UNIVERSITY HISTORY

Tuition and mandated fees, Room and Board and other educational costs at Penn since 1900:
1950-1959

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

TUITION AND FEES, BY SCHOOL

OTHER EXPENSES *

1950

Undergraduate Schools:

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences:
Tuition: $500
General Fee: $25

Education:
Tuition: $600
General Fee: $25

Fine Arts:
Tuition: $600
General Fee: $25

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Dental Medicine:
Tuition: $600
General Fee: $20

Law:
Tuition: $600
General Fee: $20

Medicine:
Tuition: $700
General Fee: $20

Veterinary Medicine:
Tuition: $425
General Fee: $20

Social Work:
Tuition: $500
General Fee: $20

Room and Board: $690
Books: $50

1951

Undergraduate Schools:

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences:
Tuition: $500
General Fee: $25

Education:
Tuition: $600
General Fee: $25

Fine Arts:
Tuition: $600
General Fee: $25

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Dental Medicine:
Tuition: $600
General Fee: $20

Law:
Tuition: $600
General Fee: $20

Medicine:
Tuition: $700
General Fee: $20

Veterinary Medicine:
Tuition: $425
General Fee: $20

Social Work:
Tuition: $500
General Fee: $20

Room and Board: $690
Books: $50

1952

Undergraduate Schools:

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Dental Medicine:
Tuition:800
General Fee: $70 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

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

Undergraduate Schools:

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Dental Medicine:
Tuition:800
General Fee: $70 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

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

Undergraduate Schools:

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Dental Medicine:
Tuition:800
General Fee: $70 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

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

Undergraduate Schools:

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Dental Medicine:
Tuition:800
General Fee: $90 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

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

Undergraduate Schools:

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Dental Medicine:
Tuition:800
General Fee: $90 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

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

Undergraduate Schools:

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Dental Medicine:
Tuition:800
General Fee: $100

Law:
Tuition:900
General Fee: $100

Medicine:
Tuition:900
General Fee: $100

Veterinary Medicine:
Tuition: $700
General Fee: $100

Social Work:
Tuition: $800
General Fee: $100

Room and Board: $885
Books: $50

1958

Undergraduate Schools:

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences:
Tuition: $900
General Fee: $100

Education:
Tuition:850
General Fee: $150

Fine Arts:
Tuition: $900
General Fee: $100

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Dental Medicine:
Tuition:900
General Fee: $100

Law:
Tuition: $1,000
General Fee: $100

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

Undergraduate Schools:

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups (Ph.D.):

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

 

Full-Time Graduate Groups/Professional Schools and Programs (selected non-Ph.D. programs):

Dental Medicine:
Tuition: $1,000
General Fee: $100

Law:
Tuition: $1,000
General Fee: $100

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).

Description of financial obligations from the 1914-1915 University Catalog
From the 1914-1915 University Catalog