Costs
The sticker price at Penn is $83,298. This sticker price includes costs for tuition, books and supplies, room and board, and other miscellaneous expenses.
It’s also important to note that the cost of attendance can vary from year to year and typically it will rise over your four years in college. With that said, your financial aid will also be recalculated every year to take any price increases, as well as any changes in your financial situation, into account.
Using State Grants at Penn
Pennsylvania students considering Penn should be sure to look at Pennsylvania state grant programs. Two of the biggest educational grant programs in PA are PHEAA and TIP. PHEAA offers funding for Pennsylvania students who are enrolled at least half-time in an institution and program approved by PHEAA. Students must meet certain academic and financial criteria in order to qualify. TIP, also known as PA-TIP, offers funding to students pursuing a degree in a field that the state designates as high-demand. Here are those fields in 2024:
- Energy
- Health
- Advanced Materials and Diversified Manufacturing
- Agriculture and Food Production
Apply to these scholarships due soon
See more Pennsylvania scholarshipsUniversity of Pennsylvania Questbridge Scholarships
Penn is a member of Questbridge, which is a prestigious scholarship program that supports high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds. Students who are “matched” to University of Pennsylvania through Questbridge receive a four year, full ride scholarship to the school. If you are interested in learning more about Questbridge, you can check out our Questbridge Scholarship guide.
University of Pennsylvania’s 100% Need-Met Guarantee
Penn has committed to meeting 100% of applicants’ financial needs. They determine your financial need using the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile, and will ensure that your financial aid package covers any costs you cannot pay.
No Loan Policy at Penn
Penn is a no-loan school, which means that their financial aid packages offer students grants and scholarships in place of the federal loans that are typically part of a package. This means that their financial aid is more generous than most, and they help bridge the gap between cost and student need. Some no-loan schools offer this policy for all accepted students while others only extend it to students below a specific income level, or to in-state students. Be sure to check Penn's website for details on their No-Loan policy.
Coalition Colleges
Penn is a Coalition Member College, which means they have completed a vigorous vetting process from the Coalition for College to ensure that they “provide substantial support to lower-income, under-resourced and/or first-generation students; offer responsible student financial aid; and demonstrate a commitment to student graduation.” That also means you can apply to Penn via the Coalition Application. The Coalition Application makes it easy to obtain application fee waivers if you qualify. It’s also a great way to discover other colleges that have demonstrated a strong commitment to affordability and strong student outcomes.
University of Pennsylvania Financial Aid
Students who are applying for financial aid at Penn need to submit both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA), as well as the CSS Profile.
The FAFSA opens up on October 1st, and students should apply as soon as they can! The FAFSA uses financial information from the prior, prior year which means that you don’t need to wait for the year to end and can use last year’s financial information.
The FAFSA code for Penn is 003378 and the CSS Profile Code is 2933.
It should be noted that while the FAFSA is free, the CSS Profile does require an application fee. However, students can qualify for a CSS Profile application fee waiver if the cost will present a financial hardship for the students’ family.
If you are looking for more information on how to complete the FAFSA or the CSS Profile, check out these resources:
Join for exclusive scholarships, personalized matching, and application tracking. 0% Spam, 100% Free.
Pell Grants at University of Pennsylvania
17% of students at University of Pennsylvania receive Pell Grants, which are awarded to undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need (students who have a bachelor’s or professional degree are not eligible). Pell Grants are awarded by the federal government and do not need to be repaid. To apply for a Pell Grant, students will need to submit their FAFSA. If you are awarded a Pell Grant, you’ll see it listed in your financial aid award letter if you are accepted to University of Pennsylvania.
You can learn more about Pell Grant eligibility here.
Outside Scholarships
Penn students can also apply for outside scholarships to fund their education. Outside scholarships are awards that are offered by private and non-profit organizations. If you want to see what outside scholarships you are eligible for, check out these resources: