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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

Note that during this decade, in accordance with resolutions passed by the University Trustees, “the tuition for professional students will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.” Thus, fees vary from school to school, and from program to program within schools.

Year Tuition and Fees, By School Other Expenses*
1990
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $13,420
General Fee: $1,220; Other fees: $250

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

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $14,608
General Fee: $902

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

General Fee: $706

Law
Tuition: $15,066
Library Fee: $275
Books: $545

Medicine
Tuition: $18,334
Technology Fee: $150
Books and Supplies: $1,370; Special Fees: $1,440

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

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): $2,154
1991
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $14,347
General Fee: $1,297
Technology Fee: $250

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

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $15,619
General Fee: $965

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: $756

Room and Board: $6,030
Books and Supplies: $460
Personal Expenses: $1,166
1992
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $15,198
General Fee: $1,390
Technology Fee: $250

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

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $16,546
General Fee: $1,038

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

General Fee: $814

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: $20,756
Technology Fee: $150; Educational Costs: $2,500

Dental Medicine
Tuition: $24,574

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: $6,330
Books and Supplies: $480
Personal Expenses: $1,202
1993
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $16,102
General Fee: $1,486
Technology Fee: $250

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

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $17,530
General Fee: $1,132

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

General Fee: $892

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: $21,980
Technology Fee: $150
Educational Expenses: $2,540

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

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): $2,488
1994
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $17,020
General Fee: $1,586
Technology Fee: $250

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

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $18,530
General Fee: $1,210

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

General Fee: $954

Law
Tuition: $19,568; Fees (including General Fee): $1,054; Library Fee: $325
Books: $700

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

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

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: $7,270
Books and Supplies: $520
Personal Expenses: $1,274
1995
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $17,974
General Fee: $1,674
Technology Fee: $250

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

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $19,568
General Fee: $1,278

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

Tuition: The Trustees resolved that “professional school tuition will be determined administratively to reflect budget requirements of the various schools.”
General Fee: $1,008

Average room rate in the University’s residence halls: $4,342; 15-meal plan: $2,624
1996
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $18,964
General Fee: $1,766
Technology Fee: $400

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

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $20,644
General Fee: $1,348

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

General Fee: $1,064

Law
Tuition: $21,800; Fees (including General Fee): $1,173;
Library Fee: $340
Books: $740

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

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

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

Average room rate in the University’s residence halls: $4,342; 15-meal plan: $2,624
1997
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $19,970
General Fee: $1,860
Technology Fee: $420

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

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $21,378
General Fee: $1,420

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

General Fee: $1,120

Law
Tuition: $22,960
General Fee: $1,120; Library Fee: $340; Photocopying Fee: $110

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

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

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

Average room rate in the University’s residence halls: $4,428; 15-meal plan: $2,676
1998
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $20,870
General Fee: $1,944
Technology Fee: $440

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

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $22,716
General Fee: $1,484

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

General Fee: $1,170

Law
Tuition: $24,150; Fees (including General Fee): $1,638

Medicine
Tuition: $28,470
Required Fees (including General Fee): $1,395
Educational Costs: $1,930

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

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

Average room rate in the University’s residence halls: $4,560; 15-meal plan: $2,676
1999
Undergraduate Schools:

College, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, and the School of Nursing
Tuition: $21,746
General Fee: $2,026
Technology Fee: $458

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

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Education, Fine Arts, Social Work, Annenberg: Tuition: $23,670
General Fee: $1,546

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

General Fee: $1,220

Law
Tuition: $27,060
Library Fee: $340
Books: $850

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

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

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

Average room rate in the University’s residence halls: $4,592
Average meal plan: $2,770

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).

1990: Minutes of the Trustees for 23 March 1990; Bulletin of the Law School for 1990-1992, at p. 20; School of Medicine Bulletin for 1991-1992, at p. 14; “University of Pennsylvania Dining Services: A Historical Perspective” [c. 1995] in “Dining Service,” Information Files, University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center.

1991: Minutes of the Trustees for 22 March 1991; Undergraduate Application and Admissions Catalogue for 1991-1992, at p. 34.

1992: Minutes of the Trustees for 20 March 1992; The Wharton School Undergraduate Program (Brochure) [1991]; School of Medicine Bulletin for 1992-1993, at p. 18; School of Dental Medicine Bulletin for 1993-1995, at p. 26.

1993: Minutes of the Trustees for 19 March 1993; School of Medicine Bulletin for 1993-1994, at p. 18; “University of Pennsylvania Dining Services: A Historical Perspective” [c. 1995] in “Dining Service,” Information Files, University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center.

1994: Minutes of the Trustees for 18 March 1994; Undergraduate Application and Admissions Catalogue for 1994-1996, at p. 36; Bulletin of the Law School for 1994-1995, at p. 20.

1995: Minutes of the Trustees for 17 March 1995.

1996: Minutes of the Trustees for 5 March 1996; Web Sites of Relevant Schools.

1997: Minutes of the Trustees for 14 March 1997; Web Sites of Relevant Schools.

1998: Minutes of the Trustees for 20 March 1998; Web Sites of Relevant Schools.

1999: Minutes of the Trustees for 18 March 1999; Bulletin of the Law School for 1999-2000.