The University of Pennsylvania (often referred to as Penn or UPenn) is an American private Ivy League research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, as well as the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies. Penn is one of 14 founding members of the Association of American Universities.

Like Benjamin Franklin, UPenn's founder, the University has a history of innovations. For example, the first school of medicine in North America (Perelman School of Medicine, 1765), the first collegiate business school (Wharton, 1881) and the first student union (Houston Hall, 1896), were all born at UPenn. It is now particularly well known for its medical school, dental school, school of business, law school, communications school, nursing school, veterinary school, its social sciences and humanities programs, as well as its biomedical teaching and research capabilities. All of Penn's schools exhibit very high research activity. In fiscal year 2011, Penn topped the Ivy League in academic research spending with an $814 million budget, involving some 4,000 faculty, 1,100 postdoctoral fellows and 5,400 support staff/graduate assistants.

As one of the most active and prolific research institutions, Penn is associated with several important innovations and discoveries in many fields of science and the humanities. Penn's academic and research programs are led by a large and highly productive faculty.

Over its long history the university has also produced many distinguished alumni. These include 12 heads of state (including one U.S. President), 3 United States Supreme Court justices, and supreme court justices of other states, founders of technology companies, international law firms, and global financial institutions, university presidents and 18 living billionaires

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