Strolling down Locust Walk, picking up lunch from one of the many nearby food trucks between classes, and talking with some friends about the guest lecturer you saw last night at the Wharton business school: It’s another fine day at the University of Pennsylvania. You glance up at the skyscrapers of nearby downtown Philadelphia and think that founder Ben Franklin would definitely approve.

Penn: The Basics

Public

Private

Liberal Arts

Research University

Affiliation: Secular (nonreligious)

The Location (Philadelphia, PA):

What do a bell, cream cheese, steak sandwiches, and the University of Pennsylvania have in common? They’re all among the many things you’ll find in Philadelphia! Penn’s ivy-covered campus is located in the heart of the city. One of the oldest cities in the United States, Philadelphia is smaller than nearby New York City, but packs in great restaurants, famous museums and historical sites, and a proud local sports tradition — go Birds!

The Numbers

Admission Rate

 5.68%

Average High School GPA

 3.9

Preferred Standardized Test 

 Either

Average SAT Score 

1490-1560

Average ACT Score 

 35-36

Accepts ACT Superscore?

 Yes

Application Deadline

 January 5

Accepts Common App?

 Yes

Tuition (Annual)

 $57,770

Enrollment

10,019 undergraduates

Average Class Size

 12-15

You’d Make a Great Quaker If:

  • You have a head for business. Penn’s Wharton School of Business is one of the highest-ranked business schools in the world — and even students who aren’t specifically enrolled in the business school can take classes there and see if their interest is sparked.
  • You’re a jack of all trades. Penn has a strong focus on interdisciplinary learning, with an “Open University” policy that allows students to take classes in different fields and all the university’s schools and colleges, and even try their hand at some graduate-level courses!
  • You want a research university — with a side of liberal arts. As part of the “Quaker consortium,” Penn students can also take classes at nearby Quaker-affiliated liberal arts colleges, Haverford, Swarthmore, and Bryn Mawr.

Fun Fact(s):

Despite no longer having a formal religious affiliation, Penn’s mascot is the “fighting Quakers” — a reference to the Society of Friends, Benjamin Franklin’s religious faith. The name “fighting Quakers” is a bit of a misnomer, as the Quaker faith preaches pacifism and conscientious objection, but that doesn’t stop Penn students from cheering their “fighting Quakers” on to victory on the football field!

Elon Musk:
Entrepreneur

Tory Burch:
Fashion Designer

John Legend:
Musician

Noam Chomsky:
Philosopher

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