University of Pennsylvania Acceptance Rate, Admissions, SAT/ACT, GPA

The University of Pennsylvania is one of the best institutions in the world to obtain different levels of degrees but, its acceptance rate is a major concern in its admission process. In this article, we have analyzed the chances of admission for all applicants at the University of Pennsylvania. The admit rate for Early Decision has also been included.

To fully understand the selectivity at the University of Pennsylvania, here is what it’s been like.

In the last few years, the University of Pennsylvania has been very selective in its admission process, sustaining an admit rate below 10%. Every year, thousands of applicants apply to different degree programs at Penn. The applications received at the university were both from domestic and international applicants.

The number of admitted students in the class of 2025 is far less than the number of applications for the academic year.

If you are wondering why the University of Pennsylvania is too selective in its admission process, then you should be aware of this.

The University of Pennsylvania is among the famous Ivy League schools. A team of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States. The popularity of the Ivies includes single-digit admit rates, which explains the selectivity at the University of Pennsylvania.

Besides these factors, the University of Pennsylvania offers one of the best education in any field of study through undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools.

If you are interested in attending the University of Pennsylvania, then kindly read this article for facts and statistics regarding admissions, requirements for applications, GPA, SAT, ACT, and more.

University of Pennsylvania Acceptance Rate

About The University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is a private research institute located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and established in 1740. The university operates a semester-based academic calendar and as of the fall of 2021, a total of 7,146 undergraduate and 16,746 graduate students are enrolled at the institution.

The University of Pennsylvania currently has twelve schools located on its main campus, New Bolton Center, and Morris Arboretum campuses. Through these schools, Penn offers degree programs at undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels.

The University of Pennsylvania’s notable alumni includes U.S Presidents, Senators, Supreme Court justices, living billionaires, etc. Additionally, the endowment of Penn as of 2021, was estimated at $20.5 billion.

Also Read: What Are The 12 Ivy League Schools and Their Ranking?

Schools at the University of Pennsylvania

These schools at Penn offer degree programs at all levels.

School of Art and Sciences
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
The Wharton School
School of Dental Medicine
Penn Carey Law
Perelman School of Medicine
School of Nursing
Annenberg School of Communication
Graduate School of Education
Stuart Weitzman School of Design
School of Social Policy and Practice
School of Veterinary Medicine

Undergraduate Programs

These are some of the popular undergraduate programs offered at Penn.

Architecture
Biology
Chemistry
Economics
Electrical Engineering
English
International Relations
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Nursing
Physics

Graduate Programs

Architecture
Bioengineering
Computer and Information Technology
Doctor of Medicine
English
Economics
Law
Nursing

University of Pennsylvania Rankings

Penn is one of the top universities in the United States and the world entirely. Recent rankings of institutions place the university in notable positions in state and national rankings.

National Rankings

The University of Pennsylvania is ranked;

1st in Best Colleges for Business in America
1st in Best Colleges for Accounting and Finance in America
1st in Best Colleges for Nursing in America
1st in Best Colleges for Criminal Justice in America
3rd Best Colleges for Communications in America
3rd in Best Colleges for Philosophy in America
4th in Best Colleges for Public Health in America
6th in Best Colleges for International Relations in America
7th in Best College for Films and Photography in America
8th in National Universities

State Rankings

1st in Colleges with the Best Academics in Pennsylvania
1st in Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Pennsylvania
1st in Best Colleges in Pennsylvania
1st in Colleges with the Best Professors in Pennsylvania
1st in Best Colleges for Business in Pennsylvania
1st in Best Colleges for Psychology in Pennsylvania
1st in Top Private Universities in Pennsylvania
1st in Best Colleges for Biology in Pennsylvania
1st in Best Colleges for Nursing in Pennsylvania
1st in Best Colleges for Economics in Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania Acceptance Rate

The University of Pennsylvania is very selective in its admission process. The admit rate at Penn is far below the national average of universities in the United States. The class of 2025 applicants at the University of Pennsylvania through the Early Decision and Regular Decision application, was 56,332 out of which 3,304 were admitted.

