The University of Pennsylvania is known for many things, not least of which is its Wharton School of Business, which many consider the best in the world. But even beyond Wharton, UPenn shines as one of the most prestigious and competitive colleges out there. Is it any surprise that it was ranked the seventh-best college in the nation in the 2026 US News & World Report annual college ranking? How should a high schooler with sights set on UPenn go about admissions?

What Is the University of Pennsylvania?

UPenn has a student body of approximately 10,000 undergraduates located on the lively west side of Philadelphia. According to the 2024-25 Common Data Set, 4,573 full-time undergraduate males and 5,401 undergraduate females are currently enrolled. The Class of 2029 profile reveals that 15% of current first-years come from outside the United States, and over 6% come from within Philadelphia. As far as the socioeconomic breakdown, 23% are Pell Grant eligible, 24% are historically underrepresented minorities, and 21% are first-generation college students.

UPenn Admissions Requirements

Getting into UPenn is no small feat. Every year, countless students with perfect grades and test scores face rejection, including those who have attended pre-college summer programs at Penn. But all hope is not lost. By reviewing the characteristics of competitive applicants and the strategies they use to gain admission, a clearer picture of how to get in emerges.

University of Pennsylvania GPA Requirements

There is no minimum GPA or standardized test score to qualify for admission to Penn per se, as academic performance is just one of several evaluated dimensions. However, UPenn still values students who have challenged themselves by taking the most rigorous coursework available, and a closer look at the data reveals a few de facto academic requirements that prospective applicants should keep in mind. 

For example, The Common Data Set reveals that 59% of first-year admits to the Class of 2028 had a 4.0 GPA in high school and that the average GPA of admits was 3.9. 91% of admits submitted this data with their applications, indicating that this data isn’t really being skewed by sample size.

Does UPenn Look at Class Rank?

According to The Common Data Set, 91% of matriculants graduated in the top tenth of their high school class, and 99% graduated in the top quarter. However, this data should be taken with a grain of salt, as only 22% of admits submitted their rank (although remember that many of America’s top academic talent attend elite high schools that don’t compute class rank). 

So, is a 4.0 (or higher) necessary to be admitted to UPenn? Not necessarily, but it sure does help!

UPenn SAT/ACT Score Requirements

Students applying to UPenn are required to submit either an SAT or an ACT score.

Amongst members of the UPenn Class of 2028, 50% submitted SAT scores, and 17% submitted ACT scores (which reflects a previous admission cycle in which Penn was test-optional). 

	SAT	ACT
Median	1,550	35
Mid 50% Range	1,510 — 1,570	34 — 36

Does UPenn Superscore Students’ SAT or ACT Scores?

A superscore combines the highest section scores from each individual test sitting for admissions evaluation. UPenn does superscore test results. However, they note that self-reported superscores will have to be backed up with an official score report. 

At Ivy Coach, we caution against submitting more than one test administration for admissions evaluation. It shows UPenn that you had to work harder than many to achieve your highest scores and that your testing performance has inconsistencies. That said, while it’s not ideal, sometimes students have no choice but to superscore.

What High School Courses Does The University of Pennsylvania Require?

Admissions officers at Penn recommend that high schoolers with their sights set on Penn “consistently take classes in core academic areas — English, social studies, math, science, and foreign language — throughout your four years of high school.”

We at Ivy Coach would like to add that it’s never advisable to take a core subject class (English, history/social studies, science, math, or a foreign language) for fewer than four years. Highly selective institutions across America look for students who have excelled in their core subjects for all four years of high school. What’s more, foreign language study should begin by eighth grade.

What Extracurriculars Does UPenn Look For in Applicants?

There is no silver bullet extracurricular activity that will automatically wow UPenn admissions officers. Applicants should focus their efforts on pursuing their one passion or specialty to the fullest extent possible, which we at Ivy Coach would call a “singular hook.”

In order to curate a well-rounded class, UPenn admissions officers prize highly specialized students. Well-rounded students do not cut it because they do not contribute much to the variety of an incoming class. On the other hand, the world-class painter, groundbreaking scientist, or budding archaeologist will always stand out over the well-rounded applicant.

University of Pennsylvania Application Requirements

UPenn accepts both The Common Application and the Coalition Application. Students must submit a counselor letter of recommendation, two teacher letters of recommendation or one letter from a teacher and another from a “non-academic supporter”, their standardized test results, and UPenn-specific supplemental essay responses. 

Let’s focus on each individual component and discuss how students should complete them to give them the best shot at admission.

Who to Ask For Letters of Recommendation

Applicants to UPenn should ask two teachers, ideally two junior year teachers in core subjects, in addition to their school counselor, for letters of recommendation. We do not recommend asking a “non academic supporter” for a letter.

Does UPenn Require an Alumni Interview?

No, interviews are not part of the UPenn application process.

What are UPenn’s Supplemental Essay Topics?

Essays are one of the most important aspects of a competitive college application. In addition to The Common Application’s Personal Statement or the Coalition essay, UPenn applicants have to complete the UPenn supplemental essay questions, a.k.a. the “Penn Specific Questions.” 

The Penn Specific Questions are as follows:

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words, only required for first-year applicants) 

How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)

In addition to these general questions, Penn also has a set of school-specific questions that vary according to which undergraduate program to which you’re applying, as well as a set of optional questions probing additional information or context for applicants who feel these responses are necessary to paint a complete picture. Check out the website on Penn’s essays for more details. 

