Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) is a private Ivy League research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1740, it is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. The university was founded by a group of Philadelphians, led by Benjamin Franklin, who aimed to create a place for higher learning. UPenn has produced many notable alumni, including two U.S. Presidents and several world leaders. Among its famous Indian alumni are Shweta Bachchan Nanda and Jayant Sinha.
UPenn is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The Wharton School of Business, a part of UPenn, is recognized by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). According to GyanDhan grading, the overall ranking of the University of Pennsylvania is A++. Popular majors include Finance and Business Analytics, which have high subject rankings.
The university offers various academic programs across different fields, such as Arts & Sciences, Business & Management, Nursing, Medicine, and more. Some common subjects studied at UPenn are Economics, Psychology, Computer Science, and Political Science. The university also provides part-time courses for international students.
For prospective students, the application deadlines for UPenn are as follows: Early Decision for undergraduates is due by November 1, 2025 (tentative), while Regular Decision applications are due by January 5, 2025 (tentative). For MBA programs, the second round application deadline is January 3, 2025.
UPenn's campus spans 299 acres and is situated in West Philadelphia. The university has a vibrant campus life with numerous facilities available to students. As of the Fall 2023 academic year, the total student enrollment is approximately 28,711, with about 10,610 undergraduates and 13,338 graduate students. The acceptance rate for the university is competitive, at around 5.9% for the Class of 2027, with over 59,000 applications received.
The placement rate for graduates from UPenn is impressive, standing at 98.7%. This means that nearly all graduates find employment within three months of graduating. Many UPenn alumni work for top companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, in various fields, including business development and healthcare services.
UPenn offers over 90 undergraduate majors and more than 100 graduate programs. Some of the most popular programs include Finance, Business Analytics, and Biomedical Engineering. The university's programs are highly rated, with many receiving A++ or A+ rankings.
International students can apply to UPenn through the Common Application or the Coalition Application for undergraduate programs. For graduate programs, applications are submitted through the Graduate Application portal on the university's website. The application fee ranges from USD 75 to 275, depending on the program.
Here are some key points that students should know about the University of Pennsylvania:
| Particulars | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Admission Rarity | Around 6% of the total applicants |
| UPenn Ranking | #10 in the USA (Source: GyanDhan Grading) |
| UPenn Majors | Economics, Psychology, Computer Science, Finance, Political Science & Government |
| Duration of UPenn Courses | UG: 4 years PG: 1-3 years |
| UPenn Cost | UG: INR 51 L - 55 L PG: INR 18 L - 66 L |
| Campus Size | 299 acres |
| Average GPA | UG: 2.7 CGPA (on a scale of 4.0) PG: 3.0 GPA (on a scale of 4.0) |
| Courses Offered | UG: 90 Majors PG: 100 Majors |
| Diversity | Total: 28,711 UG: 10,610 | PG: 13,338 |
Note: In the pie chart above, the category 'Others' includes fields like Marketing, Business Commerce, International or Global Studies, Organizational Leadership, and Entrepreneurship or Entrepreneurial Studies.
Most of the courses at the University of Pennsylvania are rated in the A++, A+, A, and B++ categories by GyanDhan Grading. Below are the rankings for the top majors at the University of Pennsylvania:
| Uni Pennsylvania Subjects | GyanDhan Ranking 2024 |
|---|---|
| Finance | A++ |
| Business Analytics | A+ |
| Biology | A |
| Biomedical Engineering | A |
| Business Economics | A |
| Entrepreneurship | A |
| Mechanical Engineering | A |
| Chemical Engineering | B++ |
| Electrical Engineering | B++ |
| Mathematics | B++ |
| Physics | B++ |
| IT & Systems | C++ |
| Supply Chain | C++ |
| Politics | C+ |
The University of Pennsylvania welcomes international undergraduate students through Early Decision and Regular Decision each year. Here are the important deadlines for first-year applicants:
| Application Type | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Early Decision | Nov 1, 2025 (tentative) |
| Regular Decision | Jan 5, 2025 (tentative) |
For students looking to pursue an MBA, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) welcomes international applications in three rounds: Round I, Round II, and Round III. Below are the application deadlines for the MBA program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania:
| Round | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Round I | Closed |
| Round II | Jan 3, 2025 |
| Round III | Apr 2, 2025 |
University of Pennsylvania Fees for International Students: Attending this university can be quite costly for Indian students. The first-year fees for undergraduate courses at the University of Pennsylvania are about INR 51 L - 55 L. For postgraduate courses, the annual tuition fee ranges from INR 18 L to 66 L.
Additionally, the Wharton MBA fees for Indian students are approximately INR 36 L - 71 L.
The cost of living for international students at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia includes housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses. For Indian students, this total is around INR 20 L per academic year.
| Living On Campus | Cost of Living | Cost in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | USD 12,640 | INR 10.5 L |
| Food | USD 6,534 | INR 5.4 L |
| Books and Supplies | USD 1,358 | INR 1.1 L |
| Transportation | USD 1,062 | INR 89 K |
| Personal Expenses | USD 2,008 | INR 1.6 L |
| Total Budget | USD 23,602 | INR 19.7 |
The job placements at UPenn are a big draw for international students, providing a strong return on investment for graduates. According to the Employment Report for the MBA program from The Wharton School of Business, around 98.7% of UPenn graduates find job opportunities within 3 months after finishing their studies.
