Penn Arts and Sciences High School Programs Experimental Design Academy

The academy is led by Michael Eiseman, a chemical engineer who spent more than 30 years in research and development in the chemical industry, building products and manufacturing processes for the plastics and coatings industries. When a system is too complex for theory to predict well, he designs lab experiments to build models from the data, which is the same approach the academy teaches.

Penn says its academies are led by its faculty and long-standing professionals in the field, supported by graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants. It doesn't publish class sizes. Students who complete the program can ask their Penn instructors for a letter of recommendation.

You need to be in 9th to 11th grade and to have finished a full year of high school algebra before the program starts, and you'll upload that course's syllabus with its title, a short description and a list of the topics covered. If you're still taking the course when you apply, Penn also wants a transcript showing at least one marking period. Penn looks for a minimum 3.5 GPA, writing that shows both technical skill and intellectual depth, strong recommendations and a range of extracurricular interests.

Admission is rolling until the academy is full, and a decision can take up to six weeks. You have to submit the application yourself, not through a parent, counselor or agent.

International students are welcome, but because the academy is non-credit, Penn won't sponsor a student visa, so you'll need a tourist or B-2 visa. Penn suggests international applicants apply early, ideally by February, to leave time for the visa.

• Essays

  Two essays of up to 400 words each, one on why you want this program and how it fits your goals and one on two of your extracurricular activities, plus a third on your English background if English isn't your first language.

• Transcript

  A full transcript for your last complete school year, official or unofficial, in English or with an official translation.

• Recommendation

  One letter on official letterhead from an adult who knows your work well, such as a teacher or supervisor, and it must refer to this specific program.

• English scores

  Non-native speakers need at least 100 on the older 0-to-120 TOEFL iBT, 7 on the IELTS or 130 on the Duolingo English Test, unless they'll have attended an English-medium school for two years or more by enrollment. The TOEFL iBT is now scored from 1 to 6, and Penn says competitive applicants on that scale tend to score 5 or above.

In 2026 the academy cost $6,700, which covered classes, a room in a Penn residence hall, a meal plan, linens, gym access for students 15 and older, planned activities, weekend trips and supervision. On top of that came the $100 nonrefundable application fee, travel to Philadelphia, airport transfers, meals off campus, medical costs and spending money. Students with a permanent address outside the US also pay a mandatory international registration fee that includes medical insurance, which ESF Pre-College, the company that runs the residential side for Penn, lists at $175.

Once you're admitted, you hold your place with a $1,500 deposit, which counts toward the total but is never refunded. In 2026, bills for the rest typically arrived at the start of May and were due by June, with a 1.5% penalty added to any amount paid late. Everything except the deposit was refundable if you withdrew in writing by 15 May 2026.

Penn doesn't offer financial aid, although families can pay with a 529 college savings plan. The only scholarships are a limited number for Philadelphia residents who attend a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school. They let those students attend free of charge, with housing, meals, activities and supervision included, though not travel, off-campus meals, medical costs or spending money. Applicants from those schools also have the application fee waived.

Penn hands the residential side to its partner ESF Pre-College, which hires and supervises the residential staff, runs evening and weekend activities and helps look after students' health and safety, with one staff member for every 10 students. Students must be at least 13 to live in the residence halls. After-hours emergency or urgent care is at the nearby Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Penn's Division of Public Safety offers walking escorts around the clock.

Outside class, students can use the residence hall lounges, dining halls, libraries and gym, and Penn says most of that time goes on studying, assignments and planned activities such as trivia or arts and crafts nights. Weekends bring trips off campus, such as the beach or a Phillies game, and ESF lists Saturday trips to places like New York City and Washington, DC.