University of Pennsylvania Application Deadlines

UPenn’s two admissions rounds are termed Early Decision and Regular Decision. 

Early Decision applications are due on November 1st of each year. Admission through this round is binding. Regular Decision applications are typically due on January 5th of each year. 

University of Pennsylvania Acceptance Rate and Statistics

UPenn’s admissions competitiveness is notorious worldwide, but just how competitive is the process? For admission to the Class of 2029, 72,544 students applied, and 3,570 were accepted for a 4.92% overall acceptance rate.

University of Pennsylvania Class Year	Overall Acceptance Rate	Regular Decision Acceptance Rate	Regular Decision Applications Accepted	Regular Decision Applications Received	Early Decision / Action Acceptance Rate	Percent of Class Filled by Early Applications	Early Decision / Action Applications Received	Early Decision / Action Applications Accepted	Expected Number of Students to Enroll	Total Applications Received	Total Applications Accepted
Class of 2030	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	61,000+	NYP
Class of 2029	4.92%	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	72,544	3,570
Class of 2028	5.38%	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	NYP	2,400	65,235	3,508
Class of 2027	5.87%	4.45%	2,285	51.356	34.51%	49.83%	8,109	1,204	2,416	59,465	3,489
Class of 2026	6.50%	4.99%	2,339	46,794	15.52%	50.42%	7,794	1,210	2,400	54,588	3,549
Class of 2025	5.70%	4.20%	2,008	48,371	14.90%	49.80%	7,962	1,194	2,400	56,333	3,202
Class of 2024	8.10%	6.00%	2,135	35,752	19.70%	52.90%	6,453	1,269	2,400	42,205	3,404
Class of 2023	7.40%	5.50%	2,066	37,850	18.00%	53.00%	7,110	1,279	2,413	44,960	3,345
Class of 2022	8.40%	6.50%	2,419	37,408	18.50%	53.70%	7,074	1,312	2,445	44,482	3,731
Class of 2021	9.20%	6.80%	2,345	34,266	22.00%	55.40%	6,147	1,354	2,445	40,413	3,699
Class of 2020	9.40%	7.00%	2,329	33,156	23.20%	54.60%	5,762	1,335	2,445	38,918	3,661
Class of 2019	9.90%	7.50%	2,381	31,778	23.90%	54.40%	5,489	1,316	2,420	37,267	3,697
Class of 2018	9.90%	7.30%	2,252	30,719	25.20%	53.70%	5,149	1,299	2,420	35,868	3,551
Class of 2017	12.10%	9.80%	2,589	26,468	24.90%	49.40%	4,812	1,196	2,420	31,280	3,785
Class of 2016	12.30%	10.10%	2,698	26,690	25.40%	47.40%	4,526	1,148	2,420	31,216	3,846
Class of 2015	12.30%	9.90%	2,685	27,102	26.20%	49.40%	4,557	1,195	2,420	31,659	3,880
Class of 2014	14.20%	11.40%	2,630	23,096	31.20%	50%	3,842	1,200	2,400	26,938	3,830
Class of 2013	17.10%	14.40%	2,770	19,273	31.50%	48.20%	3,666	1,156	2,400	22,939	3,926
Class of 2012	16.40%	13.80%	2,622	18,993	29.20%	47.80%	3,929	1,147	2,400	22,922	3,769
Class of 2011	15.90%	13.10%	2,450	18,633	29%	48.30%	4,001	1,160	2,400	22,634	3,610
Class of 2010	17.70%	15%	2,442	16,331	28.40%	49.20%	4,148	1,180	2,400	20,479	3,622
Class of 2009	20.90%	17.90%	2,743	15,329	34.20%	48.30%	3,420	1,169	2,420	18,749	3,912
Class of 2008	21%	18.30%	2,726	14,891	33.10%	45%	3,387	1,120	2,490	18,278	3,846
Class of 2007	20.50%	17.20%	2,736	15,945	38.90%	47%	2,882	1,122	2,385	18,827	3,858

How Much Does the University of Pennsylvania Cost?

In the 2026-27 academic year, the full cost of attendance for undergraduates at UPenn breaks down as follows: 

	Living on Campus	Living Off Campus	Living with Family
Tuition	$65,670*	$65,670*	$65,670*
Fees	$8,308*	$8,308*	$8,308*
Housing	$13,644*	$12,978	$0
Food	$6,960*	$5,988	$2,394
Books and Supplies**	$1,412	$1,412	$1,412
Transportation	$1,080	$1,080	$1,756
Personal Expenses	$2,008	$2,008	$2,008
Total Budget	$99,082	$97,444	$81,548

**Books and Supplies for first-year students in the School of Nursing are $1,742 for the academic year

**Books and Supplies for second, third, and fourth-year students in The Wharton School will average $2,350 for the academic year

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into UPenn

Ivy Coach’s very own Jayson Weingarten, a former University of Pennsylvania and Wharton admissions officer, has an impeccable track record for helping our students earn admission to the home of the Quakers! 78% of Ivy Coach’s package clients earned admission in UPenn’s Early Decision round over the past five years. 

If you’re interested in Ivy Coach’s assistance in optimizing your child’s case for admission to UPenn, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.