2024 Viewbook

The lives we'll change. The results we'll bring. It starts right here.

2024 Viewbook

About us

Bring your ideas, your ambition, and your commitment. And be prepared to do something big.

Penn GSE is one of the nation’s premier education schools.

Penn GSE is an institution that convenes the best and brightest. People who have a wide array of backgrounds and a unique set of skills come together here to inspire and galvanize each other as they take the initiative to challenge the status quo.

Whether we are researchers, teachers, administrators, or counselors, we are united in our mission to use the power of education to deliver new possibilities and drive more positive outcomes.

Who Is Penn GSE?

Faculty & Research

We’d like you to meet our faculty.

Penn GSE faculty are some of the most knowledgeable and innovative experts on education and human development. Pioneers in their fields, these eminent researchers, policymakers, and practitioners are leading the conversation about how to solve critical issues in education.

Our faculty and students engage in groundbreaking research and practice around the world. They partner with government agencies and NGOs to improve early childhood learning in Ghana. They help governments in emerging democracies and post-Soviet countries develop higher education institutions. They advise agencies and schools in Asia on assessing young children’s English language skills.

They are charting new pathways for educational leadership and having an impact far beyond the borders of our campus.

As a student you will be collaborating and learning directly from the scholarship of the pace setters in education.

Meet Our Faculty

Philly

We’re here in Philadelphia, where we can build partnerships, work within communities, reach out across our city, and make a difference in millions of lives.

Our location is an important part of our story.

Not only because Philadelphia is full of opportunities to put our work into action, but because it’s the beginning of a global network of classrooms, schools, communities and other places where our students and alumni are making change.

We hope you like cheesesteaks.

But it’s okay if you don’t. Philly has a lot to offer, no matter what your tastes.

Philadelphia is both historic and a trendsetter. It’s one of the most popular cities to live in for Gen Z and millennials, who are re-energizing urban neighborhoods. The population speaks dozens of languages, adds distinctive cultural influences, and enhances the city’s reputation as a haven for foodies. It’s easy to get around on foot, by bicycle, or public transit.

Learn & Live In Philly

Investment

group of people sitting together at table with laptops open having a meeting

Graduate school is worth the investment in yourself.

The decision to invest in your future is an important one, and Penn GSE delivers exceptional value and financial support.

Many of our master’s programs are designed to be completed in one year or less, representing a considerable savings in tuition and expense compared to two-year programs at other schools.

Our executive-format and part-time programs enable professionals to continue working while earning their graduate degree.

A majority of admitted master’s students receive partial tuition scholarships from Penn GSE. Master’s applicants can apply for need-based aid, and are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships during the application review process.

Available Funding Opportunities

Alumni

Our community of more than 19,000 alumni has a huge global impact.

At Penn GSE, we know that there’s no greater force for building communities, bridging barriers, and improving lives than education. Our impact begins here and continues with the work of our community of more than 19,000 alumni, who are out in the world delivering results for learners everywhere.

After they graduate, Penn GSE alumni put their degrees to work in a wide variety of fields, including K–12 and higher education, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, technology firms, NGOs, and start-ups. They go on to further academic study, start new jobs, develop research, found companies, lead institutions, and reimagine education in Philadelphia, across the United States, and around the world.

Penn GSE graduates also have access to a network of over 300,000 Penn alumni and a range of alumni benefits.

Where Our Alumni Work

Alumni Voices:

Rina Madhani

Founder of Start Lighthouse, a nonprofit addressing literacy needs in the Bronx

Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, M.S.Ed, 2019

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t pursued my master’s at Penn GSE. The year I had during grad school was so influential in my development. I still can’t get over the fact that I had access to the faculty, who are so distinguished and accomplished. To be able to go to office hours, to work alongside them on a research project—just having those opportunities and the access I was awarded was incredible. I never felt like an outsider there. I was always worried about imposter syndrome, but the community that was built, it grabs you as you walk in and exposes you to what is possible.”

Where Our Alumni Work

Programs

Academic Programs

2024-2025

We offer an array of high-quality master’s and doctoral degree programs tailored to diverse academic interests, including teaching, educational leadership, higher education administration, school counseling, education policy, literacy, linguistics, and more. Whether you’re looking to explore human development, educational technologies, statistical analysis, or the sociopolitical foundations of education, Penn GSE has the program for you.

Explore Our Programs

Applying to Penn GSE

A graduate degree from Penn GSE opens up a world of opportunity, intellectually as well as professionally. If you are a passionate, innovative, impactful leader—or aspire to be one—Penn GSE is the place for you.

It’s never too early to start preparing your application. Application requirements vary based on the graduate degree program. Visit our website to review your program of interest and see the official deadlines and requirements for that program.

If you are applying between September 1 and March 1, the $75 application fee is automatically waived. If you apply outside the fee waiver period, your application may require a fee. Applicants with specific program affiliations may be eligible to receive a fee waiver.

Get Started

Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination at Penn

The University of Pennsylvania seeks talented students, faculty, and staff with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law in the administration of its admissions, financial aid, educational or athletic programs, or other University-administered programs or in its employment practices. Questions or complaints regarding this policy should be directed to the executive director of the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs; Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut Street, Suite 421, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6106; or (215) 898-6993.

2024 Class Profile

Data reflect the enrolled students in master’s and doctoral programs for Summer and Fall 2024 as of August 2024; may not reflect final enrollment.

Enrollment

International Student Representation

Domestic ethnicity

Ph.D. Students

Ed.D. Students

Master’s Students

40%

International students

31

Countries represented

55

Languages spoken

International students

19%

Asian American

16%

Hispanic

12%

Multiple ethnicities

4%

Unknown

2%

Enrollment

Ph.D. Students

Ed.D. Students

Master’s Students

International Student Representation

40%

International students

31

Countries represented

55

Languages spoken

Domestic ethnicity

International students

19%

Asian American

16%

Hispanic

12%

Multiple ethnicities

4%

Unknown

2%

Age Ranges

40%

International students

100+

International students

28%

First generation and/or Low Income

pie chart depicting the percentage of available program formats; 67% traditional; 29% executive and 4% online

It starts right here.

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