Penn raises tuition and other costs by 3.9 percent

The University of Pennsylvania will raise tuition, room and board, and fees 3.9 percent for the 2010-11 academic year, officials announced.

The academic-year costs, which were approved by the board of trustees last week, will total $51,944. Under the plan, tuition will increase to $36,208 from $34,868, room and board to $11,430 from $11,016, and fees to $4,306 from $4,102.

The university also plans to expand its financial-aid budget by 11 percent, or $11 million, to $149 million to help students cover the cost. Despite a retreat in no-loan policies at some schools nationally, Penn officials pledged to maintain the policy it adopted in September 2009 and continue to award grants instead of loans to all aid-eligible undergraduates. - Susan Snyder