Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
University of Pennsylvania is a private national university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. University of Pennsylvania is extremely selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at University of Pennsylvania is in the top 5% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $103,246 10 years after enrolling, 1st in Pennsylvania, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, University of Pennsylvania bachelor students earn 64% more than the national average. University of Pennsylvania is ranked 1st in Pennsylvania.
University of Pennsylvania’s median net annual cost of $25,046 and average years to graduate of 4.2 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at University of Pennsylvania sorted by number of graduates - Finance, Philosophy, Economics, Nursing, Biology, Poli Sci/Government - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$25,046
Average years to graduate
4.2
Computer and Information Sciences
Rank: #2
Economic score: 0.22
Computer Science
Rank: #20
Economic score: 0.59
Marketing
Rank: #2
Economic score: 0.85
Business Administration
Rank: #28
Economic score: 1.27
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #76
Economic score: 1.39
Mental & Social Health Services
Rank: #1
Economic score: 1.77
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #11
Economic score: 1.77
Cognitive Science
Rank: #6
Economic score: 3.6
English Language & Lit
Rank: #130
Economic score: 5.55
Neurobiology & Neurosciences
Rank: #34
Economic score: 8.39
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at University of Pennsylvania - Nursing, Computer and Information Sciences, Business Administration, Quantitative methods Mgmt., Finance, Entrepreneurship - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Health Administrative Services
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.09
International studies
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.11
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Rank: #19
Economic score: 0.69
Educ. Administration
Rank: #360
Economic score: 0.95
Education
Rank: #155
Economic score: 1.03
Education-by subject area
Rank: #147
Economic score: 1.06
Social Work
Rank: #220
Economic score: 1.25
Natural Resource Conservation
Rank: #40
Economic score: 1.52
Architectural Science&Tech
Rank: #13
Economic score: 1.53
Clinical / Counseling Psych
Rank: #236
Economic score: 2.36
The average student at University of Pennsylvania takes 4.2 years to graduate, with 97% graduating within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at University of Pennsylvania is 30% more than the state average and 29% more than the average for all national universities in the country.
At University of Pennsylvania, Pell Grant recipients represent 14% of the measured graduating class, 21% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at University of Pennsylvania graduates within 4.4 years.
University of Pennsylvania is in the bottom 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
University of Pennsylvania’s economic mobility score of 13.94 is calculated by adjusting the 0.02 economic score of lower-income students by the 14% pell grant recipients within the student body. University of Pennsylvania’s EMS of 13.94 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at University of Pennsylvania pays $25,046 a year, $56,064 less than the $81,110 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $25,046
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At University of Pennsylvania, 52% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $25,046 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 11% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $10,510. This is 43% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,030
Pell grants
$5,165
State grants
$3,477
Institutional grants
$47,586
University of Pennsylvania offers 5 online bachelor programs, all of which are hybrid format. At the master’s level University of Pennsylvania offers 6 programs, 3 of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
11
Hybrid programs
8
Percentage of programs online
4%
University of Pennsylvania's extremely selective admissions are indicated by their 6% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 56,332 applicants, of which 3,304 were admitted and 2,418 enrolled. University of Pennsylvania doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
98%
83%
Female
57%
59%
First time
93%
59%
In-state
16%
68%
1st generation
19%
35%
White
37%
52%
Black
8%
14%
Hispanic
10%
15%
Asian
24%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
21%
12%