Penn Admission Requirements

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Philadelphia, PA
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Penn Admission Overview

Penn admission requirements are extremely competitive, with one of the lowest admission rates in the nation. Last year Penn admitted 5.4% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen who sent tests typically scored SAT 1510-1570 / ACT 34-36. Those figures describe last year's class, not a score you must hit.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Penn requires the SAT or ACT for 2026-27.

Cycle: 2026-27. Source: https://admissions.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/preparing-your-application/testing

Penn Acceptance Rate

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance rate

5.4%

Admission Standards

Elite

Applicant Competition

Extreme

Very Low

Low

Average

High

Very High

Extreme

Acceptance Rate

The Penn acceptance rate is 5.4%. Last year, only 3,523 of 65,226 applicants were admitted. That is the 2nd lowest acceptance rate in Pennsylvania and the 13th lowest in the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Penn and can you get accepted?

Penn is an extremely competitive school to get into, admitting fewer than one in ten applicants. You have a very low chance of acceptance even if you meet last year's profile.

Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. Of those admitted, 68% enrolled. That suggests Penn is a top choice for many students who are offered a place.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Penn GPA

GPA of enrolled freshmen

Estimated High School GPA

3.95*

Typical High School Grades

Estimated GPA (4.0 Scale) 3.95*

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

Average GPA

Penn has not published an average GPA for enrolled freshmen. CollegeSimply estimates about a 3.95 GPA (A) on a 4.0 scale, based on this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges. That is an estimate, not a school-reported average. An estimated 3.95 GPA does not by itself determine admission.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 4.0 GPA range.

*3.95 is a CollegeSimply estimate, not a school-reported average. It is modeled from this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges.

Penn Test Policy

Test Submission Requirements

The University of Pennsylvania requires SAT or ACT scores from all first-year, transfer, domestic, international, homeschooled, and QuestBridge applicants for the 2026-27 cycle. Applicants who have not tested and face hardship may submit a testing waiver. Self-reported scores are accepted; official scores are required after admission. Penn superscores the SAT and ACT and does not require the ACT Science section. Students who have taken a test must submit those scores.

Cycle: 2026-27. Source: https://admissions.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/preparing-your-application/testing

Penn SAT Scores

SAT scores of enrolled freshmen

SAT Range

1510-1570

Freshmen who sent SAT

50%

25th Percentile Scores

Reading 740
Math 770
Composite 1510

75th Percentile Scores

Reading 770
Math 800
Composite 1570

Average SAT

Enrolled testers at Penn typically score around a 1540 SAT (middle 50% 1510–1570) out of 1600. That is last year's class, not a cutoff. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 99th percentile nationally. Penn ranks #1 in the state of Pennsylvania and #11 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 1510 to 1570

800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Matching last year's 1510–1570 range does not by itself determine admission.

SAT policy

You must send SAT or ACT for 2026-27. Confirm current rules on the school's site.

View other colleges which accept students in the 1540 SAT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How SAT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares SAT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. It is not a personal chance of admission.

SAT ranges vs last year's enrolled testers at University of Pennsylvania
SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1570+	Above 75th	>9%
1540 to 1570	Avg +	5%-9%
1510 to 1540	Avg -	3%-5%
Below 1510	Below mid-50	<3%

What do these figures mean?

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Penn ACT Scores

ACT scores among enrolled freshmen

ACT Range

34-36

Freshmen reporting ACT

17%

25th Percentile Scores

English 35
Math 34
Composite 34

75th Percentile Scores

English 36
Math 36
Composite 36

Average ACT

Incoming testers at Penn typically have around a 35 ACT (mid-50 34–36) on the 36 scale. That reflects last year's enrolled testers, not a cutoff. That average sits near the 99th percentile of ACT takers nationwide. Penn places #1 among colleges in Pennsylvania and #6 nationwide for highest average ACT composite.

ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 34 to 36

1 9 18 27 36

Landing in last year's 34–36 band does not, on its own, decide admission.

ACT policy

ACT or SAT is required for 2026-27. Check the school's site for current rules.

See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 35.0 ACT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How ACT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares ACT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. They are not your individual odds.

ACT bands compared with last year's enrolled testers at University of Pennsylvania
ACT Score (36 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
36	Above 75th	>9%
35 to 36	Avg +	5%-9%
34 to 35	Avg -	3%-5%
Below 34	Below mid-50	<3%

How to read these figures

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

High School Class Rank

Class Rank of Admitted Students

93% of University of Pennsylvania freshman are in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class. For your application to be competitive, you need to graduate at the top of your class.

High School Class Rank for admitted University of Pennsylvania students
High School Class Rank	Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class	93%
Top 25% of class	98%
Top 50% of class	100%

Data Source, Peterson's Data

Estimate How You Compare

See how your GPA and SAT or ACT compare with last year's enrolled class. This is not a personal probability of admission.

Open the Penn chances calculator

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed in the table below.

University of Pennsylvania admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	34,887	30,339	65,226
Accepted	1,889	1,634	3,523
Acceptance Rate	5%	5%	5%
Enrolled	1,287	1,108	2,395
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	68%	68%	68%

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to University of Pennsylvania and what student information is used for admission decisions?

University of Pennsylvania application requirements
Requirement	Used for Admission
Test Scores	Required to be considered for admission
High School GPA	Required to be considered for admission
High School Class Rank	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Recommendations	Required to be considered for admission
Demonstration of Competencies	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted