University of Pennsylvania Scholarships (2026–2027)

← Back to college scholarships hub • See Pennsylvania aid & Grants

Last Updated on October 3, 2026
What This Page Covers:
  • Tuition, housing, and average family net price
  • Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
  • Flagship and hidden-gem awards
  • Honors and stacking strategy

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~6%
  • Middle 50% ACT: 33-35
  • Middle 50% SAT: 1440-1550
  • Average GPA: N/A
💡 How Penn Actually Pays for College (The One-Minute Version)

Penn does not hand out merit scholarships. Not for perfect scores, not for National Merit, not for anything. Every dollar of Penn money is based on what your family can afford. The upside is that Penn’s need-based aid is some of the most generous in the country. It’s called the Quaker Commitment:

  • No loans. Aid packages meet 100% of demonstrated need with grants and work-study.
  • Your home doesn’t count. The value of your primary home is left out of the aid formula.
  • Families earning up to $200,000 with typical assets are guaranteed at least full tuition, and often more.
  • Families earning under $75,000 with typical assets get all billed costs covered: tuition, fees, housing, and dining.

Kitchen-table translation: if your family earns under $200K, run Penn’s net price calculator before you rule it out. The sticker price may have very little to do with what you’d actually pay.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌 University of Pennsylvania at a Glance

Average Net Price
$26,123/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
None (Penn is need-based only)
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
13 opportunities
8 hidden gem · 5 honors
Merit Evaluation
Holistic Review / Varies
Merit depends on profile rigor.
Testing Policy
Test-required
Superscores ACT/SAT.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Nov 6 • FAFSA: Feb 5
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA & CSS Profile
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Penn (Read This First)

  • The aid deadline is not the application deadline. Early Decision applications are due Nov 1, but the financial aid paperwork is due Nov 6. Regular Decision aid paperwork is due Feb 5. QuestBridge applicants have an Oct 30 aid deadline.
  • Penn does not use IDOC. Many schools collect tax returns through the College Board’s IDOC service. Penn doesn’t. Upload tax returns and W-2s directly to Penn’s document portal, or they never arrive.
  • Both parents count. If you’re divorced or separated, the non-custodial parent has to submit the Non-Custodial Profile and tax return. “He won’t pay” is not grounds for a waiver.
  • The $200K promise has fine print. It applies to families with “typical assets.” Owning a business, having rental property, being self-employed, or holding a lot of savings can change the math.
  • Outside scholarships don’t lower your parent share. They first replace your student’s summer savings and work-study, and only then replace Penn Grant dollars.
  • Testing is required again. Penn wants the SAT or ACT (it superscores both). If your student has taken a test, they have to send it, even though a hardship waiver exists for students who couldn’t test.

FAQ

Is this college test-optional? No. University of Pennsylvania is test-required for admission.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 33-35; SAT: 1440-1550.

Average net price? About $26,123/year after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.

Sources:
Penn Engineering Clark Scholars Eligibility: https://clarkscholars.engineering.upenn.edu/academics/eligibility-and-requirements/
Penn SRFS Mayor's Scholarship FAQ: https://srfs.upenn.edu/financial-aid/mayors-scholarship-faq
CollegeReadyParent PA state aid guide: https://collegereadyparent.org/pennsylvania/
Penn CURF Benjamin Franklin Scholars: How to Apply: https://curf.upenn.edu/scholars-programs/benjamin-franklin-scholars/how-to-apply
Penn SRFS Grants and Scholarships: https://srfs.upenn.edu/financial-aid/grants-and-scholarships
Penn CURF Summer Research Funding: https://curf.upenn.edu/content/curf-summer-research-funding
Penn CURF University Scholars: How to Apply: https://curf.upenn.edu/scholars-programs/university-scholars/prospective-students
Penn Engineering Rachleff Scholars Program: https://academics.engineering.upenn.edu/ugrad/scholars/rachleff-scholars-program/
Penn SRFS Highly Aided Summer Funding: https://srfs.upenn.edu/financial-aid/highly-aided/summer
Penn CURF BFS Funding Opportunities: https://curf.upenn.edu/scholars-programs/benjamin-franklin-scholars/bfs-funding-opportunities
Penn CURF PURM: https://curf.upenn.edu/content/penn-undergraduate-research-mentoring-program-purm
Penn CURF Vagelos Undergraduate Research Grant: https://curf.upenn.edu/content/vagelos-undergraduate-research-grant
Penn CURF College Alumni Society Research Grant: https://curf.upenn.edu/content/college-alumni-society-undergraduate-research-grant
Penn Abroad Financial Information: https://global.upenn.edu/pennabroad/studyabroad/financial-information/
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Pennsylvania: 2026–2027 Rates

Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.

📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest University of Pennsylvania has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.

Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,900 to $4,700 more than the total below.

✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.

All students: billed cost per year
$94,582
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees $73,978
Housing & meals (typical) $20,604
Total billed cost $94,582

Average federal net price: $26,123 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.

One Price for Everyone, Then Aid Does the Work

Penn is private, so there’s no in-state discount and no regional tuition exchange. Every student sees the same sticker price. What changes the bill is need-based aid, and under the Quaker Commitment that aid comes with no loans built in. Penn’s full 2026-2027 budget for an on-campus student is $99,082, which includes about $4,500 in unbilled costs like books, local transportation, and personal expenses.

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at the University of Pennsylvania

How much does Penn actually cost per year?
For 2026-2027, billed costs are $73,978 for tuition and fees plus $20,604 for housing and a meal plan, for $94,582 total. Penn’s full budget, including books, transportation, and personal costs, is $99,082. That’s the number Penn uses to calculate your aid.

Is Penn free for families earning under $200,000?
Close, but read it carefully. Families earning up to $200,000 with typical assets are guaranteed aid that covers at least full tuition. Housing and food may still cost something. Families under $75,000 with typical assets have all billed costs covered. You still have to apply for aid to get it.

Does our house count against us?
No. Penn does not count the value of your primary home when figuring aid. Other real estate, investments, business value, and savings still count.

Does my student have to live on campus?
Yes, for the first two years, and the meal plan is required for those two years too. That’s why housing and dining are locked into the budget early on.

What is the “summer savings” line on our aid letter?
Penn expects students to contribute from summer earnings: $3,000 for first-years and $3,200 each year after. Outside scholarships can wipe this out, which is one of the best reasons to apply for them.

Does Penn help with travel costs if we live far away?
Yes. Penn adds a travel allowance for two round trips home to the cost of attendance: $904 for Eastern and Central states (except NJ, NY, MD, PA, DE, and CT) and $1,244 for Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, and Hawaii. Because it’s in the budget, it can be covered by aid.

How many Penn students get financial aid?
In 2023-2024, 46% of undergraduates received need-based aid, and the average package was $66,222. Only 19% of aided students took out loans on top of their aid.

Sources:
https://srfs.upenn.edu/costs-budgeting/undergraduate-cost-attendance
https://srfs.upenn.edu/quaker-commitment
https://srfs.upenn.edu/financial-aid/undergraduate-aid-program/facts-and-figures
https://srfs.upenn.edu/financial-aid/undergraduate-aid-program/how-we-determine-need

📅 Penn Aid Timeline (Simple Version)

  • Oct 1: CSS Profile opens (Penn’s code is 2933). The FAFSA is open too (school code 003378).
  • Oct 30: Aid documents due for QuestBridge applicants.
  • Nov 6: Aid documents due for Early Decision applicants.
  • Feb 5: Aid documents due for Regular Decision applicants.

Parent rule of thumb: get everything in by these dates and your aid award shows up with the admission decision, so you’re not deciding blind.

Automatic Merit Scholarships: University of Pennsylvania

Penn has no automatic merit scholarships. Grades and test scores get your student in the door, but they don’t lower the price. What Penn does have is an aid guarantee tied to family income, and for a lot of middle-income families that guarantee beats any merit award a state school would offer.

