Why Penn?

At the University of Pennsylvania, you’ll find an historic, Ivy League school with highly selective admissions standards and a devotion to scholarship. You’ll also find a picturesque campus amidst a dynamic city and a world-class research institution. This is Penn.

Intellectual Rigor and a Practical Outlook

Penn’s development as an esteemed university is a testament to the principles of its founder, Benjamin Franklin—entrepreneurship, innova­tion, invention, outreach, and a pragmatic love of knowledge.

Among the Nation’s Top 10

Penn consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn’s 12 graduate and profes­sional schools are also among those recognized as national leaders in their disciplines.

A Unique Campus

Penn’s beautiful Philadelphia campus houses all of Penn’s activities, from student life, athletics, and academics to research, scholarship, and cultural life. All of Penn’s 12 schools are located within walking distance of one another—unique among Ivy League schools.

In the Heart of a Vibrant City

With its green lawns and landmark architecture, Penn’s picturesque campus forms an integral part of a legendary city. Students and faculty alike enjoy both the expansive cultural offerings of Philadelphia, and often make community service part of their educational experience.

Crossing Academic and Professional Boundaries

True to its roots, Penn encourages both intellectual and practical pursuits. This flexible mindset crosses academic and professional boundaries—often engaging its eager participants in the pursuit of new and useful knowledge.

An Enterprise of Powerful and Esteemed Research

With its 174 research centers and institutes, research is a powerful and esteemed enterprise at Penn. In the last year, Penn’s research community consisted of more than 4,200 faculty, 870 postdoctoral fellows, nearly 3,800 graduate students, and 5,400 academic support staff and graduate assistants. With such intellectual and institutional resources, it’s no surprise that Penn is a nationally-ranked research university.

Student Services

The College of Liberal and Professional Studies makes available to its students a rich range of university and community resources, including:

• Access to world-class libraries, computing facilities and academic and language support resources
• Decades of experience providing high quality student services to international students including accommodations in campus resi­dence halls
• Orientation to Penn and Philadelphia
• Organized social and cultural activities
• Opportunities to join student clubs and organizations, as well as recreational facilities
• A diverse student body of undergraduate and graduate students and opportunities for cultural and language exchange