University of Pennsylvania

At the University of Pennsylvania, you'll find a historic, Ivy League school with highly selective admissions and a history of innovation in interdisciplinary education and scholarship. You'll also find a picturesque campus amidst a dynamic city and a world-class research institution. Intellectual rigor and a practical outlook Penn carries on the principles and spirit of its founder, Benjamin Franklin: entrepreneurship, innovation, invention, outreach, and a pragmatic love of knowledge. Franklin's practical outlook has remained a driving force in the university's development. Top students Today Penn is home to a diverse undergraduate student body of nearly 10,000, hailing from every state in the union and all around the globe. Admissions are among the most selective in the country and Penn consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Another 10,000 students are enrolled in Penn's 12 graduate and professional schools, which are national leaders in their fields. The Wharton School is consistently one of the nation's top three business schools. The School of Nursing is one of the two best in the U.S. The School of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School of Education, Law School, School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, and Annenberg School for Communication all rank among the top 10 schools in their fields. A singular campus With its green lawns and landmark architecture, our beautiful West 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. This geographical unity, unique among Ivy League schools, supports and fosters Penn's interdisciplinary approach to education, scholarship, and research. A vibrant city Penn's picturesque campus is situated near the heart of Philadelphia, a vital and lively city. Our students and faculty enjoy both campus life and the expansive cultural offerings of the city. Penn makes a substantial investment in its surrounding neighborhood and offers ways for students and faculty to make community service part of their educational experience. Crossing boundaries True to our roots, Penn encourages both intellectual and practical pursuits. On our unified campus, this flexible mindset makes Penn a national leader in interdisciplinary programs, crossing traditional academic and professional boundaries to engage participants in the pursuit of new -- and useful -- knowledge. In addition to numerous cross-disciplinary majors and joint-degree programs, Penn is home to interdisciplinary institutions such as the Institute for Medicine and Engineering, the Joseph H. Lauder Institute for Management and International Studies, and the Management and Technology Program. Powerful research With 174 research centers and institutes, research is a substantial and esteemed enterprise at Penn. As of fiscal year 2006, the research community includes more than 4,200 faculty and 870 postdoctoral fellows, nearly 3,800 graduate students and 5,400 academic support staff and graduate assistants, and a research budget of $660 million. The scale and interdisciplinary character of our research activities make Penn a nationally-ranked research university.