I don't know where epinions.com got the information that Penn's tuition was somewhere in the neighborhood of $24,000... it's closer to $32,000 this year.

Maybe they aren't including room and board... the say that totals around $8000, but there are VERY few commuting students here.

The financial aid program is OK, as much as can be expected from and Ivy League school, I guess. Simply, this is how Penn does it. They take total costs ($34,000), subtract what your parents and you can feasibly contribute, and whats left is your financial need.

With this financial need they give you loans first, unless you have an outside scholarship. Then, lastly, comes grants. The way things work out, my parents and I contribute, and I will be left with quite a few loans when i graduate, unfortunately. I also take part in the work study program, which is like a job that you get paid depending on the hours you work each week.

Financial aid officers here are nice to talk to, and will always sit down and discuss things with you, but that's their job I guess. In my opinion, I think that Penn has enough money to stop hiking tuition costs every year, but that's another story.

This isn't very much of an opinion, but its more about the financial aid system here at Penn. I hope someone finds it useful.



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