The acceptance rate at the University of Pennsylvania stands at 5.9%. This simply means that Penn only admits 5 applicants out of every 100. With such an acceptance rate, getting into the University of Pennsylvania will be very difficult. The odds of admission into Penn are likely in the favor of applicants with good grades.

If you want to compete with thousands of applicants to enroll in your preferred program at Penn, then you should obtain good grades, and high standardized test scores or get your high school credentials ready for the Early Decision application.

GPA Requirement at the University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is quite selective in its admission process with an acceptance rate lower than the national average for universities in the United States.

The University of Pennsylvania’s average GPA is 3.9. A selective standard that is very competitive for many applicants.

If you are still in high school, consider getting the best grades in all your courses or you can obtain the highest standardized test score to enhance your admission chances.

SAT Requirement

Although standardized test scores are not required at Penn, you can self-report your test score if you have taken any.

The average SAT score at the University of Pennsylvania is 1500 on the new SAT scale.

Here is the statistics for the new SAT scores.

Section	Average	25^th Percentile	75^th Percentile
Math	770	740	800
Reading + Writing	730	700	760
Composite	1500	1440	1560

ACT Requirement

Standardized test scores may not be required at Penn, but if you were to self-report your scores, it is highly recommended that you submit an ACT score of 34 or above.

The average ACT score at Penn is 34.

Here are stats for the 25th and 75th percentile ACT scores.

Percentile	25^th	75^th
ACT Score	32	35

Also Read: How to get into an Ivy League School and their Acceptance Rate

The University of Pennsylvania Application Requirement

An application to the University of Pennsylvania either through the Early Decision or Regular Decision starts with applicants providing the required secondary school credentials.

To join a large number of applicants applying to Penn, here are the essential requirements.

Requirement for First-Year Applicants

All first-year applicants can apply to Penn via the Common Application and Coalition Application, in addition to providing a series of high school reports.

Application Options

The University of Pennsylvania accepts either the Common Application or the Coalition Application. Additionally, you will also respond to a Penn-specific Essay to enable the university to understand your character and intellectual curiosity.

Application Fee or Fee Waiver

An application fee of $75 must be paid online with credit cards for Penn to access your application.

Official High School Transcript

Ask your school counselor or officials to submit your transcripts. Four of the undergraduate schools at the University of Pennsylvania demand good grades in core subjects, regarding your field of study.

Also Read: Columbia University Acceptance Rate

School Report

Have your school counselor or academic advisor submit your school report to Penn. The school report must be submitted online.

Letters of Recommendation

The University of Pennsylvania requires the submission of three letters of recommendation either from your teacher or school counselor.

Two of these letters should come from teachers who have taught you in core subjects. At Penn, there are two options for submitting the recommendation letter.

First, you can submit one recommendation letter from your school counselor and two from teachers.

Secondly, you can submit one recommendation from your counselor, one from your teacher, and any other recommendation.

Mid Year Report

Most of your results in the senior year might be unavailable during your application to Penn, you can submit your mid-year report for admission evaluation.

Standardized Test

Due to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the University of Pennsylvania currently does not require applicants to submit standardized (SAT/ACT) test scores.

Applicants may self-report their test scores if they were able to take the SAT or ACT.

For more information on application dates and deadlines, you can visit the official website of Penn via the link below.

Visit Penn

Application Requirements for International Applicants

The acceptance rate at the University of Pennsylvania is very competitive, yet it receives a large number of applications from international applicants. The admission stats for the class of 2025 show that applicants from over 100 countries were among the newly admitted students at Penn.

The application requirements at the University of Pennsylvania are the same for all first-year applicants. However, applicants who are non-native English speakers are required to write an English proficiency test.

English Language Proficiency Examination

The University of Pennsylvania requires that all applicants must be fluent in the English language. This is to enable easy and effective communication for receiving instructions at Penn.

Penn only considers applicants proficient in English if they meet one or both of these criteria.

If English is the applicant’s native language
If the applicant received instructions in English throughout their time in high school.

Failure to meet these standards, applicants will be required to take one of the following English proficiency tests.

TOEFL
IELTS
Duolingo English Test (DET)

Admission Statistics at UPenn for the Class of 2025

Below are the stats for the newly admitted students (Class of 2025).

