The University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1740 as a member of the Ivy League; yet, it took roughly 250 years for it to become the uber-elite, highly-selective institution that it is today. If your parent, grandparent, or older neighbor went to Penn, they faced an entirely different admissions landscape than encountered by applicants in the 2020s. For example, in 1980, the acceptance rate at Penn was over 40%; the average SAT score was approximately 1240. In contrast, the Class of 2026 faced a sub-5% acceptance rate and the median SAT score of current undergrads is above 1,500.

As hellish as the admissions process is for applicants to the general university, getting into Wharton—the world’s premier business school—involves descending a few additional levels into the inferno. Given this challenging set of facts on the ground, the intention of this article is to inform you of the following:

  • Penn’s Class of 2026 early decision acceptance rate
  • Penn’s Class of 2026 acceptance rate
  • SAT, ACT, GPA and class rank of accepted Penn applicants
  • Wharton undergraduate acceptance rate
  • Admissions trends from the Class of 2026
  • How Penn admissions officers evaluate applicants
  • A look at the demographics of Penn undergraduates
  • The percent of accepted students that attend the university (yield rate)
  • Tips for applying to Penn
  • How to approach the UPenn supplemental essays
  • Tips for applying to Wharton
  • How to assess whether applying to Penn is even worth the $75 application fee (for you)

Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.

Penn: Early Decision Acceptance Rate – Class of 2026

Out of the 7,962 early decision applications received for a spot in the Class of 2025, Penn accepted 1,194, equaling all-time low 15% ED acceptance rate. The Class of 2026 cycle saw a slightly higher 15.6% admit rate in the ED cycle. There were 1,218 students accepted from a pool of 7,795 applicants.

Penn Acceptance Rate – Class of 2026

A whopping 56,333 applications were received by Penn for the Class of 2025, the largest applicant pool to date; only 3,202 individuals were accepted. Working out to 5.68% acceptance rate, this was the most selective year in the university’s lengthy history. The official Class of 2026 acceptance rate has not yet been released. However, we do know that roughly 55,000 applications were received and the first-year class is expected to be 2,400 students in size. The acceptance rate is expected to be under 5%, possibly closer to 4.5%.

Penn Admissions – SAT, ACT, GPA and Class Rank

Admitted students (not enrolled) in the Class of 2025 had a mid-50% SAT range of 1490-1560; the ACT the range was 35-36. The last official university statistics showing the academic credentials enrolled students come from the Class of 2024. For that cohort, the median SAT was 1520 and the median ACT score was 34. Ninety-six percent of 2020-21 freshmen came from the top decile of their high school class. The average unweighted GPA was 3.9.

Wharton – Undergraduate Acceptance Rate

Recent statistics for Wharton-specific undergraduate acceptance rates have not been made available. In 2017, when the overall Penn acceptance rate was 9.2%, the Wharton acceptance rate was only 7.1%. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that getting into Wharton is likely still a degree (or two) more difficult than getting into another undergraduate school within the university.

Only 47% of Wharton students in the Class of 2025 were female, much lower than the percentage of women in the at large. Almost one-quarter were international students (22%) and 63% identified as students of color. First-generation students accounted for 12% of the Wharton Class of 2025.

Admissions Trends & Notes – (Class of 2026)

  • 14% of Class of 2026 ED admits were first-generation students.
  • 40% of admitted students worked in high school; 80% engaged in community service.
  • UPenn will remain test-optional through the 2022-23 admissions cycle.
  • Students admitted in the ED round came from 42 states and 60 countries.
  • The Class of 2026 saw the highest total of applicants from Philadelphia ever admitted to Penn.

How Penn Evaluates Applicants

Six factors are rated as being “most important” in admissions decisions at the University of Pennsylvania: Rigor of coursework in high school, GPA, standardized test scores, application essay, recommendations, and character/personal qualities. It is important to point out that Penn extended their temporary test-optional policy into the 2021-22 admissions cycle. The next tier of “important” factors includes class rank, interview, extracurricular activities, and talent/ability.

