Master of Business Administration 

at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Wharton is a popular school among international students, although the living expense along with the high tuition fee can feel a little expensive. According to the Wharton's official site, an international student has to spend an amount of USD 33,804 (INR 28.5 L) for one year to pursue MBA at this B-School, from which a big chunk will go in paying rent. Eighty percent of the Wharton MBA students live near Rittenhouse Square, which is located in centre city. The Centre City is known for its best restaurants, shopping outlets, and nightlife.

The commute to the Wharton campus is a 25 minutes' walk, or 10 to 15 minutes through bike or public transportation. The students say on various platforms such as Quora, that they are able to enjoy the luxury high-rises with beautiful views of the park and brownstone homes. The average rent among the students who live in Rittenhouse Square for various kinds of apartments in mentioned below:

(USD 1 = INR 84.41)

Below mentioned are the buildings most Wharton MBA students live in Rittenhouse Square:

·         AQ Rittenhouse

·         2040 Market

·         1919 Market

·         The Dorchester

·         2400 Chestnut

·         2116 Chestnut

·         The Republic

·         Rittenhouse Claridge

·         Wanamaker House

·         1700 Chestnut

·         The Beacon

·         Locust on the Park

·         Aria

·         The Carlyle

·         The Sterling

The MBA programs at The Wharton School are ranked at #1 by the US World and News ranking body (2025) among the best Management programs worldwide. Yes, the Wharton MBA is worth it due to several factors, including the worldwide degree recognition, high employability, and Business and Management skills mastery. The Wharton MBA graduates of class 2024 are placed in some of the top companies of the world Ab Bernstein, Activision Blizzard, Adobe Inc., Alixpartners, Alpine Investors, with an average median package of USD 178,000 (INR 1.59 Cr), with the first year tuition cost of USD 84,830 (INR 71.5 L) for the Wharton MBA. Not to mention the long-term career benefits.

Wharton's MBA application cost is $275 and is non-refundable. With your application, you can pay by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express). MBA at Wharton for Indian students is quite expensive. The table below highlights the total cost of pursuing MBA at Wharton:

1st year tuition fees

Other expenses in 1st Year

International students willing to apply for an MBA programme can apply through the university portal. They must fulfill the basic eligibility and submit the required documents along with the application fee. The student must complete their college-level education equivalent to a four-year American undergraduate or baccalaureate degree before applying. Then submit documents such as background information, essay, GMAT/GRE score, resume, LOR, transcripts, and English language proficiency score and pay USD 90 (INR 7.5K) as the application fee to apply at the university.

Harvard Business School of Harvard University as well as the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania are one of the top three business schools in the world and thus getting a degree from either of these is equally prestigious. In terms of rankings, the Wharton Business School has an upper hand. However, Harvard Business School offers more affordable education.

We have given below a comprehensive comparison of both the business schools below:

Conversion Rate: 1 USD = INR 83.17

UPenn expects a minimum cumulative GPA of 3 on the 4 scale as a general admission requirement. However, students who enrolled or were selected by the University of Pennsylvania scored much more than the required. Students who want to take UPenn admission must aim to score more than 3 GPAs to beat the competition. Along with the GPA, students must submit ACT or SAT scores to provide support to the application as the university provides test options for them.

UPenn supplement essay expects a specific, well-researched reason to take admission to the university. Students can include their overall experience, which comprises particular classes, clubs, research, programs that excite them, professors, and more. If students are specific for school e.g  Wharton, Engineering, they must mention how and why they fit. Also, include how Penn will align with your academic and career goals.

Along with fulfilling the basic eligibility, students must submit all the required documents and meet the admission requirements to be admitted to undergraduate or graduate programs. The University of Pennsylvania UG and PG document checklist for international applicants is given below:

Undergraduate document checklist:

• Official high school transcripts
• SAT/ACT score
• English language requirements
• Two teachers recommendations
• Counsellor letter
• Personal essay
• Supplemental Essay
• School profile

Graduate document checklist:

•   University transcripts and degree certificates
•   GRE/GMAT scores (if required)
•   Statement of Purpose (SOP)
•   Resume/CV
•   3 Letters of Recommendation
•   TOEFL/IELTS scores
•   Application fee

According to officials, UPenn believes in conducting a thorough review of the applications once they are received. Review includes various factors that are beyond academics. Although academics will remain of the most important factors, things like extracurricular activities, community service and interests outside the classroom are highly crucial. 

Univ of Pennsylvania offers more than 100 courses to international students every year. University is known for highly ranked academic programs. As per US News, some of the popular courses are:

• Business and Management 
• Marketing 
• Social Sciences
• Biology and Biomedical Sciences
• Mathematics and Statistics 
• Psychology 
• Visual and Performing arts