The University of Pennsylvania (Penn[c] or UPenn[d]) is a private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of founder and first president Benjamin Franklin, who had advocated for an educational institution that trained leaders in academia, commerce, and public service. [16] The ...

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania combines advanced science with patient-centered care for patients from Philadelphia and around the world.

Admissions & Aid Penn is committed to making its inclusive, innovative, and impactful Ivy League education available to the best and brightest students, regardless of their economic circumstances. A generous financial aid budget and inclusive aid policies make matriculating at Penn an attainable goal for students from the widest possible range of backgrounds. Every day, Penn embodies this ...

Penn’s academics are boosted by its inherent culture and ecosystem of innovation. You name it, if it’s cutting-edge, the University’s faculty—and students—have their hands in it.

Penn’s History Penn dates its founding to 1740, when a plan emerged to build a Philadelphia charity school that would double as a house of worship. After construction was underway, however, the cost was seen to be much greater than the available resources, and the project went unfinished for a decade.

Here at Penn, we believe the hard part about college shouldn’t be paying for it. That’s why all undergraduate financial aid is awarded on the basis of financial need (aka, need-based aid). We are committed to making a Penn education accessible and affordable by meeting 100% of demonstrated need with grants and work-study funding.