Educational Costs (1950-1959), University of Pennsylvania Archives

Compiled by Mark Frazier Lloyd, Director of the University Archives and Records Center with the assistance of Nicholas G. Heavens, University Archives Summer Research Fellow

Published 2003, with annual updates

Year	Undergraduate Schools	Graduate and Professional Schools	Estimated "Accomodations and Expenses" *
1950	College, College of Liberal Arts for Women, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, the School of Nursing, and the School of Allied Medical Professions (SAMP) Tuition: $600 General Fee: $25	Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: Tuition: $500 General Fee: $25 Education: Tuition: $600 General Fee: $25 Fine Arts: Tuition: $600 General Fee: $25 Law: Tuition: $600 General Fee: $20 Medicine: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $20 Dental Medicine: Tuition: $600 General Fee: $20 Veterinary Medicine: Tuition: $425 General Fee: $20 Social Work: Tuition: $500 General Fee: $20	Room and Board: $690 Books: $50
1951	College, College of Liberal Arts for Women, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, the School of Nursing, and the School of Allied Medical Professions (SAMP) Tuition: $600 General Fee: $25	Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: Tuition: $500 General Fee: $25 Education: Tuition: $600 General Fee: $25 Fine Arts: Tuition: $600 General Fee: $25 Law: Tuition: $600 General Fee: $20 Medicine: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $20 Dental Medicine: Tuition: $600 General Fee: $20 Veterinary Medicine: Tuition: $425 General Fee: $20 Social Work: Tuition: $500 General Fee: $20	Room and Board: $690 Books: $50
1952	College, College of Liberal Arts for Women, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, the School of Nursing, and the School of Allied Medical Professions (SAMP) Tuition: $700 General Fee: $75; Library Fee: $10	Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Education: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $75 and a Library Fee of $10 Fine Arts: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $75 and a Library Fee of $10 Law: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Medicine: Tuition:850 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Dental Medicine: Tuition:800 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Veterinary Medicine: Tuition: $600 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Social Work: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10	Room and Board: $835 Books: $50
1953	College, College of Liberal Arts for Women, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, the School of Nursing, and the School of Allied Medical Professions (SAMP) Tuition: $700 General Fee: $75; Library Fee: $10	Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Education: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $75 and a Library Fee of $10 Fine Arts: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $75 and a Library Fee of $10 Law: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Medicine: Tuition:850 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Dental Medicine: Tuition:800 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Veterinary Medicine: Tuition: $600 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Social Work: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10	Room and Board: $835 Books: $50
1954	College, College of Liberal Arts for Women, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, the School of Nursing, and the School of Allied Medical Professions (SAMP) Tuition: $700 General Fee: $75; Library Fee: $10	Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Education: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $75 and a Library Fee of $10 Fine Arts: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $75 and a Library Fee of $10 Law: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Medicine: Tuition:850 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Dental Medicine: Tuition:800 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Veterinary Medicine: Tuition: $600 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10 Social Work: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $70 and a Library Fee of $10	Room and Board: $835 Books: $50
1955	College, College of Liberal Arts for Women, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, the School of Nursing, and the School of Allied Medical Professions (SAMP) Tuition: $800 General Fee: $135	Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: Tuition: $800 General Fee: $90 and a Library Fee of $10 Education: Tuition:800 General Fee: $125 and a Library Fee of $10 Fine Arts: Tuition: $800 General Fee: $125 and a Library Fee of $10 Law: Tuition:800 General Fee: $90 and a Library Fee of $10 Medicine: Tuition:850 General Fee: $90 and a Library Fee of $10 Dental Medicine: Tuition:800 General Fee: $90 and a Library Fee of $10 Veterinary Medicine: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $90 and a Library Fee of $10 Social Work: Tuition: $800 General Fee: $90 and a Library Fee of $10	Room and Board: $835 Books: $50
1956	College, College of Liberal Arts for Women, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, the School of Nursing, and the School of Allied Medical Professions (SAMP) Tuition: $800 General Fee: $135	Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: Tuition: $800 General Fee: $90 and a Library Fee of $10 Education: Tuition:800 General Fee: $125 and a Library Fee of $10 Fine Arts: Tuition: $800 General Fee: $125 and a Library Fee of $10 Law: Tuition:800 General Fee: $90 and a Library Fee of $10 Medicine: Tuition:850 General Fee: $90 and a Library Fee of $10 Dental Medicine: Tuition:800 General Fee: $90 and a Library Fee of $10 Veterinary Medicine: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $90 and a Library Fee of $10 Social Work: Tuition: $800 General Fee: $90 and a Library Fee of $10	Room and Board: $835 Books: $50
1957	College, College of Liberal Arts for Women, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, the School of Nursing, and the School of Allied Medical Professions (SAMP) Tuition: $1,000 General Fee: $150	Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: Tuition: $800 General Fee: $100 Education: Tuition:800 General Fee: $150 Fine Arts: Tuition: $1,000 General Fee: $150 Law: Tuition:900 General Fee: $100 Medicine: Tuition:900 General Fee: $100 Dental Medicine: Tuition:800 General Fee: $100 Veterinary Medicine: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $100 Social Work: Tuition: $800 General Fee: $100	Room and Board: $885 Books: $50
1958	College, College of Liberal Arts for Women, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, the School of Nursing, and the School of Allied Medical Professions (SAMP) Tuition: $1,050 General Fee: $150	Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: Tuition: $900 General Fee: $100 Education: Tuition:850 General Fee: $150 Fine Arts: Tuition: $900 General Fee: $100 Law: Tuition: $1,000 General Fee: $100 Medicine: Tuition:900 General Fee: $100 Dental Medicine: Tuition:900 General Fee: $100 Veterinary Medicine: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $100 Social Work: Tuition: $800 General Fee: $100	Room and Board: $900 Books and Equipment: $75 Personal Expenses: $395
1959	College, College of Liberal Arts for Women, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Wharton School, the School of Nursing, and the School of Allied Medical Professions (SAMP) Tuition: $1,250 General Fee: $150	Graduate School of Arts and Sciences: Tuition: $1,000 General Fee: $100 Education: Tuition: $1,050 General Fee: $150 Fine Arts: Tuition: $1,000 General Fee: $100 Law: Tuition: $1,000 General Fee: $100 Medicine: Tuition: $1,000 General Fee: $100 Dental Medicine: Tuition: $1,000 General Fee: $100 Veterinary Medicine: Tuition: $700 General Fee: $100 Social Work: Tuition: $900 General Fee: $100 Annenberg School: Tuition: $1,200 General Fee: $100	Room and Board: $950 Books and Equipment: $75 Personal Expenses: $345

