University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania – Graduate School of Education Overview

The University of Pennsylvania charges no application fee for its education programs. Tuition is the same for both full-time and part-time students—$1,923 per credit. The School of Education has 76 full-time faculty members, and the graduate student-to-faculty ratio is an adjusted 4.4 to 1.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate: 39.1%
Doctoral Tuition & Fees: $1,923 per credit
Programs Offered: Post-baccalaureate certificate, Master’s, Ph.D., Ed.D.

Location: Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6216
Website: Visit School Website
Connect With Us: Connect Me

From the School

At Penn’s Graduate School of Education, our mission is to drive change. We believe deeply in the transformative power of education—to build community, break down barriers, enhance lives, and heal society. We bring together a passionate and diverse group of trailblazers and leaders, connecting them with one another and the world so they can make an impact. Our programs offer hands-on learning and research experiences that lead to real results. We aim to equip our students with the tools they need to transform classrooms, boardrooms, government offices, and learning environments where real innovation can thrive.

Penn GSE offers a broad selection of high-quality programs that blend education research with practice. Known for strengths in areas like urban education, education policy, quantitative research, practitioner-based inquiry, developmental psychology, and qualitative methods, we provide students with a solid academic foundation and strong mentorship to help them grow into effective education leaders. Our forward-thinking, interdisciplinary approach is helping shape the future of the field.

Philadelphia

Our location in Philadelphia plays a key role in our identity. The city is a rich ground for putting our mission into practice and marks the starting point for a global network of classrooms, schools, and communities where our students and alumni are already driving change. Every year, Penn GSE is involved in around 380 school-based projects throughout the city, along with over 60 community initiatives across more than 55 locations.

Centers & Institutes

Penn GSE hosts a number of faculty-led centers focused on producing groundbreaking research around global education issues. Many of our initiatives are practice-oriented, delivering innovative strategies, tools, and methods directly to educators in Philadelphia and worldwide. Building on our long-standing commitment to educational innovation, the Catalyst initiative connects education, business, and technology to design, test, refine, and spread effective tools and practices. Catalyst serves a wide range of stakeholders—including educators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, investors, and business leaders—who share a belief in education’s power to create opportunity for all learners.

Cost Considerations

Choosing to invest in your future is a big decision, and Penn GSE is committed to providing value and financial support in several key ways:

Many of our master’s programs can be finished in a year or less, which can significantly reduce tuition and living costs compared to two-year programs elsewhere.
Executive and part-time formats allow students to continue working while pursuing a graduate degree.
Most admitted master’s students receive partial tuition scholarships from Penn GSE. Need-based aid is available, and all applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships during the admissions review process.

Life After Graduation

The impact of Penn GSE doesn’t stop at graduation. Our network of over 19,000 alumni are using their degrees to make a difference across the globe. They’re working in K-12 schools, universities, government agencies, nonprofits, tech companies, startups, and NGOs. Some go on to advanced academic study, while others launch careers, conduct research, start businesses, lead organizations, and rethink what education can be—both in Philadelphia and around the world.

Admissions Details

Application Deadline: December 1
Application Fee: $0
Admissions Website: Apply Now

Master’s Program Applications
(Applicants, Accepted, Enrolled)
Acceptance rate for master’s and Ph.D. programs available with U.S. News Education School Compass.

Costs & Financial Aid

Master’s Tuition (Full-Time, In-State): $1,923 per credit
Postbaccalaureate Tuition (Part-Time): $1,854 per credit
Food and Housing: $18,360
Financial Aid Contact: Jason Cronk
Phone: (215) 898-6415
Data on students receiving aid available through U.S. News Education School Compass

Student Body

Total Enrollment: 1,653
International Students: N/A

Gender Distribution (Full-Time Students):

Female: 75.5%
Male: 23.7%

Ethnic/Racial Distribution:

International: 42.2%
White: 30.1%
Black: 14.4%
Asian: 8%
Two or More Races: 2.1%
Unknown: 1.6%
Hispanic: 1.5%
American Indian: 0.1%

(“Not Specified” category not included due to 0% enrollment)

Enrollment Numbers

Total: 1,653
Ph.D. Enrollment and Education Specialist Enrollment data available with U.S. News Education School Compass

Academics at Penn GSE

Courses and Programs Offered In:

Curriculum and Instruction
Educational Administration and Supervision
Education Policy
Educational Psychology
Educational Technology
Elementary Teacher Education
English as a Second Language
Higher Education Administration
Secondary Teacher Education
Special Education
Plus one additional area

Faculty: 76 full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty members
Degree Programs: Full list available with U.S. News Education School Compass

Teacher Preparation

Students who took an assessment to become a certified or licensed teacher during

2023-2024 -39

Number of Students Who Took Certification or Licensure Assessments in 2023–2024: 39