What Penn Promises by Family Income

Family Income (typical assets) What Penn Guarantees Parent Translation
Under $75,000 All billed costs covered: tuition, fees, housing, dining The bill from Penn should be $0. Extra support for summer opportunities too.
$75,000 to $200,000 At least full tuition, often more Tuition is handled. Plan for some or all of housing and food depending on your numbers.
Over $200,000 Aid if you show need, no guarantee Still worth applying, especially with several kids in college or big expenses.
Every family No loans in the package. Primary home value ignored. Any borrowing is your choice, not something Penn builds in.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Pennsylvania State Grant
📅 Deadline: FAFSA and State Grant Form by May 1
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$6,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Pennsylvania resident with financial need; FAFSA plus the PA State Grant Form by May 1 for four-year schools; no GPA or test score; amount from PHEAA's need formula, 2026-27 maximum $6,000
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pennsylvania's main need grant, up to $6,000 a year in 2026-27 for the lowest-income families, less as income rises. Stacks with Pell and with every college award. Part-time enrollment cuts the award. Renew with a FAFSA by May 1 every year.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of Pennsylvania award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent PA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Need-based students who got both the FAFSA and the separate State Grant Form in by May 1. The second form is the miss: it is a PHEAA document, not a FAFSA step, and first-time applicants who skip it get nothing even with a perfect FAFSA.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyservice
Grow PA Scholarship Grant
📅 Deadline: PHEAA application; 2026-27 window ran to Jan 7, 2027; next window not announced
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Pennsylvania resident, at least half time in one of 460-plus eligible in-demand programs, no bachelor's degree yet; no income test; separate PHEAA application; signs a promissory note
✚
Stacking & Combining
Up to $5,000 a year for up to four years in an in-demand major, with a string attached: finish the degree and work in Pennsylvania in an in-demand field for as many years as you received the grant, or it converts to a loan. Stacks with the State Grant and college aid. First-come by application date.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of Pennsylvania award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent PA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students in nursing, education, engineering, trades, and the other listed fields who are sure they will stay in Pennsylvania after graduation. For anyone who might move, this is a loan with a nice name; the conversion is automatic and comes with interest.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyneed based
Ready to Succeed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate application; FAFSA and State Grant Form early
✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 3 yrs)
$500–$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPAPennsylvania resident; 2.5 cumulative GPA and 24 completed credits, so it starts sophomore year; family income under the state cap (PHEAA lists $200,000; some college pages still show $175,000); nominated by participating colleges from the FAFSA and State Grant Form, in order of completion date
✚
Stacking & Combining
A merit-plus-need award that kicks in after freshman year: with the PA State Grant it tops out at $2,500 a year full time, $1,250 part time, minimum $500. For middle-income families above the State Grant range this is often the only state money. Stacks with college aid. First-come by FAFSA date.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of Pennsylvania award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent PA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Sophomores and up with a 2.5 whose families earn too much for the State Grant but under the cap, and who filed early. It is nominated by the college, not applied for, so the families who never hear about it are the ones who assumed state aid was only for low income.

This institution does not offer designated Automatic Merit scholarships at this time.

Note: “Typical assets” matters. Families with business income, self-employment, extra real estate, or large savings may not fit the guarantee, so use Penn’s net price calculator with your real numbers.

Automatic Aid FAQs (University of Pennsylvania)

Does Penn give merit scholarships?
No. All Penn aid is need-based. A 1550 SAT and a 1350 SAT get the same price if the family finances are the same.

Is the Quaker Commitment automatic?
Only if you apply for aid. You have to file the FAFSA, the CSS Profile, and your tax documents by Penn’s deadlines. No application, no aid.

Will my student get extra money for being a National Merit Finalist?
No. Since Penn doesn’t do merit awards, there’s no Penn money tied to National Merit status. Any National Merit money from outside sponsors counts as an outside scholarship.

Do we have to reapply every year?
Yes. Families submit updated aid documents each year, and the package is recalculated if your finances change.

Will we have loans?
Not in Penn’s package. Aid meets 100% of demonstrated need with grants and work-study. Some families choose to borrow to cover their own expected contribution, but Penn doesn’t build loans in.

Sources:
https://srfs.upenn.edu/quaker-commitment
https://srfs.upenn.edu/financial-aid/apply/prospective-UG-checklists/US
https://srfs.upenn.edu/financial-aid/undergraduate-aid-program/how-we-determine-need

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

Penn has no competitive merit scholarships. There’s no essay contest, no scholarship weekend, no full-ride competition run by Penn. The closest thing is the QuestBridge National College Match. Penn is a partner, and 163 QuestBridge students enrolled in the Class of 2030. After that, Penn’s need-based aid does all the heavy lifting.

✅ How Other Money Works With Penn Aid

Money Type Adds to Penn Aid? Penn Parent Translation
Outside scholarships Partly First they replace your student’s summer savings, then work-study, then Penn Grant. They never reduce the parent contribution.
Named Penn scholarships No A donor is funding part of your existing aid. Same total, nicer name.
Mayor’s Scholarship No A named piece of the need-based package for Philadelphia students.
Summer research and internship grants Yes Penn’s regular aid stops in summer, so these are real extra dollars. See Hidden Gems.
Federal and state grants Built in Pell and state grants are part of the package, with Penn Grant filling in the rest of your need.

