About
The University of Pennsylvania 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 advocated for an educational institution that trained leaders in academia, commerce, and public service.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 4.1-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 262 Title IV programs, 61 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 201 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing61 · 23.3%
- No Data201 · 76.7%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Programmatic accreditations · 23
Action history · 54
- Aug 2025Initial AccreditationAmerican Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation · Prosthodontics (including maxillofacial prosthetics and combined prosthodontics/maxillofacial prosthetics)
- Aug 2025Grant Substantive Change: ProgramAmerican Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation · Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics
- Aug 2025Grant Substantive Change: ProgramAmerican Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation · Prosthodontics (including maxillofacial prosthetics and combined prosthodontics/maxillofacial prosthetics)
- Aug 2025Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation · Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS)
- May 2025Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar · Law (LAW) - Professional schools
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 2,280 students received $15.0M in Pell grants, alongside $229.7M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 2,579 borrowers who entered repayment, 10 (0.3%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at University of Pennsylvania
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 18
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus176
- Public property109
Includes 9 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Data quality: 5 reports were later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
University of Pennsylvania vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions University of Pennsylvania selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectUniversity of Pennsylvania | 97% | — | 29,109 | $28,699 | R1 Research |
| 96% | 5.4% | 11,956 | $25,184 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 4.0% | 35,173 | $21,590 | R1 Research | |
| 95% | 8.8% | 26,793 | $28,690 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 5.4% | 6,938 | $29,519 | R1 Research | |
| 98% | 3.6% | 30,259 | $19,066 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 4.5% | 11,886 | $20,111 | R1 Research | |
| 98% | 4.6% | 9,137 | $6,128 | R1 Research | |
| 92% | 3.6% | 18,625 | $13,807 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 4.5% | 18,566 | $14,860 | R1 Research | |
| 96% | 3.9% | 15,564 | $23,777 | R1 Research | |
| Peer group median | 96% | 4.5% | 18,566 | $21,590 |
Institutions like University of Pennsylvania
Explore the federal data for institutions in University of Pennsylvania's comparison group.
- R1 ResearchRhode Island
Brown University
Grad rate96%Admit rate5.4%Enrollment11,956Net price$25,184View data - R1 ResearchNew York
Columbia University in the City of New York
Grad rate96%Admit rate4.0%Enrollment35,173Net price$21,590View data - R1 ResearchNew York
Cornell University
Grad rate95%Admit rate8.8%Enrollment26,793Net price$28,690View data - R1 ResearchNew Hampshire
Dartmouth College
Grad rate96%Admit rate5.4%Enrollment6,938Net price$29,519View data - R1 ResearchMassachusetts
Harvard University
Grad rate98%Admit rate3.6%Enrollment30,259Net price$19,066View data - R1 ResearchMassachusetts
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Grad rate96%Admit rate4.5%Enrollment11,886Net price$20,111View data - R1 ResearchNew Jersey
Princeton University
Grad rate98%Admit rate4.6%Enrollment9,137Net price$6,128View data - R1 ResearchCalifornia
Stanford University
Grad rate92%Admit rate3.6%Enrollment18,625Net price$13,807View data - R1 ResearchIllinois
University of Chicago
Grad rate96%Admit rate4.5%Enrollment18,566Net price$14,860View data - R1 ResearchConnecticut
Yale University
Grad rate96%Admit rate3.9%Enrollment15,564Net price$23,777View data
University of Pennsylvania Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Institutional Research & Analysis (IR&A) produces timely, accurate and unbiased statistical analyses integral to the strategic planning process of the University of Pennsylvania. IR&A serves the executive administration, as well as the broader University community, through the provision of data and information about Penn and its peer institutions.
Visit IR office page- Stacey J. LopezVice President for Institutional Research & Analysis
- Jenna AllenDirector
- Ryan E. CheslaExecutive Assistant
- Steve CrispiSenior Associate Director
- Hasina KhanomAssociate Director
- Laura A. McGheeSenior Data Analyst
- Caitlin MercerSenior Data Analyst
- Jancy MunguiaSenior Data Analyst
- Shrikar UmarjiSenior Data Analyst
- Meihua YangSenior Data Analyst
Common Data Set
University of Pennsylvania's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Source publications
Reports & documents (6)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardira.upenn.edu
- Data definitionGraduate Admissions Standard DefinitionsThe document provides standard definitions and calculation rules for terminology commonly used in Graduate Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania. These definitions were established through collaborative discussions among university departments and are intended to standardize the reporting and analysis of admissions data. Key terms defined include Applicant, Admitted Student, and various metrics related to admissions and matriculation processes. The document also specifies how to calculate numbers and rates such as Admit Rate, Acceptance Yield Rate, and Matric Yield.provider.www.upenn.edu
- Data dictionaryCodebooks & Data Dictionaries - Data Management Resources - Guides at Penn LibrariesThis guide from Penn Libraries provides resources and information on creating and utilizing codebooks and data dictionaries for proper data documentation in research. It highlights the importance of these tools for understanding the variables, structure, and content of datasets, making them comprehensible and interpretable by individuals outside the original research group. The guide includes examples of variable names, labels, meanings, question texts, levels of measurement, values, value labels, summary statistics, missing data, universe skip patterns, dates and times, and additional notes. It includes links to resources on creating codebooks and data dictionaries and offers a downloadable blank template designed for use in defining data comprehensively.guides.library.upenn.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookQuick Facts2026The Quick Facts document provides an array of frequently requested information about the University of Pennsylvania community. It includes details about incoming students, overall enrollment numbers, degrees conferred, and information about faculty and staff. The document also covers other aspects such as research activity, cost of attendance, financial aid, finance and budget, library holdings, and the economic impact of the university. These facts are available in a web-viewable and printable format, with comprehensive documentation including data sources and categories. Feedback is encouraged to ensure accuracy.ira.upenn.edu
- GlossaryUniversity of Pennsylvania Budget GlossaryThe glossary from the University of Pennsylvania provides definitions for budgetary and financial terms used within the institution. It covers various aspects of budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation, ranging from specific budget components, funding mechanisms, service fees, and fiscal policies to institutional operations like the health system and business services. The glossary serves as a key reference for understanding the University's budgeting framework, its financial management practices, and responsibilities distributed across various organizational units.budget.upenn.edu
Notable alumni of University of Pennsylvania (15)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Julian AbeleArchitecture
- Vanessa BayerArts and entertainment
- Elizabeth BanksArts and entertainment
- John LegendArts and entertainment
- Ezra PoundArts and entertainment
- Tory BurchArts and entertainment
- Zane GreyArts and entertainment
- W. Kamau BellArts and entertainment
- Mary Ellen MarkArts and entertainment
- Candice BergenArts and entertainment
- Harold PrinceArts and entertainment
- Melissa RiversArts and entertainment
Frequently asked questions about University of Pennsylvania
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about University of Pennsylvania.
What is the graduation rate at University of Pennsylvania?
How many students attend University of Pennsylvania?
What is the average net price at University of Pennsylvania?
What is the yield rate at University of Pennsylvania?
Where is University of Pennsylvania located?
Who runs Institutional Research at University of Pennsylvania?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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