	Applicants	Admitted	Admit Rate
Early Decision	7,961	1,183	14.9%
Regular Decision	48,371	2,121	4.4%
Total Applicants	56,332	3,304	5.9%

Demographics

Students of color (self-identify): 56%
First- students: 16%
International: 13%

Gender

Male: 47%
Female: 53%

Also Read: List of Top-Rated Medical Schools in Philadelphia

How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Into the University of Pennsylvania

The acceptance rate at the University of Pennsylvania is extremely, hence it’s a competition among applicants on who gets in and who doesn’t.

To be at an advantage in the admission hurdle at Penn, here are things to do.

#1. Apply During Early Decision

Statistics from the newly admitted class of 2025 show an acceptance rate of 14.9% which is higher when compared to the overall admit rate of the University of Pennsylvania.

By applying to Penn in the Early Decision, you increase your chances of admission. However, an application through Early Decision is attached with some challenges.

#2. Obtain A High GPA Wile Taking Hard Classes

The average GPA required at Penn is 3.9 and it demands getting the best grades in all high school courses. If your GPA is below the average of 3.9, you can take hard classes (AP or IB courses.) available in your school.

Most applicants to the Ivies often take up to 8 to 12 AP classes to enhance their admission chances.

#3. Write Interesting Essays

The University of Pennsylvania values the application essays and character during its admission decision. These essays provide details about your intellectual curiosity and character to the Penn admission committee.

You can write a unique essay to convince the application readers at Penn of your candidacy and also answer the UPenn-specific essays.

The University of Pennsylvania Contact Address

School Address: Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States

Phone: (215) 898-5000

Official Website

Is the University of Pennsylvania A Good School?

The University of Pennsylvania is one of the top and most prestigious universities in the world. Penn offers decorative degree programs at undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels through 12 distinctive schools.

The Penn community is diverse and endowed with a rich heritage from its years of existence. At Penn, you will find students who share your perspective relatively to achieve a goal of academic excellence.

What is The University of Pennsylvania Looking For in Students?

Arguably, good grades and a high standardized test score would get anyone in the best position of becoming the next freshman at Penn. Apart from good grades, the University of Pennsylvania is in a search for students with the right motivation and inspiration, to follow in the footsteps of Penn founder, Benjamin Franklin.

Character, sense of leadership, and intellectual interest are among the factors Penn is looking out for in students.

Also Read: Harvard University Acceptance Rate, Admissions, SAT/ACT, GPA, Tuition

Cost of Attendance at Penn

Here is an estimated cost of attendance at the University of Pennsylvania.

	Living On Campus	Living Off Campus	Living With Family
Tuition	$56,212	$56,212	$56,212
Fees	$7,240	$7,240	$7,240
Housing	$11,754	$10,054	$0
Dining	$6,134	$5,230	$2,088
Books and Supplies	$1,358	$1,358	$1,358
Transportation	$ 1,036	$1,036	$1,656
Expenses	$2,004	$2,004	$2,004
Total Budget	$85,738	$83,134	$70,558

Frequently Asked Questions about University of Pennsylvania Acceptance Rate

Here are some of the frequently asked questions regarding the acceptance rate at the University of Pennsylvania.

What GPA do you need for the University of Pennsylvania?

The average GPA required to get into Penn is 3.9. Such GPA standard requires that you be at the top of your class.

How hard is it to get into U of Penn?

The acceptance rate at the University of Pennsylvania is very selective and it stands at 5.9%. Getting into UPenn requires a higher GPA, SAT, and ACT. However, you can increase your admission chances by applying via the Early Decision as its admit-rate is 14.9%.

Is Cornell or UPenn easier to get into?

Penn is more selective than Cornell regarding admit rate.

Among the Ivy League schools, Cornell is the easiest institution to get into.

Conclusion

The University of Pennsylvania is one of the finest institutions in the United States. An Ivy elite with a reputation for providing some of the best degree programs at all levels.

The acceptance rate at the University of Pennsylvania is extremely selective and only applicants with good grades have a better chance of getting in.

Getting into Penn is mainly dependent on good grades with a little touch of personal intellect.

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References

https://www.prepscholar.com/
https://blog.collegevine.com/