Fee Definitions

Curious about the purpose of specific fees listed on your student account in Penn.Pay? This page includes definitions of common fees that may apply to undergraduate and/or graduate academic programs. 

Fees Included in the Cost of Attendance 

Not all fees are applicable to every student--check your own student account in Penn.Pay to see which fees apply to your academic program. These fees are able to be covered by financial aid.

General Fee

A General Fee is assessed to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in traditional format, on-campus programs, and directly funds Penn’s non-instructional student support services. The General Fee for full-time students provides them with full access to a wide variety of University services and resources, including counseling and wellness, multicultural resource centers, student activities, recreation and fitness, career services, learning support, and much more. This fee is not assessed to students in fully-online programs or by most executive-format degree programs, reducing their access to many of these services and resources.

Technology Fee

A Technology Fee is assessed to all traditional undergraduates and to some graduate and professional students, and is used to cover a broad group of technology-driven services, including online learning resources, data and network security, technology support, email services and support, technology-enabled spaces, provided software, electronic research tools, and other related costs.

Clinical Fee

This mandatory fee is assessed to all full-time students residing within 25 miles of Philadelphia. This fee  supports Penn Wellness services, and provides students with access to Student Health & Counseling as well as to Public Health & Wellbeing initiatives. Part-time students who have not been charged the Clinical Fee may elect to pay the fee to access Student Health & Counseling services. You can read more on the Clinical Fee on the Wellness website. 

Online Services Fee

The Online Services Fee is a per-course fee assessed to students in fully-online programs, and provides a limited number of support services. Your online program website should list the support services available to you. Online students do not pay the General Fee, and are not eligible for direct payments from the General Fee fund, in the form of grants and awards from student governments and student organizations. Grants and awards from Schools do not typically come from the General Fee fund.

Executive Format Program Fee

Program Fees are assessed to professional students in executive format programs, and include items such as hotel stays and meals while in session, academic materials, etc. Most executive format programs do not charge the General Fee. Students who do not pay General Fee are not eligible for direct payments from the General Fee fund, in the form of grants and awards from student governments and student organizations. Grants and awards from Schools do not typically come from the General Fee fund.  Please visit your program website for more information about what is covered by your program fees.

Health Insurance Costs

All full time, dissertation status and exchange students (in classes for one term or longer) are required to have comprehensive health insurance. The Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP) is available for students who do not have insurance, whose plans do not provide coverage in the Philadelphia area, or whose plans do not meet Penn’s criteria for alternative insurance. Learn more about health insurance requirements on the Wellness website. 

Individual academic programs and courses may charge additional fees. For more information about costs charged by and/or specific to your program, please visit your program or school website.

Fees Not Included in the Cost of Attendance

These fees are not able to be covered by financial aid. 

New Undergraduate Student Orientation (NSO) Fee

All first-year undergraduate students are required to participate in University-wide New Student Orientation (NSO) programming. The NSO fee covers all meals available during orientation prior to the start of 2023-2024 meal plans. The fee also supports orientation events designed to introduce first-years to the academic, cultural, and social life at Penn. 

Laboratory Fees

Certain courses may charge course-specific lab fees.