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Penn History

Compiled by Mark Frazier Lloyd, Director of the University Archives and Records Center, with the assistance of Nicholas G. Heavens, University Archives Summer Research Fellow

First published in 2003, with annual updates

Year Tuition and Fees, By School Other Expenses*
1980
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, the School of Nursing, and the School of Allied Medical Professions (SAMP)
Tuition and General Fee: $6,000

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences:
Tuition: $5,920
General Fee: $380

Education:
Tuition: $5,920
General Fee: $380

Fine Arts:
Tuition: $5,920
General Fee: $380

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Dental Medicine:
Tuition: $10,320
General Fee: $295

Law:
Tuition: $6,005
General Fee: $295

Medicine:
Tuition:8,320
General Fee: $295

Veterinary Medicine:
Tuition:9,530
General Fee: $295

Social Work:
Tuition: $5,920
General Fee: $380

Annenberg School:
Tuition: $5,920
General Fee: $380

Room: $1,242-$2,052; Board (15 meals per week): $1,190
1981
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, the School of Nursing, and the School of Allied Medical Professions (SAMP)
Tuition and General Fee: $6,900

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg:
Tuition and Fee: $7,243

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Law, Medicine, Dental Medicine, Veterinary Medicine
Tuition and Fees: The Trustees resolved that “the tuitions for professional students in the schools of Dental Medicine, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements now being developed and will be announced on or about 15 April” and that the tuition for the Graduate Schools was to serve “as a floor for all professional tuition and fees.”

Board (15 meals per week): $1,338
1982
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $7,320
General Fee: $680

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg:
Tuition and Fees: The Trustees resolved that “the tuition and general fee will increase by a proportionate amount” to the increase in undergraduate tuition.

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Tuition and Fee: The Trustees resolved that “the tuitions for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”

Board (15 meals per week): $1,472
1983
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $8,125
General Fee: $755

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $8,850
General Fee: $555

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Dental Medicine
Tuition: The Trustees resolved that “the tuitions for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”

Law
Tuition: $9,000
General Fee: $435

Medicine
Tuition and General Fee: $10,550
Books and Supplies: $1,000; Health Insurance: $250

Veterinary Medicine
Tuition: The Trustees resolved that “the tuitions for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”

Board (15 meals per week): $1,514
1984
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $8,790
General Fee: $810

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $9,565
General Fee: $595

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Dental Medicine
Tuition: The Trustees resolved that “the tuitions for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”

Law
Tuition: $9,815
General Fee: $465
Books: $525

Medicine
Tuition and Fees (including General Fee): $12,535
Books and Supplies: $1,165

Veterinary Medicine:
The Trustees resolved that “the tuitions for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”

Board (15 meals per week): $1,636
1985
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $9,525
General Fee: $875

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $10,355
General Fee: $645

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):
General Fee: $504

Dental Medicine
Tuition: The Trustees resolved that “the tuitions for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”

Law
Tuition: The Trustees resolved that “the tuitions for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”

Medicine
Tuition and Fees (including General Fee): $13,580
Books and Supplies: $1,200

Veterinary Medicine
Tuition: The Trustees resolved that “the tuitions for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”

Board (15 meals per week): $1,686
1986
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $10,258
General Fee: $942

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $11,165
General Fee: $695

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Tuition: The Trustees resolved that “the tuition for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”
General Fee: $544

Board (15 meals per week): $1,736
1987
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $10,968
General Fee: $1,008

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $11,936
General Fee: $744

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

General Fee: $582

Dental Medicine
Tuition: $17,990
General Fee: $582

Law
Tuition: The Trustees resolved that “the tuition for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”

Medicine
Tuition and Fees (including General Fee): $15,640
Books and Supplies: $1,290

Veterinary Medicine
Tuition: The Trustees resolved that “the tuition for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”

Board (15 meals per week): $1,804
1988
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $11,678
General Fee: $1,071

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $12,708
General Fee: $792

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

General Fee: $620

Dental Medicine
Tuition: The Trustees resolved that “the tuition for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”

Law
Tuition: $13,160
General Fee: $620; Library Fee: $200
Books: $530

Medicine
Tuition and Fees (including General Fee): $16,030
Books and Supplies: $1,350

Veterinary Medicine
Tuition: The Trustees resolved that “the tuition for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”

Room and Board: $5,050
Books and Supplies: $400
Personal Expenses: $1,030
1989
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $12,553
General Fee: $1,147

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $13,622
General Fee: $848

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

General Fee: $664

Dental Medicine
Tuition: $20,210
General Fee; $664

Law
Tuition: The Trustees resolved that “the tuition for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”

Medicine
Tuition: $17,150
General Fee: $664
Books and Supplies: $1,300; Special Fees: $1,286

Veterinary Medicine
Tuition: The Trustees resolved that “the tuition for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”

Room and Board: $5,400
Books and Supplies: $420
Personal Expenses: $1,080

Notes

* Undergraduate expenses only

For a historical commodity price index see www.westegg.com/inflation/ and John J. McCusker, How Much Is That In Real Money? (Worcester: American Antiquarian Society, 2001).

Sources

1980: Minutes of the Trustees for 20 March 1980; Daily Pennsylvanian, 5 March 1980.

1981: Minutes of the Trustees for 19 March 1981; “University of Pennsylvania Dining Services: A Historical Perspective” [c. 1995] in “Dining Service,” Information Files, University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center.

1982: Minutes of the Trustees for 18 March 1982; “University of Pennsylvania Dining Services: A Historical Perspective” [c. 1995] in “Dining Service,” Information Files, University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center.

1983: Minutes of the Trustees for 11 March 1983; Law School Bulletin for 1983-1984, at p. 19; School of Medicine Bulletin for 1983-1984, at p. 10; “University of Pennsylvania Dining Services: A Historical Perspective” [c. 1995] in “Dining Service,” Information Files, University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center.

1984: Minutes of the Trustees for 2 March 1984; The Law School Admissions Information and Application for 1984-1985, Part I, at p. 19; School of Medicine Bulletin for 1985-1986, at p. 9; “University of Pennsylvania Dining Services: A Historical Perspective” [c. 1995] in “Dining Service,” Information Files, University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center.

1985: Minutes of the Trustees for 8 March 1985; School of Medicine Bulletin for 1986-1987, at p. 9; “University of Pennsylvania Dining Services: A Historical Perspective” [c. 1995] in “Dining Service,” Information Files, University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center.

1986: Minutes of the Trustees for 14 March 1986; “University of Pennsylvania Dining Services: A Historical Perspective” [c. 1995] in “Dining Service,” Information Files, University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center.

1987: Minutes of the Trustees for 13 March 1987; School of Medicine Bulletin for 1988-1989, at p. 10; School of Dental Medicine Academic Bulletin for 1987-1989, at p. 27; “University of Pennsylvania Dining Services: A Historical Perspective” [c. 1995] in “Dining Service,” Information Files, University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center.

1988: Minutes of the Trustees for 4 March 1988; Undergraduate Application and Admissions Catalogue for 1987-1989, at p. 30; Bulletin of the Law School for 1987-1989 and 1990, at p. 20; School of Medicine Bulletin for 1989-1990, at p. 10.

1989: Minutes of the Trustees for 3 March 1989; Undergraduate Application and Admissions Catalogue for 1989-1991, at p. 30; School of Medicine Bulletin for 1990-1991, at p. 12.; School of Dental Medicine Bulletin for 1989-1991, at p. 27.