University of Pennsylvania: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

The University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League research university with an acceptance rate of 7.7%. While the Penn has a slightly higher rate of acceptance than Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, it is a highly selective school. To apply, students can use the Common Application, Coalition Application, or Questbridge Application. Penn has an Early Decision program that can improve admission chances for students who are sure the university is their top choice school.

Founded by Benjamin Franklin, Penn should not be confused with Penn State, a public university. From the University of Pennsylavania's location in West Philadelphia, Center City is an easy walk across the Schuylkill River. With 10,000 undergraduates and 12,000 graduate students, Penn has a diverse and bustling urban campus. For its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, Penn was awarded a chapter of ​Phi Beta Kappa, and its strength in research has earned it membership in the Association of American Universities.

Considering applying to this highly selective school? Here are the University of Pennsylvania admissions statistics you should know.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, University of Pennsylvania had an acceptance rate of 7.7% This means that for every 100 students who applied, 7 students were admitted, making Penn's admissions process highly competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

University of Pennsylvania requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 62% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of Penn's admitted students fall within the top 7% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Penn scored between 700 and 760, while 25% scored below 700 and 25% scored above 760. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 750 and 800, while 25% scored below 750 and 25% scored a perfect 800. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1560 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Penn.

Requirements

The University of Pennsylvania does not require the SAT writing section. Note that Penn superscores the SAT, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. At Penn, SAT Subject tests are recommended but not required. Review the recommendations for your individual major regarding SAT Subject tests.

ACT Scores and Requirements

University of Pennsylvania requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 38% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of University of Pennsylvania's admitted students fall within the top 2% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Penn received a composite ACT score between 33 and 35, while 25% scored above 35 and 25% scored below 33.

Requirements

The University of Pennsylvania does not require the ACT writing section. Note that Penn superscores the ACT, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all ACT test dates. Whether you submit the SAT or ACT, Penn recommends but does not require SAT Subject tests. Review the recommendations for your individual major regarding SAT Subject tests.

GPA

In 2019, University of Pennsylvania's incoming freshman class had an average high school GPA of 3.9. These results suggest that most successful applicants to Penn have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to University of Pennsylvania. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

The University of Pennsylvania, which ranks among the 20 most selective universities in the country, has a highly competitive admissions pool with a low acceptance rate and high average SAT/ACT scores. However, Penn has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay, supplemental essay, and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their test scores are outside of Penn's average range.

In the scattergram, the blue and green represent accepted students. You can see that the great majority of admitted students had a self-reported GPA of 3.7 or higher, a combined SAT score (ERW+M) of over 1200, and an ACT composite of 24 or higher. Hidden beneath the blue and green in the upper right corner of the graph is a lot of red, so keep in mind that even students who seem to be on target for admission get rejected from Penn. For any school with a single digit acceptance rate, it is best to consider the institution a reach school, even if your scores are on target for admission.

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of Pennsylvania Undergraduate Admissions Office.