the University of Pennsylvania from India?

Students seeking admission at UPenn from India must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (85%) in high school for UG and a GPA of 3.9 (98%) for PG. There are no minimum GPA requirements for UPenn MBA admissions. However, the average GPA of recently admitted students is 3.6 (91%).

How much does a UPenn MBA graduate earn?

The average salary of MBA graduates from University of Pennsylvania is 185,000 USD per annum.

What is University of Pennsylvania famous for?

UPenn is highly recognized for its schools like Wharton School, School of Education, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Law School and School of Medicine. Some other graduate schools are School of Design and School of Dental Medicine.

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