The University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. It is one of nine colonial colleges and was chartered prior to the U.S. Declaration of Independence when Benjamin Franklin, the university's founder and first president, advocated for an educational institution that trained leaders in academia, comm…
The University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. It is one of nine colonial colleges and was chartered prior to the U.S. Declaration of Independence when Benjamin Franklin, the university's founder and first president, advocated for an educational institution that trained leaders in academia, commerce, and public service. Penn identifies as the fourth oldest institution of higher education in the United States, though this representation is challenged by other universities, as Franklin first convened the board of trustees in 1749, arguably making it the fifth oldest institution of higher education in the U.S.
Former names: Academy and Charitable School in the Province of Pennsylvania (1751–1755) · College of Philadelphia (1755–1779, 1789–1791) · University of the State of Pennsylvania (1779–1791)
Motto: Leges sine moribus vanae (Latin)
Motto in English: "Laws without morals are useless"
Save
Share
More