Notes:

* Undergraduate expenses only

Sources:

1950-1951: Minutes of the Executive Board of the Trustees for 23 May 1949 and University of Pennsylvania Bulletin: The College Announcement for 1950-1951, at p. 56; University of Pennsylvania Bulletin: The College Announcement for 1951-1952, at p. 57.

1952-1954: Minutes of the Trustees for 21 January 1952 and University of Pennsylvania Bulletin: The College Announcement for 1952-1953, at p. 57; University of Pennsylvania Bulletin: The College Announcement for 1953-1954, at p. 51; University of Pennsylvania Bulletin: The College for 1954-1955, at pp. 12-13; University of Pennsylvania Bulletin for 1953-1954, passim.

1955-1956: Minutes of the Trustees for 18 January 1955 and University of Pennsylvania Bulletin: The College for 1955-1956, at p. 11;
University of Pennsylvania Bulletin: The College for 1956-1957, at p. 13.

1957: Minutes of the Trustees for 15 February 1957 and University of Pennsylvania Bulletin: The College for 1957-1958, at p. 15; University of Pennsylvania Bulletin: Wharton Graduate Division of Business and Governmental Administration for 1957-1958, at p. 29.

1958: Minutes of the Trustees for 14 March 1958 and University of Pennsylvania Bulletin: Undergraduate Catalogue for 1958-1959, at p. 12.; University of Pennsylvania Bulletin: Undergraduate Programs, 1959-1960, at p. 52.

1959: Minutes of the Trustees for 13 February 1959 and University of Pennsylvania Bulletin: Undergraduate Catalogue for 1959-1960, at p. 13; Minutes of the Trustees for 12 February and 11 March 1960 and University of Pennsylvania Bulletin: Undergraduate Catalogue for 1960-1961, at p. 13 and "Supplement" at front of volume; University of Pennsylvania Bulletin: Undergraduate Programs, 1960-1961, at p. 52.

For a historical commodity price index see www.westegg.com/inflation/ and John J. McCusker, How Much Is That In Real Money? (Worcester: American Antiquarian Society, 2001).

SEARCH | HOME