Return on Investment (ROI) for a university is based on how much money a graduate can earn after finishing school, compared to the costs of going to college, like tuition fees, living costs, and lost income. Below are the details of the costs (investment) and expected salary (return) for the MBA program:
| Course | Annual Fee (Investment) | Median Salary (ROI) |
|---|---|---|
| MBA | INR 35 L - 73 L | Annual Base Salary: USD 175,000 (INR 1.46 Cr) Signing Bonus: USD 30,000 (INR 25 L) Guaranteed Bonus: USD 30,000 (INR 25 L) |
The University of Pennsylvania is one of the best universities in the world and is regularly listed among the top 20 universities globally by leading ranking organizations. According to GyanDhan, the University of Pennsylvania is ranked #10 in the USA. Some of the most popular courses at Penn include MS, MBA/PGDM, and BE/BTech.
Here are the complete rankings for the University of Pennsylvania according to GyanDhan:
| Category/Subjects | GyanDhan Ranking 2025 |
|---|---|
| University Rank in the USA | #10 |
| MBA/PGDM | #4 |
| MBA in Supply Chain | #19 |
| MBA in IT & Systems | #23 |
| BE/BTech | #17 |
| BE/BTech in Biomedical Engineering | #10 |
| BE/BTech in Computer Science Engineering | #18 |
| MS | #20 |
| MS in Biomedical Engineering | #10 |
| MS in Biology | #15 |
| College | 1st Year Tuition Fees | GyanDhan Grade | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPenn | INR 18.56 L - 75.05 L | A++ | #10 US News, 2025 |
| John Hopkins University | INR 33.72 L - 72.54 L | A++ | #6 US News, 2025 |
| UChicago | INR 25.15 L - 69.99 L | A++ | #11 US News, 2025 |
| Northwestern University | INR 21.03 L - 77.32 L | A++ | #6 US News, 2025 |
| Duke University | INR 29.93 L - 72.33 L | A++ | #6 US News, 2025 |
| University of Michigan | INR 28.86 L - 69.8 L | A++ | #21 US News, 2025 |
The University of Pennsylvania has a strong alumni network that helps increase its popularity. This network has been important in helping many famous people achieve their dreams. Some of the well-known names include:
| UPenn Alumni | Designation/Profession |
|---|---|
| Donald Trump | An American Politician, Media Personality, and Businessman who served as the 45th President of the United States |
| Elon Musk | A Businessman and Investor He is the founder, chairman, CEO, and CTO of SpaceX; angel investor, CEO, product architect, and former chairman of Tesla, Inc.; owner, chairman, and CTO of X Corp.; founder of the Boring Company and xAI; co-founder of Neuralink and OpenAI; and president of the Musk Foundation |
| Shweta Bachchan Nanda | An Indian Columnist, Author, and Former Model. Additionally, she has been a Columnist for Daily News and Analysis and Vogue India |
| Jayant Sinha | An Indian politician who is the Member of Indian Parliament and formerly the Minister of State for Finance and the Minister of State for Civil Aviation in the Government of India |
| Warren Buffet | An American Businessman, Investor, and Philanthropist, who currently serves as the co-founder, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. |
| Elizabeth Banks | An American Actress and Filmmaker |
| William Henry Harrison | An American Military Officer and politician who served as the 9th President of the United States |
| Candice Bergen | An American Actress |
| Mehmet Oz | An American Television Personality, Physician, Author, Professor Emeritus of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Columbia University, and former Political Candidate |
| Ashley Biden | An American Social Worker, Activist, Philanthropist, and Fashion Designer |
| Chiang Wan-an | A Taiwanese politician, who has served as the Mayor of Taipei |
| Becki Newton | An American Actress |
The University of Pennsylvania is situated in West Philadelphia and covers a 299-acre urban area. In addition to this, UPenn has a 23-acre campus called Pennovation Works in Grays Ferry, as well as locations in San Francisco, Washington, DC, and Beijing.
The campus life at the University of Pennsylvania is lively and friendly, thanks to the many facilities available, including:
| Facilities | Details |
|---|---|
| Arts & Culture | - World-class arts and culture through a variety of programs - Notable sites such as Penn Museum, Arthur Ross Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Art, and others |
| Student Organizations | - Variety of social, political, artistic, and multicultural student clubs & organizations |
| Safety & Security | - Provides general public safety tips and important information about the ways Penn students can promote a safe campus - 24/7 walking escort service - Enhances well-being, academic success, and personal growth |
| Spirituality & Religion | - Several spiritual and religious organizations - Helps students practice faith and fellowship within supportive, welcoming communities |
| Health & Wellness | - Home to a world-class medical, dental, nursing, and veterinary school - Provides the support, resources, and practical tools to ensure wellness & safety |
| University City | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
|---|---|
| Size of city | Large |
| Population of City | 15,80,863 |
