University of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, United States
Founded1740
Research$2.0B
Updated February 6, 2026
Overview
The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is a private Ivy League research university located in Philadelphia. Founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin, it holds the distinction of being America’s first university and the first colonial institution to provide instruction in both classical subjects and practical sciences like commerce and government. The university is comprised of 12 schools, including four primary undergraduate divisions: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of Nursing, and the Wharton School.
Penn is characterized by its interdisciplinary approach to education and its commitment to sustainability, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2042. As a highly selective institution, it operates with a mission to provide world-class education and research opportunities. It is a need-blind institution for students from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, ensuring that 100% of demonstrated financial need is met through grant-based aid.
Location
The University of Pennsylvania is situated on a contiguous campus in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The setting provides an urban environment that integrates the university's academic buildings, residential houses, and research facilities within a single geographic area. This location allows for close proximity to the city's diverse resources while maintaining a distinct campus identity.
Philadelphia, United States
Campuses
Main Campus
MainPhiladelphia· United States
Campus Culture
Student life at Penn is centered around a contiguous campus in West Philadelphia, where undergraduates are required to live in on-campus housing for their first two years within the 12-house College House system. The university fosters a vibrant intellectual and creative community through facilities such as the Kelly Writers House, the Penn Museum, and the Institute of Contemporary Art. The university library system, which dates back to 1750, serves as a cornerstone of campus life with a collection of over 6.8 million print volumes.
The university is a member of the Ivy League and maintains a storied athletic tradition. Historic venues like Franklin Field host the Penn Relays, the oldest track and field meet in the United States, while the Palestra serves as a key site for collegiate sports. Beyond athletics, Penn emphasizes community-engaged scholarship and civic service through the Netter Center for Community Partnerships and Civic House. The student body is globally oriented, with over 1,000 students participating in study abroad programs across 50 countries annually.
Rankings
Penn is recognized as a world-class institution with a reputation for excellence across its diverse academic programs. Its graduate schools are frequently cited for their prestige; the Wharton School was the world’s first collegiate business school, and the Perelman School of Medicine was the nation's first medical school. The School of Nursing is also ranked as a top nursing school globally. With a highly selective admissions process and a six-year graduation rate of 96%, the university maintains a standing as one of the premier research and educational institutions in the world.
Research
As a leading research institution, the University of Pennsylvania operates with an annual research budget of approximately $2 billion and an endowment of over $22 billion. The university supports 214 research centers and institutes, fostering innovation across a wide range of disciplines. Its faculty includes nearly 5,000 professors, among whom are Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize recipients.
Research at Penn is highly interdisciplinary, with notable graduate programs in the Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Engineering, and the School of Arts and Sciences. Key areas of focus include biomedical sciences, robotics, data science, and health care innovation. The university also emphasizes environmental research, with a commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from its endowment investments by 2050.