The University of Pennsylvania, commonly known as UPenn or Penn, is one of the most selective universities in the United States. As a member of the Ivy League, Penn attracts applicants from across the United States and around the world who are interested in programs ranging from business and engineering to nursing, computer science, economics, and the liberal arts.
For students researching the UPenn acceptance rate, the latest admissions data provides a useful starting point. However, an acceptance rate is only one part of the admissions picture. Penn evaluates applications using a holistic process that considers academic preparation alongside the student’s experiences, interests, contributions, and personal context.
This guide explains the latest UPenn acceptance rate, admissions statistics, academic requirements, Early Decision, Regular Decision, standardized testing, undergraduate schools, and other important information prospective applicants should know.
What Is the UPenn Acceptance Rate?
For the Class of 2029, Penn received 72,544 applications for undergraduate admission. The university offered admission to 3,570 applicants, which works out to approximately 4.9%, or about 5% when rounded. Penn described Fall 2025 as its most selective admissions cycle to date.
In simple terms, approximately 5 out of every 100 applicants received an offer of admission for that entering class.
| UPenn Admissions Statistic | Class of 2029 |
|---|---|
| Applications | 72,544 |
| Students offered admission | 3,570 |
| Approximate acceptance rate | 4.9% |
| Students enrolled | About 2,420–2,421 |
| Early Decision applications | 9,503 |
| Regular Decision applications | 63,041 |
Penn’s official incoming-class profile reports 72,544 total applications and 2,421 students enrolled in the incoming class.
Is UPenn’s Acceptance Rate 5%?
Yes. For Fall 2025 admission to the Class of 2029, Penn’s official university facts page reports that 3,570 of 72,544 applicants were offered admission, or 5%. The exact calculation is approximately 4.92%, which is commonly expressed as about 4.9%.
Because admission rates can change from year to year, students should use the most recent Penn data rather than assuming that a future class will have exactly the same rate.
UPenn Acceptance Rate for the Class of 2029
The Class of 2029 represents one of Penn’s largest applicant pools.
Penn received more than 72,000 applications, and the university reported that this was its largest first-year applicant pool at the time. The admissions process included applicants admitted through Early Decision, Regular Decision, and QuestBridge.
Penn’s admissions office emphasizes that statistics cannot fully describe an individual applicant’s prospects. The university states that its review process considers the applicant as an individual rather than relying on a single numerical profile.
UPenn Early Decision Acceptance Rate
Penn offers an Early Decision application option for students who consider Penn their first-choice institution.
For the Class of 2029, Penn received 9,503 Early Decision applications. Penn’s incoming-class information also states that 51% of the Class of 2029 was admitted through Early Decision.
It is important to interpret Early Decision statistics carefully. The percentage of the enrolled class coming through Early Decision is not the same thing as the Early Decision acceptance rate.
Penn’s Early Decision program is binding. Students admitted through Early Decision are generally expected to enroll at Penn, subject to the terms of the program and applicable financial-aid considerations.
UPenn Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
Regular Decision is the non-binding application route used by many Penn applicants.
For the Class of 2029, Penn reported 63,041 Regular Decision applications.
Penn does not present the overall 4.9% acceptance rate as a prediction of an individual applicant’s Regular Decision outcome. Instead, applicants should understand that the university evaluates applications holistically and that the composition of the applicant pool changes every year.
UPenn Acceptance Rate by School
Penn has four undergraduate schools:
- College of Arts and Sciences
- School of Engineering and Applied Science
- School of Nursing
- Wharton School
Students apply to one of these undergraduate schools as part of the admissions process.
Penn’s overall undergraduate acceptance rate does not mean that every undergraduate school has the same acceptance rate. The applicant pool, enrollment goals, academic interests, and program characteristics can vary among schools.
Wharton Acceptance Rate
The Wharton School is Penn’s undergraduate business school and is one of the university’s best-known academic programs.
Penn does not currently publish a separate official undergraduate Wharton acceptance rate as part of its general incoming-class profile. Therefore, applicants should be cautious about websites that present an unofficial Wharton acceptance percentage as an exact current figure.
Penn Engineering Acceptance Rate
The School of Engineering and Applied Science offers undergraduate programs in areas such as computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, bioengineering, and other engineering disciplines.
Penn’s published overall acceptance rate applies to undergraduate admission to the university as a whole rather than providing a single official current acceptance rate for Penn Engineering.
