First Generation Students

As grant-based aid packages—bolstered by named scholarships—have helped Penn welcome more students who come from lower-income households, Student Financial Services (SFS) has ramped up its ability to assist their academic journeys, especially during the pandemic when students needed more support than ever. That includes having two counselors—Silvia Hanks and Jodi Wagner—who specialize in serving highly aided students at Penn.

The release of a higher education report reveals that nontraditional students have many risk factors and financial barriers to navigate to successfully complete their educational goals.

Penn’s 265th Commencement honored students who are defined by their inspiring growth, unrivaled resilience, gracious appreciation, and undoubted ability to create a better future for us all.

For the past few years, PennCAP has hosted “Faculty Fridays” as a means to better connect first generation, lower-income students with the University’s professors. These efforts have continued virtually during COVID-19.

Marcus Wright, undergraduate program manager and academic coordinator in the Department of Sociology and doctoral student at the Graduate School of Education, analyzes academic messaging to expose blind spots.

The University of Pennsylvania has announced admission decisions for Regular Decision applicants for the Class of 2025.

A new team of student financial ambassadors offer peer one-on-one counseling and workshops on personal finance basics as part of the program launched this spring.

The University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees approved a 2.8% increase in tuition for the coming year, while also approving a $259 million undergraduate financial aid budget.

Penn undergraduates start arriving on campus to move into College Houses during an extended eight-day period in keeping with pandemic health and safety protocols.