The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn or UPenn) is a private, Ivy League, research university located in Philadelphia. Incorporated as The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn is one of 14 founding members of the Association of American Universities and one of the nine original Colonial Colleges.

 

Anchored in the liberal arts and sciences and enriched by the integrated resources of 4 undergraduate and 12 graduate schools. Penn offers a broad range of academic departments, an extensive research enterprise and a number of community outreach and public service programs. It is particularly well known for its medical school, dental school, design school, school of business, law school, engineering school, communications school, nursing school, veterinary school, its social sciences and humanities programs, as well as its biomedical teaching and research capabilities.

 

Penn has a long and proud tradition of intellectual rigor and pursuit of innovative knowledge, begun by Benjamin Franklin in 1740. That tradition lives today through the creativity, entrepreneurship, and engagement of our faculty, students, and staff.

 

Research Discovery

Penn is one of the world's most powerful research and teaching institutions, with a research budget last year topping $800 million and more than 4,000 active faculty members. The scale and interdisciplinary character of research and teaching sets Penn apart, and our highly ranked Perelman School of Medicine is one of the top recipients of NIH funding in the country.

 

Community Engagement

At Penn, civic engagement is an integral part of campus life. Situated near the heart of Philadelphia, one of our country's most historic and vibrant cities, Penn was named a "number one good neighbor" among universities in 2009. We are a national leader in academically based community service through our Netter Center for Community Partnerships, supporting community engagement for students and faculty alike.