University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania, commonly called Penn or UPenn, anchors a leafy campus in Philadelphia's University City neighborhood. Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1740 and chartered in 1755, it stands as one of America's nine colonial colleges. Franklin's vision broke from tradition: he wanted a school that trained future leaders in business, government, and the professions, not just clergy. That practical spirit still drives the university today.

Penn's 12 schools include four that serve undergraduates: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of Nursing, and the Wharton School, the nation's first collegiate business school. Graduate offerings span medicine, law, dentistry, design, education, and more. The university's $24.8 billion endowment supports a research enterprise that spent $2.172 billion in fiscal year 2024, ranking second among U.S. universities in the NSF's HERD survey. In 2023, U.S. News ranked Penn sixth among national universities. Its roughly 10,000 undergraduates and 12,000 graduate students come from all 50 states and over 100 countries.

Beyond academics, Penn is a Division I powerhouse in the Ivy League, with strong programs in basketball, football, and fencing. Its alumni network includes 36 Nobel laureates, four U.S. presidents, and business figures like Elon Musk and Warren Buffett. The campus itself blends historic red-brick buildings, such as College Hall, with modern glass structures, all within walking distance of downtown Philadelphia. [edit]

Benjamin Franklin's vision for Penn was groundbreaking: he advocated for a practical, modern liberal arts curriculum that would prepare students for leadership in business, government, public service, and the professions. This pragmatic spirit continues to drive the university today, emphasizing research, innovation, and civic engagement. The university's motto is 'Leges sine moribus vanae' (Laws without morals are useless). [edit]

The University of Pennsylvania traces its founding to 1740, when a group of Philadelphians erected a great preaching hall for evangelist George Whitefield. Benjamin Franklin, who had arrived in the city as a 17-year-old apprentice printer, saw an opportunity. In 1749 he published 'Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvania,' outlining a vision for an institution that would train leaders in academia, commerce, and public service. Franklin organized 24 trustees, purchased the building, and opened the Academy and Charitable School in 1751. A collegiate charter followed in 1755, creating the College of Philadelphia.

The institution underwent several name changes: College of Philadelphia (1755-1779), University of the State of Pennsylvania (1779-1791), and finally University of Pennsylvania from 1791 onward. In 1765 John Morgan founded the first medical school in colonial America at Penn, modeled after the University of Edinburgh, effectively making the institution a university. The campus originally sat at 9th and Chestnut Streets in downtown Philadelphia from 1800 to 1872, then moved across the Schuylkill River to property purchased from the Blockley Almshouse in West Philadelphia, now known as University City. The Wharton School was founded in 1881 as the world's first collegiate business school. In 1946, Penn introduced ENIAC, the first electronic general-purpose digital computer, marking the dawn of the computer age. [edit]