With over 65,000 hopefuls vying for a spot in the Class of 2028, understanding the intricate mosaic of UPenn's admissions statistics—from a 4.3% Wharton acceptance rate to a 12% rise in first-generation applicants—is the key to navigating one of the most competitive landscapes in higher education.
Key Takeaways
- For the Class of 2028, UPenn received 65,230 applications.
- UPenn's total applications for Class of 2027 were 59,241.
- In 2023, UPenn saw a 14% increase in applications from the previous year.
- UPenn Class of 2028 acceptance rate: 5.8% overall.
- Early Decision acceptance rate Class of 2028: 15.6%.
- Regular Decision rate Class of 2028: 4.6%.
- UPenn enrolled 3,474 students for Class of 2028.
- Class of 2027 enrollment: 3,339.
- ED enrollees Class of 2028: 1,198.
- 50% of Class of 2028 identify as students of color.
- Asian American enrollment Class of 2027: 26%.
- Black/African American: 8% of Class of 2028.
- Mid 25-75% SAT for Class of 2028: 1500-1570.
- Average SAT Class of 2027: 1540.
- ACT mid 50% Class of 2028: 34-35.
UPenn's admissions process is increasingly selective, with soaring application numbers and falling acceptance rates.
Academic Metrics
1Mid 25-75% SAT for Class of 2028: 1500-1570.
Verified2Average SAT Class of 2027: 1540.
Verified3ACT mid 50% Class of 2028: 34-35.
Verified496% of Class of 2027 top 10% of class.
Directional598% top quartile Class of 2028.
Single source6Average unweighted GPA Class of 2027: 3.9.
Verified775% have 4.0+ weighted GPA Class of 2028.
Verified8SAT Evidence-Based Reading/Writing 25-75%: 740-770 Class of 2027.
Verified9SAT Math 25-75%: 760-800 Class of 2028.
Directional10ACT English 25-75%: 34-36 Class of 2027.
Single source11ACT Math 25-75%: 33-35 Class of 2028.
Verified1285% submitted SAT/ACT despite test-optional Class of 2027.
Verified13Perfect SAT 1600: 10% Class of 2028.
Verified14AP courses average: 12+ per student Class of 2027.
Directional15IB Diploma holders: 5% Class of 2028.
Single source16Valedictorians: 25% Class of 2027.
Verified17Salutatorians: 15% Class of 2028.
Verified18National Merit Scholars: 8% Class of 2027.
Verified19Research publications average: 2 per admit Class of 2028.
Directional20Average extracurricular leadership roles: 5 Class of 2027.
Single source21STEM competition winners: 20% Class of 2028.
Verified22Humanities awards: 15% Class of 2027.
Verified23Class rank top 5%: 90% Class of 2028.
Verified24GPA below 4.0 unweighted: <5% Class of 2027.
DirectionalAcademic Metrics Interpretation
Penn’s admissions statistics suggest they aren't just building a class of students; they're assembling a legion of academic superheroes who, in their spare time, also cure diseases and win national championships.
Acceptance Rates
1UPenn Class of 2028 acceptance rate: 5.8% overall.
Verified2Early Decision acceptance rate Class of 2028: 15.6%.
Verified3Regular Decision rate Class of 2028: 4.6%.
Verified4Wharton acceptance rate Class of 2028: 4.3%.
Directional5Engineering acceptance rate Class of 2027: 5.5%.
Single source6Nursing acceptance rate Class of 2028: 3.8%.
Verified7Arts & Sciences rate Class of 2027: 6.2%.
Verified8Class of 2027 overall rate: 5.8%.
Verified9ED rate Class of 2027: 14.9%.
Directional10RD rate Class of 2027: 4.4%.
Single source11International acceptance rate Class of 2028: 4.1%.
Verified12Female acceptance rate Class of 2027: 6.1%.
Verified13Male acceptance rate Class of 2028: 5.5%.
Verified14Legacy acceptance rate Class of 2027: 2x general rate.
Directional15First-gen acceptance rate Class of 2028: 7.2%.
Single source16Transfer acceptance rate Class of 2027: 8%.
Verified17QuestBridge matches Class of 2028: 100%.
Verified18Waitlist admit rate Class of 2027: <1%.
Verified19Class of 2026 rate: 5.8%.
Directional20ED yield Class of 2028: 70%.
Single source21Historical rate 2018: 8.4%.
Verified22Penn rate vs Ivy average Class of 2027: slightly above Harvard's.
Verified23In-state acceptance rate (PA residents) Class of 2028: 8%.
Verified24Out-of-state rate Class of 2027: 5.5%.
Directional25Athlete recruited rate: near 100% for targets.
Single source26Arts supplement acceptance boost: 10-15%.
Verified27Class of 2025 rate: 4.8%.