If your student is a scholarship hunter, that energy still pays off at Penn. It just pays off differently. Outside scholarships shrink the amount your student has to earn and work, and Penn’s summer research money is genuinely extra.

This institution does not offer designated Competitive scholarships at this time.

❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs

Does Penn have a full-ride scholarship competition?
No. Penn doesn’t run one. Students with significant financial need can apply through QuestBridge’s National College Match, and Penn’s aid meets full demonstrated need for every admitted student who qualifies.

Should my student still apply for outside scholarships?
Yes. Outside money first erases the summer savings expectation ($3,000 for first-years) and the work-study job. That means more time for classes, research, or a better internship.

Will an outside scholarship lower what we as parents pay?
No. Penn’s policy is clear that outside scholarships can’t reduce the parent contribution. They reduce the student’s share first, then replace Penn Grant dollars.

Is there an Early Decision advantage for aid?
Aid is the same whether you apply ED or RD. The difference is timing: if your ED documents are in by Nov 6, you’ll see the aid offer with the admission decision. Run the net price calculator before signing the ED agreement.

What if our aid offer looks wrong?
Penn has a formal aid appeal process. If your circumstances changed or something wasn’t captured on the forms, contact Student Financial Services and ask about an appeal.

Sources:
https://srfs.upenn.edu/outside%20scholarships
https://srfs.upenn.edu/financial-aid/grants-and-scholarships
https://admissions.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/resources-programs/incoming-class-profile

🧠 Parent Strategy: Penn’s Summer Money Ladder

Here’s the thing most families miss. Penn’s financial aid covers the school year, but not summer. Penn fills that gap with summer grants, and which ones your student qualifies for depends on family income:

  1. Under $75K on Penn aid: Highly Aided Summer Funding (up to $5,000, up to two summers).
  2. $75,001 to $140,000 on Penn aid: CURF Summer Research Grant (up to $5,000).
  3. Any income, first or second year: PURM ($5,000 stipend for summer research).
  4. Any income, anytime: Vagelos and College Alumni Society research grants (up to $1,000 each).

Parent translation: an unpaid summer internship doesn’t have to be off the table. Penn has money specifically to make it work.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

None of these are merit awards. Some are part of your regular aid package, and some are extra money for summer research and internships. Penn First Plus, Penn’s hub for first-generation and lower-income students, can help your student navigate all of them.

