Profile

The University of Pennsylvania is a highly competitive (both pre- and post-admissions), private Ivy League research university founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin. It continues its close relationship to entrepreneurs to this day and is the alma matter of many innovative CEOs and billionaires including Elon Musk, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Tory Burch and Donald Trump. Penn is divided into four undergraduate schools – the largest of which is the College of Arts and Sciences – and offers specialized dual degree programs. The Wharton School, the world’s first collegiate business school, and the School of Nursing are praised as among the nation’s best. Its Medical School is also the oldest in the country and was founded before the Revolutionary War. Penn hosts over 450 student-run clubs and organization, and almost a third of students participate in Greek life. The Quakers compete in NCAA Division I athletics. Football fans throw toast onto Franklin Field – the oldest collegiate football stadium that is still in use – after the third-quarter of games. Holding a $10 billion-plus endowment, Penn has an All-Grant Aid Program that provides traditional, undergraduate students with a financial aid award that includes only grants and a work-study job. There are no loans included in students’ financial aid awards.