Upenn Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements

University of Pennsylvania is one of the leading universities in the USA. It is extremely competitive to gain admission to. The acceptance rate of University of Pennsylvania (Upenn) is 6.5%. This means that only 7 out of every 100 applicants get admitted.

How Competitive are University of Pennsylvania Admissions?

Extremely competitive: Applicants require excellent academic record and extracurriculars.
GPA, SAT/ACT, and AP/IB courses significantly impact admission chances.
A holistic review considers essays, recommendations, and leadership roles.

University of Pennsylvania Admission Competitiveness

With one of the lowest acceptance rates in the US, you need to excel in every aspect to be selected. Your GPA, AP, IB, SAT, and ACT scores should be in the top range to increase your chances of admission. Below, we have listed all the requirements and score ranges needed for admission to University of Pennsylvania to help you prepare in advance. Meeting their general GPA and test (SAT/ACT) requirements is crucial because without these, you won't proceed to the second round of admission processing. These requirements act as automatic filters, so failing to meet them makes your chance of getting in nearly zero.

Note that admission staff look beyond academic performance. In addition to maintaining a high GPA and strong test scores, your personality, aptitude, and interpersonal communication skills also play a significant role in the admissions process. Participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, community events, leadership activities, and your capacity to play leadership roles are also significant.

University of Pennsylvania Admission Requirements

Upenn GPA Requirement

The average GPA of the admitted students at Upenn is 3.78. It means that Upenn is very selective in terms of the GPA. (Please note that most schools report a weighted GPA, which is out of 4.0. However, some schools may use unweighted GPAs. For exact information, contact the school admission staff).

With an average GPA of 3.78, Upenn requires you to be near the top of your class. You need to score mostly A's in all classes to have good chances of admission. A couple of B's will not hurt you much, but more B's will put you in the lower category of the students. Additionally, you must take AP or IB courses to demonstrate your academic ability. More specifically, your AP and IB courses must be related to the area of your selected course of study. For example, if you are planning a career in engineering or IT, courses related to mathematics, calculus, and physics will help you.

If your GPA is less than 3.78 and higher than 3.48 then you need higher SAT or ACT scores to compensate. You need a minimum of 3.38 GPA, to secure admission at Upenn. Below this, the chances of admission will be very slim.

Can I Get Into Upenn Without SAT Or ACT?: University of Pennsylvania considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. Hence you are required to plan early and appear in upcoming SAT / ACT tests. Check the schedule of the test and plan accordingly. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students, as given below.

University of Pennsylvania (Upenn) SAT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for SAT and ACT testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them. The test score policy is already mentioned.

University of Pennsylvania Average SAT Score: 1546
The average SAT score of the admitted students at University of Pennsylvania is 1546 on the 1600 SAT scale.

University of Pennsylvania SAT Competitiveness

This score makes it Extremely Competitive for SAT test scores. You need to do extremely well to score 1546 on the SAT.
If your score is below 1500, consider retaking the SAT to improve your chances of admission to Upenn. It is not strange to appear multiple times for the SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.

University of Pennsylvania SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
SAT Math	785	770	800
SAT Reading	750	730	770
SAT Composite	1546	1500	1570

It means that if you have scored less than 1500 then you are below most of the admitted students at Upenn and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1570 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students. View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1550

Can I get into University of Pennsylvania (Upenn) with a 1550 SAT?

With a 1550 SAT Score, your chances of admission at University of Pennsylvania (Upenn) are good but the admission staff at Upenn tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.

University of Pennsylvania (Upenn) ACT Requirements

The average ACT Score at Upenn is 35.

University of Pennsylvania ACT Competitiveness

This score makes University of Pennsylvania Extremely Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do extremely well to score 35 on the ACT.

University of Pennsylvania ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
ACT Math	35	33	36
ACT English	36	35	36
ACT Composite	35	34	35

Can I get into University of Pennsylvania with a 35 ACT?

With a 35 ACT Score, your chances of admission at University of Pennsylvania are good but the admission staff does not check your ACT Score only. The College Admission process tests your all-around personality and academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission.

SAT Vs ACT: Which score to send

You can compare your scores in SAT and ACT to the average SAT and ACT Scores of the admitted students at University of Pennsylvania. More importantly, comparing your scores with the 25th and 75th percentiles of SAT and ACT scores will give you a better understanding of where you stand. If your score on the SAT is near the 75th percentile SAT score, then you must send your SAT score. If your ACT score is near the 75th percentile, then you must send your ACT Score.

But there is more, if both of your scores are in the same range, then it is better to send an ACT Score, as in the case of ACT, you can control which score to send as opposed to SAT.

Here is how: When sending the ACT Score, you can decide which score you want to send to the colleges. You could take 8 ACT tests, and only send your highest one. This is not the case with the SAT, where your score report mentions all of your attempts.

View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 35.

Upenn Profile

Name: University of Pennsylvania (Upenn)

City: Philadelphia

URL: www.upenn.edu/

State: Pennsylvania

Type: Non-Profit Private

Zip: 19104-6303

Campus: Main

Accredited by: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)

Does a degree from Upenn Worth It?

Getting into Upenn can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. Upenn offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision. Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at Upenn is USD: 78252 and unemployment rate is 3.4%.

How much does a degree from Upenn Cost?

The average annual cost of the degree at University of Pennsylvania is USD: 83298. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at University of Pennsylvania is much less than this.

How can I get a scholarship?

15.21% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 10.02 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Upenn and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.

At University of Pennsylvania, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Upenn as your choice in the form.

How much a Upenn Graduate make?

The average annual salary of the Upenn graduate after 4-6 years of graduation is USD 111371. An average Upenn graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4-6 years after graduation).

The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is USD: 40595

Less Competitive Schools

These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of Pennsylvania. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower than the requirements of University of Pennsylvania, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Pomona College	Pomona College, CA	1520	34
University of Southern California	University of Southern California, CA	1520	34
University of Chicago	University of Chicago, IL	1532	35
Northwestern University	Northwestern University, IL	1526	34
Bowdoin College	Bowdoin College, ME	1520	34
Washington University in St Louis	Washington University in St Louis, MO	1525	34
Cornell University	Cornell University, NY	1527	34
New York University	New York University, NY	1527	34
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering	Franklin W Olin College of Engineering, MA	1533	35

Equally Competitive Schools

These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of Pennsylvania. If your SAT or ACT score are competitive for University of Pennsylvania, you'll be competitive for these schools also.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Harvey Mudd College	Harvey Mudd College, CA	1539	35
Yale University	Yale University, CT	1547	34
Johns Hopkins University	Johns Hopkins University, MD	1553	35
Harvard University	Harvard University, MA	1553	35
Williams College	Williams College, MA	1540	35

More Competitive Schools

These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of Pennsylvania. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Yale University	Yale University, CT	1547	34
Johns Hopkins University	Johns Hopkins University, MD	1553	35
Harvard University	Harvard University, MA	1553	35
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA	1560	36
Princeton University	Princeton University, NJ	1546	34

Degree Programs

Bachelor Degree Programs

Full list of All degree programs offered by University of Pennsylvania.

Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard's latest data as provided in 2024, US Department of Education's latest 2024 statistics, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.