What is University of Pennsylvania’s Compass Score?

Exceptional (grade A+). It ranks in the top 2% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.

How much does University of Pennsylvania cost after financial aid?

The average net price is $28,699 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.

How hard is it to get into University of Pennsylvania?

University of Pennsylvania admitted 5% of applicants in the most recent federal data.

How do University of Pennsylvania’s graduates do?

97% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $111,371; the median federal debt at graduation is $15,715.

National university

#3 Best colleges for nursing in America

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · 4-year

Your real cost

Average price after aid $28,699 a year

Median debt at graduation: $15,715 (all students)

Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator

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Rankings

Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list

In America

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In Pennsylvania

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Academic Excellence

A+

Exceptional · Top 1%

From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

Graduation rate 35% of score97%
First-year retention 20% of score99%
Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreSAT 1,553 · ACT 35
Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of score8 to 1
Instructional spending per student 15% of score$67,953

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

What families pay, by income

Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.

Average net price by family income
Family income	Price after aid
Up to $30,000	$0 or less
$30,001–$48,000	$316
$48,001–$75,000	$10,439
$75,001–$110,000	$25,476
Over $110,000	$55,972

Full cost of attendance before aid: $89,028 a year.

Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.

Cost and value

Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.

Value and outcomes
Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS)	11,611
Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023	Men 45% · Women 55%
First-generation students College Scorecard	19%
First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023	83%
Total students	28,711
Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid	$28,699
Cost of attendance (per year)	$89,028
Median federal debt at graduation	$15,715
Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time	97%
Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years	86%
Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years	79%
Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years	84%
First-year retention	99%
Median earnings 10 years after entry	$111,371
Admission rate	5%
Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24	$75
Students receiving Pell grants	17%

Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 1510–1570ACT 34–36

Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT	1553
SAT reading & writing	740–770
SAT math	770–800
ACT composite	34–36
Test policy	Considered but not required

Value: Very good · Top 27% (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Earnings by major

Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).

Median earnings by major
Major	Median earnings
Computing and information science	$241,380
Finance	$202,069
Management science	$153,279
Business administration	$136,806
Economics	$129,985
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	$126,419
Mechanical engineering	$114,492
Communication studies	$114,266
Marketing	$112,211
Chemical Engineering	$109,884
Cognitive Science	$109,784
Philosophy	$107,454
Nursing	$98,475
Political science	$93,033
History	$88,517
International relations	$87,439
Neuroscience	$78,295
Counseling and mental health	$76,395
Urban Studies/Affairs	$73,190
Psychology	$73,012
Sociology	$72,217
Biology	$68,435
English	$61,989
Fine arts	$44,735

Also offered (no earnings published yet): Accounting, Anthropology, Architecture, Area studies, Biochemistry, Biological and physical sciences, Business (general), Chemistry, Classics, Computer engineering, Computer science, Criminology, Data Analytics, Design, East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Electrical engineering, Entrepreneurship, Ethnic and gender studies, Experimental psychology, Film and video, General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations, Geology and earth science, German, Global studies, Health administration, Human resources, Insurance, International business, Liberal arts, Linguistics, Literature, Materials Engineering, Mathematics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Music, Natural resources and conservation, Other biological and biomedical sciences, Other engineering, Other psychology, Other social sciences, Physics, Public Policy Analysis, Real Estate, Religious studies, Romance languages, Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Social sciences, Statistics, Systems Engineering, Theatre, Visual and performing arts.

What students study most

Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).

Most common bachelor’s fields
Field	Share of degrees
Interdisciplinary studies	15%
Biology	13%
Social sciences	13%
Health professions	11%
Computer and information sciences	8%

Campus life

Setting	City
Part-time undergraduates	4%
Undergraduates aged 25 and older	7%
On-campus room and board (per year)	$19,174
Sports	NCAA Division I · Ivy Group
ROTC	Army · Navy · Air Force
Study abroad	Offered
Students per faculty member	8 to 1
Faculty who are full-time	79%College Scorecard, fall 2023
Endowment per student	$813,179IPEDS, 2023, per student
Dorm space	For about 52% of studentsBeds ÷ undergraduates; not how many live on campus
Nearest major airport	Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)About 6 miles away
Town population	1,579,706Census, 2020–2024
Nearest city of 250,000 people or more	PhiladelphiaAbout 5 miles away
Typical weather	35°F in January · 80°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Phila Franklin Inst, PA

Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Campus safety reports

On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.

On-campus crimes per 1,000 students
Category	This campus	U.S. rate
Rape	0.02	0.07
Robbery	0.02	0.01
Aggravated assault	0.06	0.04
Burglary	0.06	0.08
Motor vehicle theft	0.79	0.15

Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.

Source: Official data: U.S. Department of Education

Questions families ask

What is University of Pennsylvania’s Compass Score?: Exceptional (grade A+). It ranks in the top 2% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
How much does University of Pennsylvania cost after financial aid?: The average net price is $28,699 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
How hard is it to get into University of Pennsylvania?: University of Pennsylvania admitted 5% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
How do University of Pennsylvania’s graduates do?: 97% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $111,371; the median federal debt at graduation is $15,715.

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About this school’s data

IPEDS unit ID 215062
Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (very high research)
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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