Automatic
Mayor’s Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate application. Penn aid documents due Nov 6 (Early Decision) or Feb 5 (Regular Decision).  ·  📢 Results: With initial financial aid decision
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Philadelphia residents attending high school in Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, or Montgomery County.
👥 ~Number of recipients varies by funding and applicant pool. winners/yrPhiladelphia residents who attend high school in Philadelphia or a neighboring county (Bucks, Delaware, or Montgomery) and apply for admission and need-based aid.
✚
Stacking & Combining
This is a named piece of your need-based Penn package, not extra money on top of it. Penn still meets 100% of demonstrated need.
💡
Strategic Detail
A special aid program created by agreement between Penn and the City of Philadelphia. The award amount depends on each student's demonstrated need, and recipients also join the Mayor's Scholars community, which pairs first-years with an upperclass mentor.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted Philadelphia residents from Philly or collar-county high schools who show financial need on the CSS Profile and FAFSA.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Named Scholarships (Donor-Funded Grants)
📅 Deadline: Same as Penn financial aid deadlines: Nov 6 (Early Decision) or Feb 5 (Regular Decision).  ·  📢 Results: Assigned at the time of financial aid packaging or subsequent review.
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~Varies by individual scholarship fund and annual funding levels. winners/yr🎓 All UndergradNeed-based. Eligibility is the same as the Penn Grant. Some funds are matched to students by hometown, major, or background.
✚
Stacking & Combining
These awards typically fund all or part of a student's Penn Grant; they do not increase total aid beyond demonstrated need but may replace institutional grant dollars with named donor funds.
💡
Strategic Detail
If a named scholarship appears on your aid notice, a donor is directly funding part of your Penn need-based aid. Recipients are invited to a donor event during New Student Orientation.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Penn need-based aid recipients who happen to match a donor's criteria. Families do not pick or apply for specific named funds.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
CURF Summer Research Grant (Middle-Income Families)
📅 Deadline: Spring application. The last cycle's deadline was Mar 17 (tentative). Check CURF for the 2027 date.
Non-Renewable
$5,000
✔ Stackable
⚠  Penn aid recipients with family income from $75,001 to $140,000.
👥 ~Number of awards per cycle varies by funding. winners/yr🎓 All UndergradFull-time undergraduates returning to Penn in the fall who receive Penn institutional aid and have total family income between $75,001 and $140,000. Graduating seniors are not eligible.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Separate from the academic-year aid package, since Penn's need-based aid does not extend into summer. Students under $75,000 are directed to Highly Aided summer funding instead.
📄
How to Apply
Line up a summer research project, then apply through CURF by the spring deadline.
Selection criteria: Proposals evaluated on project quality, feasibility, and strength of faculty mentorship.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Penn's summer research money aimed squarely at middle-income families who receive some aid but earn too much for the Highly Aided programs. Up to $5,000 to support a summer research project.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Aided students from $75K to $140K families who line up a faculty-supported summer research project.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Highly Aided Summer Funding
📅 Deadline: Varies by program. Apply in the spring before the summer placement.
✓ Renews (2 yrs)
$5,000
✔ Stackable
⚠  Penn aid recipients with family income under $75,000.
🎓 All UndergradHighly Aided first-years, sophomores, and juniors. Penn defines Highly Aided as receiving Penn aid with family income under $75,000 and typical assets. The placement must run 6 to 12 weeks.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Students who already received $5,000 or more from other Penn summer programs are not eligible. Fee-based programs and summer courses are not funded.
📄
How to Apply
Secure an eligible 6 to 12 week placement, then apply through SRFS. Highly Aided status shows on the aid award in Path@Penn.
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $5,000 to make an unpaid or underpaid summer internship or research placement possible, available for up to two summers. Highly Aided students accepted to an on-site Penn Global GRIP placement receive 100% of the estimated program cost.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Lower-income Penn students who land a real summer opportunity that pays little or nothing.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program (PURM)
📅 Deadline: Mid-February (Feb 15 last cycle).
Non-Renewable
$5,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradFull-time undergraduates in good standing from any of Penn's four schools who are finishing their first or second year.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Paid as a summer stipend, separate from the academic-year aid package.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through CURF by the February deadline.
💡
Strategic Detail
A $5,000 stipend for 10 weeks of summer research with a Penn faculty mentor. One of the best ways for a first-year to get paid research experience early.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-years and sophomores at any income level who want an early, paid research experience.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Vagelos Undergraduate Research Grant
📅 Deadline: Fall cycle: Oct 11, 2026.
Non-Renewable
$1,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradFull-time first-years, sophomores, juniors, and first-semester seniors in good standing in the College, Engineering, Nursing, or Wharton.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Separate research grant. Does not affect the aid package.
📄
How to Apply
Submit a proposal of about 750 words, a budget, a transcript, and a faculty letter through CURF.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $1,000 for research expenses. No income requirement.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a faculty-backed research project and a clear budget.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
College Alumni Society Undergraduate Research Grant
📅 Deadline: Fall cycle: Oct 11, 2026. Spring cycle: mid-March.
Non-Renewable
$1,000
✔ Stackable
⚠  College of Arts and Sciences students only.
🎓 All UndergradCollege of Arts and Sciences students, first-years through first-semester seniors, in good standing.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Separate research grant. Does not affect the aid package.
📄
How to Apply
Submit a proposal, budget, and faculty letter through CURF.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $1,000 toward research expenses, funded by College alumni. Two cycles per year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
College students with a defined project and a faculty supporter.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Study Abroad Funding (Penn Global/Penn Abroad)
📅 Deadline: Semester programs: your regular Penn aid applies. Summer programs: need-based grants are requested through Penn Abroad by the program deadline.
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Number of grants awarded each cycle depends on available funding. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Need-based grants are designed to supplement existing aid toward study abroad costs; total aid may be adjusted to comply with cost-of-attendance limits.
📄
How to Apply
Apply and be approved for an eligible Penn Abroad program, then complete the Penn Abroad or Penn Global funding application by the term-specific deadline.
Selection criteria: Need-based review combined with program fit and quality of proposed academic plan.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
In most cases a student's Penn aid package travels with them to a Penn-approved semester or year abroad. For summer study abroad, aid-eligible students can receive need-based grant funding from Penn and Penn Global (plus Pell if eligible), though it usually does not cover every expense.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Aid-eligible undergraduates approved for Penn Abroad programs who document financial need for additional program costs.
Data last verified Oct 3, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

Who qualifies for the Mayor’s Scholarship?
Philadelphia residents who go to high school in Philadelphia or in Bucks, Delaware, or Montgomery County. There’s no separate application. Apply for admission and aid, and Penn identifies eligible students automatically. The amount depends on need.