College of Arts and Sciences Acceptance Rate
The College of Arts and Sciences provides a broad liberal arts and sciences education. Students can explore disciplines including economics, biology, psychology, political science, mathematics, chemistry, history, and many others.
Penn’s public admissions statistics do not establish a separate current acceptance rate for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Penn Nursing Acceptance Rate
The School of Nursing is Penn’s undergraduate nursing school. Students interested in nursing apply through Penn’s undergraduate admissions process to the School of Nursing.
Again, Penn’s headline acceptance rate of approximately 5% represents the overall undergraduate applicant pool rather than a separately published Nursing acceptance rate.
UPenn SAT Scores
Penn’s recent incoming-class data provides SAT information for students who submitted test scores.
For Fall 2025, the middle 50% SAT ranges among enrolled students who submitted scores were:
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 740–770
- SAT Math: 770–800
- Median SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 760
- Median SAT Math: 790
These figures are reported by the University of Pennsylvania.
A middle-50% range means that 25% of students who submitted scores scored below the range and 25% scored above it.
Does Penn Require the SAT?
Penn’s testing policy has changed over time. Applicants should always check Penn’s official admissions website for the requirements applicable to their specific application cycle.
The university’s current admissions resources should be treated as the authoritative source rather than older articles or admissions statistics from previous years.
UPenn ACT Scores
ACT scores have also been part of Penn’s admissions testing history, although testing policies can change between application cycles.
Students considering submitting ACT scores should check the testing policy for the year in which they intend to apply.
It is also important to remember that standardized-test scores are only one component of an application. A strong score does not guarantee admission, and an applicant’s entire academic and personal profile is considered.
UPenn GPA Requirements
Penn does not publish a single minimum GPA that guarantees admission.
Instead, applicants are evaluated within the context of their high school and academic opportunities. Penn reports that 95% of students admitted for Fall 2025 came from the top 10% of their high school graduating class.
This illustrates the highly competitive academic environment of the applicant pool.
Rather than focusing exclusively on reaching a particular GPA number, applicants should generally aim to demonstrate strong performance in the most challenging courses available to them.
What Does UPenn Look for in Applicants?
Penn describes its admissions process as holistic.
For the Class of 2029, Penn says its review process is grounded in assessing an applicant’s pursuit of knowledge, contribution, and purpose. The university also emphasizes that the activities listed in its incoming-class profile should not be treated as a checklist of requirements.
Applicants may demonstrate these qualities through:
- Challenging academic coursework
- Intellectual interests
- Research
- Community involvement
- Employment
- Family responsibilities
- Athletics
- Creative activities
- Leadership
- Internships
- Volunteer work
- Personal projects
- Other meaningful commitments
The strongest application strategy is generally to present an authentic picture of the student’s interests and accomplishments rather than trying to manufacture activities simply because they appear impressive.
UPenn Application Requirements
Applicants should verify requirements for their specific admission cycle because application policies can change.
A typical Penn undergraduate application includes components such as:
- Common Application or applicable application platform
- Personal essay
- Penn-specific supplemental essays
- High school transcript
- School report
- Counselor recommendation
- Teacher recommendations
- Academic information
- Activities and extracurricular information
- Testing information when applicable
- Application fee or approved fee waiver
Penn may also require or recommend additional materials depending on the applicant’s program or circumstances.
UPenn Supplemental Essays
Penn’s supplemental essays are an important part of the application because they give applicants an opportunity to explain why Penn fits their academic interests and goals.
Applicants should avoid treating these essays as generic statements that could be sent to any Ivy League school.
A stronger approach is to research the specific Penn school, programs, courses, academic opportunities, communities, and experiences that genuinely connect with the applicant’s goals.
UPenn International Acceptance Rate
Penn’s international applicant pool is highly competitive.
For Fall 2025, Penn reported that 17,882 international students applied for undergraduate admission and 441 received admission offers, representing approximately 2.5% of the international applicant pool. Penn also reported that international students made up approximately 13% of the first-year class.
The international figure should not be confused with Penn’s overall undergraduate acceptance rate because the two statistics describe different applicant populations.
International applicants should also consider financial-aid policies, citizenship requirements, academic credentials, English-language requirements where applicable, and visa considerations.
UPenn Acceptance Rate for Transfer Students
Transfer admission is a separate process from first-year admission.
Transfer applicants should not assume that the approximately 5% first-year acceptance rate applies to transfer admissions.
