What the funding covers
- Need-based aid covering 100% of the demonstrated need of international students admitted as aid recipients.
- Aid from Penn's own funds, made up of grants and work-study, since international students cannot get US federal aid.
- One aid decision that applies to all four years (eight semesters).
What you will still pay
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees ($73,978 in 2026–27: tuition $65,670, general fee $6,620, technology fee $918, clinical fee $770) | Penn aid, up to your full demonstrated need |
| Housing, food, books and personal costs | Counted in the cost of attendance your aid is based on |
| Application fee ($75) | You, unless you request a fee waiver in the Common App or Coalition Application |
| CSS Profile ($25 for the first college, $16 for each extra one) | You |
| US student visa: $185 application fee and $350 SEVIS fee, plus a new $250 visa integrity fee that some embassies now charge | You, before you travel |
Who can apply
- International first-year applicants, meaning anyone who is not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, Canada or Mexico, who ask for aid when they apply for admission.
- Penn is need-aware for international applicants: a family's ability to pay does factor into the admission decision.
- Nursing is open to first-year applicants through the same application; transfer students to Penn Nursing generally take about three years to finish the BSN.
Which nationalities can apply
Every nationality can apply.
Documents you will need
- Common App or Coalition Application
- SAT or ACT scores, or the hardship waiver in the application
- TOEFL, IELTS Academic or the Duolingo English Test, unless English is your native language or has been your main language of instruction for at least three years by the time you enrol
- CSS Profile, plus your family's tax return or earning statements, or a Non-Tax Filer form
How to apply
- Apply through the Common App or the Coalition Application by 5 January 2027 for Regular Decision; Early Decision closed on 1 November 2026.
- Ask for financial aid in the same application. Penn cannot consider an aid request made after an international student is admitted.
- Submit the CSS Profile (Penn's code is 2933) and your family's tax return or earning statements, translated if they are not in English, by 1 February 2027.
- Send SAT or ACT scores (the last Regular Decision test dates are 5 December 2026 for the SAT and 12 December 2026 for the ACT), or submit the hardship waiver in the application.
Before you apply: things to know
- Penn requires the SAT or ACT from every applicant, international students included. Only applicants who have not taken either test and face hardship, such as no test centre, the cost, a natural disaster or civil unrest, can use the waiver.
- International students admitted without an aid package cannot apply for aid later in their studies.
- Loans are not part of an international package; a student who wants one will usually need a US co-signer.
- Official English test scores count only from exams taken on or after 1 April 2025.
Common questions
Can international students get full financial aid at Penn?
Yes. Penn meets 100% of demonstrated need for international students admitted as aid recipients, for all four years. You must ask for aid when you apply.
Can I study nursing at Penn as an international student?
Yes. Penn Nursing's four-year BSN takes first-year applicants through Penn's central undergraduate admissions, with the same application and aid process as every other Penn school.
Do I need IELTS for Penn?
Not if English is your native language or has been your main language of instruction for at least three years by the time you enrol. Otherwise Penn takes TOEFL, IELTS Academic or the Duolingo English Test.
Is the SAT required?
Yes, for every applicant, unless you have not taken the SAT or ACT and face a hardship such as no test centre or the cost. Then you submit a waiver in the application.
A working timeline
Counting back from the next deadline (Jan 5, 2027). Steps marked NOW are already due if you start today.
Oct 13, 2026 · NOWResearch the route in depth: confirm eligibility, costs and every required document
Oct 27, 2026 · NOWAsk your referees (for a PhD, email potential supervisors with a short, specific pitch)
Nov 10, 2026 · NOWWrite the first full draft of your motivation letter or statement of purpose
Nov 24, 2026Order transcripts and certified translations · book any language test
Dec 8, 2026Second draft: get feedback from someone who reads critically
Dec 22, 2026Finalise every document and complete the online form
Dec 29, 2026Submit, but never on the last day
Jan 5, 2027Deadline