We got a “named scholarship” on our award letter. Is that extra money?
No. It means a donor is funding part of your existing need-based aid. Your total doesn’t change, but your student may be invited to meet the donor.

What does “Highly Aided” mean?
Penn uses that label for students who receive Penn aid and whose families earn under $75,000 with typical assets. It shows on the aid award in Path@Penn and unlocks extra summer funding, including full coverage for Penn Global GRIP placements.

Is there anything for middle-income families?
Yes. The CURF Summer Research Grant is built for aided families earning $75,001 to $140,000, with up to $5,000 for a summer research project.

Can my first-year get paid to do research?
Yes. PURM pays a $5,000 stipend for 10 weeks of summer research with a Penn professor, open to students finishing their first or second year. Last cycle’s deadline was in mid-February.

Does financial aid cover study abroad?
In most cases, yes for fall, spring, or a full year on a Penn-approved program. Summer programs get need-based grants instead, which usually don’t cover everything.

Sources:
https://srfs.upenn.edu/financial-aid/mayors-scholarship-faq
https://srfs.upenn.edu/financial-aid/grants-and-scholarships
https://srfs.upenn.edu/financial-aid/highly-aided/summer
https://careerservices.upenn.edu/resources/summer-research-and-internship-funding-for-highly-aided-students/
https://curf.upenn.edu/content/curf-summer-research-funding
https://curf.upenn.edu/content/penn-undergraduate-research-mentoring-program-purm
https://global.upenn.edu/pennabroad/studyabroad/financial-information/

Scholars Programs at Penn (Penn’s Version of Honors)

Penn doesn’t have an honors college. Instead it has a handful of scholars programs, small communities built around research, cross-disciplinary study, or a specific student background. None of them are tuition scholarships. What they offer is access: mentors, seminars, and funding for research and summer opportunities.

  • Benjamin Franklin Scholars: for students who love learning across fields. Admitted students apply in the spring before arriving.
  • University Scholars: for students with a serious research passion. Admitted students apply in the spring before arriving, and current students apply by Nov 1.
  • Clark Scholars: for first-generation engineers with financial need. Students are picked during admissions, with no separate application.
  • Rachleff Scholars: an engineering research track that rising sophomores apply to.

