The University of Pennsylvania’s advocacy for education accessibility among first-generation and low-income students is one of the reasons why it has been ranked as one of Diverse’s Top 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs for minorities.
In order to provide accessibility and allow more students to attend the university, Penn has created several bold initiatives.
Through the Penn Compact 2020, the Ivy League university is focused on fulfilling underrepresented group’s financial needs with grant-based aid packages.
According to Penn, during fall 2016, 12.5 percent of first-year students identified as first-generation, 22.8 percent are considered high need and 9.2 percent are both first-generation and high need. In addition, in 2016-2017, 100 percent of incoming aided freshmen from families, earning less than $70,000 a year, received grants-based financial aid packages. Among first-generation students, the average aid package is $68,105.
In 2016, Penn established the First-Generation, Low Income (FGLI) Program that aims to provide both academic and personal support to first generation and low-income college students. The program also gives students one-time Emergency Funding or Opportunity Grant, which could be used to cover the cost of textbooks, course fees or support a summer internship, according to Penn officials.
In addition to accessibility, Penn has a high graduation and retention rate among underrepresented minority students.
According to Penn’s diversity website, the first-year retention rate for underrepresented minority students is 97.4 percent while the traditional undergraduate six-year graduation rate for underrepresented minority students is 94.1 percent.