Penn publishes separate information for transfer applicants, and prospective transfer students should review the current transfer admissions requirements and available spaces for their intended school.
UPenn Acceptance Rate vs. Other Ivy League Schools
Acceptance rates at highly selective universities can fluctuate significantly from year to year.
Penn’s Class of 2029 acceptance rate was approximately 4.9%.
However, comparing universities solely by acceptance rate can be misleading. Differences in application volume, enrollment size, application policies, institutional priorities, and the composition of each applicant pool can affect the percentage.
For prospective students, it is more useful to consider academic programs, campus environment, financial aid, location, application requirements, and personal fit alongside admissions statistics.
UPenn Class of 2029 Student Profile
Penn’s incoming Class of 2029 included 2,421 enrolled students.
According to Penn’s official incoming-class profile:
- 21% are first-generation college students
- 57% identify as students of color
- 23% are estimated to be Pell-eligible
- 259 students were affiliated with QuestBridge
- 545 students were affiliated with community-based organizations
Penn also reports a broad range of extracurricular involvement among the incoming class.
Is UPenn Hard to Get Into?
The latest admissions numbers show that admission to Penn is highly selective. With 72,544 applications and 3,570 offers for Fall 2025, approximately 95% of applicants did not receive an offer of admission.
However, an acceptance rate should not be interpreted as an individual student’s personal probability of admission.
Penn itself cautions prospective applicants that its class-profile statistics do not translate directly into an individual’s chances of admission.
How to Prepare for a UPenn Application
Students planning to apply to Penn can begin preparing well before application deadlines.
1. Build a strong academic foundation
Take challenging courses that are appropriate for your school and circumstances. Focus on understanding the material rather than simply accumulating difficult course titles.
2. Develop meaningful extracurricular activities
Quality and personal significance are more useful than trying to collect a long list of activities.
A student might demonstrate commitment through research, athletics, employment, community service, creative work, family responsibilities, entrepreneurship, or another sustained interest.
3. Research Penn’s academic programs
Learn about the undergraduate school you intend to apply to and identify programs that connect naturally with your interests.
4. Prepare thoughtful essays
Your essays should add information that cannot be understood from your transcript alone.
Use them to communicate your experiences, motivations, intellectual interests, and perspective.
5. Review testing requirements
Testing policies can change. Check Penn’s official admissions information before deciding whether and how to submit standardized-test scores.
6. Apply before the appropriate deadline
Keep track of Early Decision and Regular Decision deadlines and allow enough time for recommendations, transcripts, testing, and essays.
UPenn Acceptance Rate: Frequently Asked Questions
What is UPenn’s acceptance rate?
For the Class of 2029, Penn offered admission to 3,570 of 72,544 undergraduate applicants, an acceptance rate of approximately 4.9%, commonly reported as 5%.
How many students applied to UPenn?
Penn received 72,544 applications for the Class of 2029.
How many students did UPenn admit?
Penn reported 3,570 admission offers for Fall 2025.
What SAT score do UPenn students have?
Among enrolled students who submitted SAT scores for Fall 2025, the middle 50% range was 740–770 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and 770–800 for Math.
Does UPenn have an Early Decision program?
Yes. Penn offers Early Decision, and 51% of the Class of 2029 was admitted through Early Decision.
Is UPenn an Ivy League school?
Yes. The University of Pennsylvania is one of the eight Ivy League universities.
Is UPenn the same as Penn State?
No. The University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania State University are separate institutions.
Final Thoughts on the UPenn Acceptance Rate
The latest UPenn acceptance rate demonstrates how competitive undergraduate admission has become. For the Class of 2029, Penn received 72,544 applications and admitted 3,570 students, resulting in an acceptance rate of approximately 4.9%.
Still, the acceptance rate is only a starting point. Penn emphasizes that its admissions process looks beyond statistics and considers applicants in the context of their experiences, academic opportunities, interests, contributions, and goals.
Students interested in Penn should therefore focus on building a strong academic record, pursuing meaningful interests, researching their intended undergraduate school, and preparing an authentic application.
Because admissions policies and statistics can change, applicants should verify deadlines, testing requirements, and application instructions directly with Penn Admissions before submitting an application.
Sources
- University of Pennsylvania — Undergraduate Admissions Facts
- Penn Admissions — Incoming Class Profile
- Penn Admissions — Class of 2029 information
- Penn Institutional Research & Analysis — Common Data Set