In terms of extracurricular activities, it is critically important to have some type of “hook” when applying to Penn. For example, there are over 1,000 NCAA Division I athletes competing for the Quakers. Some of those individuals were recruited by a Penn coach, giving them a serious edge in the admissions process. Yet, sports are only one of a multitude of areas where one’s talents can knock down the doors to any Ivy League institution like the University of Pennsylvania. In the words of the admissions office, “Penn looks for students with the ability to turn their ideas and interests into action, people whose talents and experiences will energize our community.” Your talents and accomplishments in the laboratory, on the stage, in the orchestra, at work, or in a volunteer setting can all be just as impactful as those on the playing field.

Who Actually Gets Into Penn?

Let’s look at the demographics of current Penn undergrads:

Geographically, the undergraduate student body is comprised of the greatest number of students from the following states:

  • Pennsylvania: 18%
  • New York: 16%
  • New Jersey: 12%
  • California: 10%
  • Florida: 6%
  • Massachusetts: 5%

If you reside in the Deep South or a less-populated state like Montana or Idaho, your location is more likely to provide a boost to your admissions chances than if you live in Pennsylvania or New York. Colleges like Penn love to say that each freshman class includes a member or each U.S. state which is why being from a remote locale can help your chances.

Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown was as follows (percentages do not add up to 100% as applicants can list multiple races):

  • White: 36%
  • Asian American: 25%
  • Hispanic: 10%
  • African American: 8%
  • International: 13%
  • Two or more races: 5%
  • Unknown: 3%

Current international studies hail from the following areas of the globe:

  • Africa and the Middle East: 11%
  • Asia: 46%
  • Australia and the Pacific: 5%
  • Canada and Mexico: 17%
  • Central/South American/Caribbean: 5%
  • Europe: 16%

The gender breakdown of current undergraduates is as follows:

  • Men: 46%%
  • Women: 54%

Penn’s Yield Rate

Penn’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted is over 70%. The takeaway is that an exceptionally high number of those admitted to Penn ultimately choose to attend the university. Part of the explanation for this is that the majority of the class was brought aboard via binding early decision. For comparison, elite schools such as Duke, Northwestern, Notre Dame, and Claremont McKenna all have yield rates closer to 60%.

Tips for Applying to Penn

The 55,000+ Quaker hopefuls should all be aware of the following:

  • An interview is not a mandatory part of the admissions process, but 90% of applicants are typically offered one with an alumni interviewer. Interviews are primarily informational in nature (although they are part of the admissions process) and can be conducted in-person or on Skype.
  • For advice on what types of questions you should be prepared to answer/ask visit our blog—College Interview Tips.
  • Unlike many Ivies, Penn does consider “demonstrated interest” so be sure to make contact with the university throughout the process. This can include a campus visit, an email to an admissions officer, connecting with the school via social media, or attending a Penn event in your area.
  • Do everything you can to “bring your application to life.” This means seeking out recommenders who can speak to your passion and help your unique personality and attributes pop off the page. Essays will also be key…
  • Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the two supplemental essays and short answers required by Penn. In the 2020-21 cycle, they were as follows:

Essays

  • How did you discover your intellectual and academic interests, and how will you explore them at the University of Pennsylvania? Please respond considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected. (300-450 words)
  • At Penn, learning and growth happen outside of the classroom, too. How will you explore the community at Penn? Consider how this community will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape this community. (150-200 words)

For a detailed look at how to tackle these essays, visit our blog entitled: UPenn Supplemental Essay Prompts and Tips.

Tips for applying to Wharton

As the University explains: “There is no typical Wharton student, but they are all ambitious, passionate, and well-rounded people who thrive in team environments and excel as leaders. We have class presidents, musicians, newspaper and yearbook editors, valedictorians, artists, star athletes, debate champions, pageant queens, and entrepreneurs who are all using their skills at Wharton, Penn, and beyond.” Clearly, there are many paths to Wharton but all of them involve fantastic academic credentials, a history of demonstrated leadership, and a clearly expressed passion for the world of business—the first supplemental essay (above) and the Activities Section of the Common App both need to stand out in this regard.

Should I Apply to Penn?

If you are at the top of your high school class and boast exceptional standardized test scores, it is definitely worth adding Penn to your college list. Yet, unless you are a star athletic recruit of the progeny of a U.S. President, it’s hard to give many applicants better than 50/50 chance at earning a place in the Penn freshman class. For more information on constructing a properly balanced list of prospective colleges, consult our blog—How to Create the Perfect College List.