Ben Franklin Statue

International Financial Aid

In higher education, excellence goes hand in hand with diversity. Penn seeks undergraduate students from the widest range of backgrounds and from countries all over the world. The University has committed to supporting admitted international students through generous financial aid so that Penn can be a reality for all students. International students enrich the Penn community by sharing their unique voices, life experiences, and perspectives.

As the importance of a globally informed education steadily increases, our goal is to grow the financial aid support offered to international students. Currently, admitted international students have 100 percent of their assessed need met, but Penn is not yet where we aspire to be: need-blind for all international applicants. Over the past 15 years, the grant aid offered to Penn’s need-aware admitted international students has increased approximately 200 percent. Penn currently spends more unrestricted dollars on international financial aid than any of our Ivy peers.

Creating a need-blind international undergraduate admissions policy would level the playing field—all applicants would be considered on their merits alone. Such a shift would be a game changer, but would also be an enormous expenditure. Endowing a scholarship for an international student is an investment that will help Penn get one step closer to achieving this ambitious goal.

Meet Our International Scholars

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Scholar

Ishaani, C'24

“The opportunities here are endless. You just have to look around, and you’ll find something for you.”
Head Shot of Joseph
Scholar

Joseph, W'24

“Without the kindness of our donors, I would never have been afforded the opportunity to come here from my small town and meet incredible, diverse people.”

International Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely. For admitted international students, Penn makes the same promise it does to domestic students – we will meet your full demonstrated need. Many colleges and universities offer no international financial aid. Gifts to international financial aid allow Penn to grow the number of international students who can be admitted to the University and supported by financial aid.

In the 2020-2021 academic yea, there were 1,286 international undergraduate students enrolled at the University who represent 111 countries from across the globe. 28% of the total international population receives financial aid. The average aid package for an international undergraduate enrolled full-time in both fall and spring for the 2020-2021 academic year was $61,366. Penn meets the full demonstrated need of admitted international students, just like we would for a domestic student.

Yes. International applications to Penn have increased nearly 300 percent in the past 20 years. To keep pace with this, over the past 15 years, the financial aid offered to Penn’s need-aware admitted international students has increased approximately 200 percent.

No, international students do not qualify for federally-funded Pell Grants or for the portion of work study stipends paid by the U.S. government for domestic students. However, Penn funds the difference so that international students can participate in work study opportunities, making total aid packages for international students more expensive for the University.

Endowing a scholarship for an international student is an investment that reaps dividends for Penn and for society for generations to come. Admitted international students have 100% of their assessed need met, but we are not yet where we aspire to be – which is ultimately need-blind for all international applicants. Endowing a scholarship for an international student is an investment that will reap dividends. By establishing a new international scholarship, you directly impact the lives of exceptional students from around the world by helping them come to Penn, add to the rich diversity of the Penn community, and enhance international understanding beyond campus.

The International Undergraduate Emergency Financial Aid Fund

Gifts are used to address the unexpected and unique needs faced by international undergraduate students, such as ongoing hardships related to the war in Ukraine and the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Support for this fund helps Penn ensure that our international undergraduates can seamlessly complete their studies while enduring extraordinary circumstances.

Give to the International Undergraduate Emergency Financial Aid Fund

The International Financial Aid Fund

Inspired by the leadership of Dr. Davis, the Dr. Ambrose C. Davis Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established in 2007 to support financial aid for international undergraduate students. In the decade since the fund was established, it has nearly quadrupled in size. Gifts of any size to the fund allow Penn to support exceptional international undergraduate students and honor the University’s legacy of diversity, inclusion, and excellence. 

Give to the International Financial Aid Fund

The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business Endowed Scholarship

The Huntsman Program in International Studies & Business at Penn is a unique, interdisciplinary undergraduate course of study that integrates business education, advanced language training and a liberal arts education. Huntsman alumni from the Classes of 2006 and 2011 united in 2016 to establish the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business Endowed Scholarship. The creation of this scholarship is a testament to how much these alumni value their experience at Penn, and recognize the importance of providing financial aid to talented students from around the globe. Gifts to this scholarship allow you to support talented Huntsman Program students at any giving level.

Give to the Huntsman Scholarship

Help shape the future of a young person.

By endowing a scholarship, you can support future 
generations of first-rate students who, if given the 
opportunity, can change the world.

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