Scholars Programs & Funding

Automaticpipelineneed basedmajor
A. James Clark Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: No separate application. Students are identified during Penn's admissions review.
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  First-generation college students with demonstrated financial need admitted to Penn Engineering; identified through admissions.
👥 ~About 10 new scholars per year, roughly 40 enrolled at a time (Penn Engineering, 2024). winners/yrCandidates are identified during Penn's admissions review. Priority goes to first-generation students with demonstrated financial need who plan to major in Penn Engineering, have shown leadership through work, family support, or community service, and are passionate about STEM even without formal prior access. Scholars must maintain a 3.0 minimum GPA to remain in the program.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Clark works inside Penn's need-based package rather than on top of it. The added value is the removed work-study expectation, summer stipends, and the cohort itself.
💡
Strategic Detail
One of Penn Engineering's most distinctive programs. Clark Scholars get a four-year cohort experience with mentoring, service learning, leadership and entrepreneurship programming, plus foundation support that has removed work-study requirements and funded stipends for summer internships or research. Penn does not publish a per-student dollar amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-generation college students with demonstrated financial need who bring hard-earned resilience, curiosity for engineering, and a track record of leadership through work, family responsibilities, or community service, even if you did not have access to formal STEM programs in high school.
App Required
Benjamin Franklin Scholars (BFS)
📅 Deadline: Admitted first-years: apply in the admitted-student portal by early May (May 7 last cycle). Current students: by May 15 of the first year.
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Cohort size is limited and highly selective. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
BFS is an academic honors program that can unlock access to additional funding such as Franklin Opportunity Fund and BFS research grants; it sits alongside standard financial aid.
📄
How to Apply
Admitted first-years complete the BFS application in the admitted-student portal. Current first-years submit a personal statement, two faculty recommendations, and a Penn transcript by May 15.
Selection criteria: Holistic review emphasizing academic distinction, intellectual curiosity, and faculty support.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
A four-year community for students who want broad intellectual exploration alongside their major. Includes small BFS seminars, and incoming members live together in Hill College House. BFS students can tap BFS Summer Research Funding (up to $2,100, most awards $500 to $1,000) and the Franklin Opportunity Fund for unpaid internships.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted or enrolled Penn undergraduates with top academic records and strong faculty support for internal applicants.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
University Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Admitted first-years: application in the admitted-student portal, closes early May. Current 2nd and 3rd years: Nov 1.
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Cohort and annual funding levels are limited and competitive. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Program provides its own research and conference funding; University Scholars are ineligible for some CURF funding streams and must coordinate with program staff when stacking other awards.
📄
How to Apply
Admitted first-years apply through the admitted-student portal. Current students submit a personal statement, research proposal, resume, transcript, and two letters by Nov 1. Interviews follow in December.
Selection criteria: Holistic evaluation of research record, proposed projects, and strength of faculty mentorship.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
A research-focused scholars program for students with a long-term independent research passion. Funding is tailored: up to $1,500 per month for summer living costs (up to three months), plus conference and travel support capped at $500 domestic and $1,000 international.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Undergraduates with a deep, sustained commitment to research and strong faculty mentorship.
App Required⚠ Sophomore Onlymajor
Rachleff Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Rising sophomores in Penn Engineering. The 2027 deadline is listed as TBD (summer).
✓ Renews (3 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Open to current Penn Engineering undergraduates only.
🏫 3.4+ GPA👥 ~Highly selective — only a handful of sophomores admitted each year. winners/yr🎓 SophomoreOpen to rising sophomores enrolled in Penn Engineering with a 3.4 or higher cumulative GPA and demonstrated interest in engineering research. Applicants should have or be able to identify a Penn faculty research area of interest.
✚
Stacking & Combining
The summer research pay is separate from your academic-year aid package.
📄
How to Apply
Rising sophomores in Penn Engineering submit an internal Rachleff application through the SEAS Undergraduate Affairs office, including academic materials and a statement of research interests. Check the program page each spring for the live application link and cycle deadline.
Selection criteria: Selection weighs GPA, quality and specificity of research interests, and fit with available Penn Engineering faculty mentorship.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Penn Engineering's honors research track. It is not a tuition award. Scholars complete a paid 10-week on-campus summer research experience with a faculty mentor, two course units of honors coursework, and cohort activities.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Penn Engineering sophomores with a 3.4+ GPA and a genuine research itch. These are students who can already point at a faculty lab or research area that lights them up.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Franklin Opportunity Fund (BFS)
📅 Deadline: Spring cycle. The last cycle ran Feb 28 to Apr 15.  ·  📢 Results: Late April for summer awards.
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited number of internships funded each year. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Recipients cannot hold another paid position during the funded internship.
📄
How to Apply
Eligible BFS students submit an online spring application describing an unpaid or underpaid summer internship, its relevance to academic and career goals, and a proposed budget by the posted deadline.
Selection criteria: Applications evaluated on academic fit, quality of internship, and clarity of goals and budget.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Limited funding for Benjamin Franklin Scholars who land unpaid or underpaid summer internships of at least four weeks. Penn does not publish a set amount. A student can receive it once.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Benjamin Franklin Scholars in good standing who secure unpaid or underpaid summer internships and present strong applications.
Data last verified Oct 3, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

*Program details reflect the most recent cycle. Application dates shift slightly each year, so check each program’s page in the spring.

Deadline Note: The BFS and University Scholars applications for incoming students open in the admitted-student portal after decisions come out and close in early May. That’s right when families are juggling deposits and housing forms, so put it on the calendar.
Why Clark Scholars Stands Out
  • Who: first-generation college students with financial need who are headed to Penn Engineering.
  • How: picked through regular admissions, with no extra application.
  • Size: about 10 new scholars a year and around 40 in the program at once.
  • Perks: foundation support has replaced work-study and funds paid summer internships or research.

Scholars Programs: FAQs (University of Pennsylvania)

Does Penn have an honors college?
No. Penn uses scholars programs instead. They’re optional and come with seminars, mentoring, and research money, not tuition discounts.

