University of Pennsylvania Acceptance Rate
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 59,465
- Admitted
- 3,489
- Yield
- 69.2%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, University of Pennsylvania's acceptance rate has fallen from 10.4% in 2014–15 to 5.9% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 35,866 to 59,465 (+66%) over that period.
Its 5.9% rate makes University of Pennsylvania more selective than about 99% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 108 tracked Pennsylvania schools, it is more selective than about 99%.
University of Pennsylvania has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 69.2% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 35,866 | 3,718 | 10.4% | 2,425 |
| 2015–16 | 37,268 | 3,787 | 10.2% | 2,435 |
| 2016–17 | 38,918 | 3,674 | 9.4% | 2,491 |
| 2017–18 | 40,413 | 3,757 | 9.3% | 2,456 |
| 2018–19 | 44,491 | 3,740 | 8.4% | 2,518 |
| 2019–20 | 44,961 | 3,446 | 7.7% | 2,400 |
| 2020–21 | 42,205 | 3,789 | 9% | 2,321 |
| 2021–22 | 56,332 | 3,304 | 5.9% | 2,418 |
| 2022–23 | 54,588 | 3,549 | 6.5% | 2,409 |
| 2023–24 | 59,465 | 3,489 | 5.9% | 2,416 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 32,337 | 1,887 | 5.8% |
| Men | 27,128 | 1,602 | 5.9% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 730–770 | 51% |
| SAT Math | 770–800 | |
| ACT Composite | 34–35 | 19% |
How University of Pennsylvania compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is University of Pennsylvania's acceptance rate?
University of Pennsylvania's acceptance rate is 5.9% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (3,489 admitted of 59,465 applicants).
Is University of Pennsylvania test optional?
University of Pennsylvania is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to University of Pennsylvania?
University of Pennsylvania received 59,465 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 3,489.
What SAT score do you need for University of Pennsylvania?
Admitted students at University of Pennsylvania typically scored 730–770 on SAT Reading/Writing and 770–800 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is University of Pennsylvania getting harder to get into?
University of Pennsylvania has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 10.4% in 2014–15 to 5.9% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.upenn.edu/.