Do scholars programs come with money?
Not tuition money. Your tuition is handled by need-based aid. Scholars programs open the door to research and internship funding: BFS Summer Research Funding (up to $2,100), the Franklin Opportunity Fund for unpaid internships, and University Scholars summer support of up to $1,500 a month.

When does my student apply to Benjamin Franklin Scholars or University Scholars?
After admission. Both applications show up in the admitted-student portal and close in early May. Current students get a second shot: BFS by May 15 of first year, University Scholars by Nov 1 for second and third years.

Can my student apply to Clark Scholars?
Not directly. Penn identifies Clark Scholars from first-generation, need-based applicants to Penn Engineering during admissions.

Is Rachleff only for engineers?
Yes. It’s for Penn Engineering students with at least a 3.4 GPA who apply as rising sophomores. It includes a paid 10-week summer research experience.

Sources:
https://curf.upenn.edu/scholars-programs/benjamin-franklin-scholars/how-to-apply
https://curf.upenn.edu/scholars-programs/benjamin-franklin-scholars/bfs-funding-opportunities
https://curf.upenn.edu/scholars-programs/university-scholars/prospective-students
https://clarkscholars.engineering.upenn.edu/academics/eligibility-and-requirements/
https://www.engineering.upenn.edu/stories/clark-scholars-program-rewards-effort-fosters-connection/
https://academics.engineering.upenn.edu/ugrad/scholars/rachleff-scholars-program/

⭐ College Specialty

Penn is built a little differently from most colleges. Students apply to one of four undergraduate schools: the College of Arts and Sciences, Wharton, Penn Engineering, or Penn Nursing. Once they’re in, they’re welcome to take classes across all four. That mix of hands-on professional training and a full liberal arts menu is the whole Penn personality.

Nationally Known Program:
The Wharton School: founded in 1881 as the world’s first collegiate business school. Undergrads graduate with a business degree, not just a business major, and they share a campus with three other strong schools they can borrow classes from.
  • Penn Engineering: the home of ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, built at Penn in 1946. Today it’s a magnet for computer science and bioengineering students.
  • Penn Nursing: students get three years of clinical experience through partnerships with major hospitals and research centers, starting early in the program.
  • Coordinated dual-degree programs: Penn’s signature move. Students earn two degrees from two schools in four years:
    • Huntsman: international studies plus business.
    • M&T: engineering plus business.
    • LSM: life sciences plus business.
    • NHCM: nursing plus health care management.
    • VIPER: science plus engineering for energy research.
    Each one requires extra essays on the first-year application.
  • Life sciences and pre-health: pre-med students don’t have to major in science. Pre-health advisors in Career Services work with students from all four schools, including on the medical school letter process.
  • Economics and the College of Arts and Sciences: the College is home to most Penn undergrads and offers research-heavy options like the Molecular Life Sciences and Integrated Studies programs.
  • Submatriculation: some students start a master’s degree while still undergrads, usually applying junior year.
Sources:
https://catalog.upenn.edu/undergraduate/wharton/
https://www.engineering.upenn.edu/about/history-heritage/eniac/
https://admissions.upenn.edu/academics/four-schools/penn-nursing
https://admissions.upenn.edu/academics/exploring-academics/specialized-degree-programs
https://careerservices.upenn.edu/channels/pre-medicine/
https://admissions.upenn.edu/academics/exploring-academics/submatriculation

✅ Wrapping It Up

Big picture? Penn flips the usual scholarship game on its head. There’s no merit money to chase, no scholarship weekend, no test-score cutoffs for discounts. Instead, Penn makes a promise based on what your family earns. Under $75K, the bill should be zero. Up to $200K, tuition is covered. No loans are built in, and your house is left out of the math.

The work for Penn families isn’t hunting scholarships. It’s getting the paperwork right and on time: the CSS Profile, the FAFSA, and tax returns uploaded straight to Penn by Nov 6 for Early Decision or Feb 5 for Regular Decision. Then, once your student is on campus, the real hidden money is in summer research and internship funding that most families never hear about.

If your student is aiming for business, engineering, nursing, or one of Penn’s two-degree programs, and your family is middle income, don’t let the $99K sticker scare you off. Run the net price calculator first. The number might surprise you.

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Leo Dimilo
Leo Dimilo
Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze firsthand with his own daughter and built this site so other families don’t have to figure it out alone. Free guides, no paywall, no sales pitch.
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