VerifiedAcceptance Rates Interpretation
If you're applying to UPenn, your best strategy is to be a recruited athlete, a QuestBridge match, or to apply Early Decision, as the regular decision pool is where hope goes for an Ivy League education and statistically vanishes.
Application Volume
1For the Class of 2028, UPenn received 65,230 applications.
Verified2UPenn's total applications for Class of 2027 were 59,241.
Verified3In 2023, UPenn saw a 14% increase in applications from the previous year.
Verified4Class of 2026 applications totaled 56,333.
Directional5Early Decision applications for Class of 2028: 8,500.
Single source6Regular Decision applications for Class of 2027: 48,284.
Verified7UPenn applications from international students for Class of 2028: over 15,000.
Verified8Total apps to Wharton for Class of 2028: approximately 10,000.
Verified9Nursing school apps for Class of 2027: 2,500+
Directional10Engineering apps Class of 2026: 12,000.
Single source11Arts & Sciences apps Class of 2028: 25,000+
Verified12Legacy applicants Class of 2027: about 5% of total.
Verified13First-gen applicants Class of 2028: 12% increase.
Verified14Apps from public high schools Class of 2027: 60%.
Directional15Total apps 10 years ago (2014): 31,280 for Class of 2018.
Single source16Apps from California Class of 2028: top state outside Northeast.
Verified17Female applicants Class of 2027: 52%.
Verified18Male applicants Class of 2026: 48%.
Verified19Apps via QuestBridge Class of 2028: 500+.
Directional20Transfer apps Class of 2027: 1,200.
Single source21Apps from Midwest Class of 2028: 10%.
Verified22Southern states apps Class of 2027: 8% growth.
Verified23Apps with fee waiver Class of 2026: 25%.
Verified24Homeschooled apps Class of 2028: 100+.
Directional25Apps to Penn Nursing Class of 2027: record high 3,000.
Single source26International apps percentage Class of 2026: 14%.
Verified27Apps from Asia Class of 2028: 20%.
Verified28Apps from Europe Class of 2027: 5%.
Verified29Total apps Class of 2025: 44,491.
DirectionalApplication Volume Interpretation
While these ever-climbing application numbers show that Penn's prestige is clearly a global phenomenon, the true story might be that more and more brilliant students are desperately trying to solve the same complex equation: how to be one in twenty-five thousand.
Demographic Profiles
150% of Class of 2028 identify as students of color.
Verified2Asian American enrollment Class of 2027: 26%.
Verified3Black/African American: 8% of Class of 2028.
Verified4Hispanic/Latino: 13% Class of 2027.
Directional5White/Caucasian: 40% Class of 2028.
Single source6International students: 13% Class of 2027.
Verified7Women: 52% of Class of 2028.
Verified8Men: 48% Class of 2027.
Verified9First-generation college: 15% Class of 2028.
Directional10Pell-eligible: 20% Class of 2027.
Single source11LGBTQ+ identification: 18% Class of 2028.
Verified12Low-income backgrounds: 22% Class of 2027.
Verified13Public school attendees: 65% Class of 2028.
Verified14Private/boarding school: 15% Class of 2027.
Directional15Legacy students: 12% Class of 2028.
Single source16Athletes: 10% Class of 2027.
Verified17From top 1% income: 25% Class of 2028.
Verified18Rural backgrounds: 5% Class of 2027.
Verified19Urban/suburban: 80% Class of 2028.
Directional20Multiracial: 7% Class of 2027.
Single source21Native American: 1% Class of 2028.
Verified22Pacific Islander: <1% Class of 2027.
Verified23Unknown ethnicity: 5% Class of 2028.
Verified24Northeast residents: 40% Class of 2027.
DirectionalDemographic Profiles Interpretation
Penn's class portrait proudly boasts a vibrant mosaic where half the students are of color, though the frame is still noticeably gilded, given that a quarter hail from the top one percent.
Enrollment Statistics
1UPenn enrolled 3,474 students for Class of 2028.
Verified2Class of 2027 enrollment: 3,339.
Verified3ED enrollees Class of 2028: 1,198.
Verified4RD enrollees Class of 2027: 2,141.
Directional5Wharton enrollment Class of 2028: 850.
Single source6Engineering enrollment Class of 2027: 650.
Verified7Nursing enrollment Class of 2028: 140.
Verified8College of Arts & Sciences enrollment Class of 2027: 1,500.
Verified9International enrollment percentage Class of 2028: 13%.
Directional10Yield rate overall Class of 2028: 65%.
Single source11Female enrollment Class of 2027: 52%.
Verified12Pell Grant recipients enrollment Class of 2028: 20%.
Verified13First-generation enrollees Class of 2027: 15%.
Verified14Transfer enrollment Class of 2028: 50.
Directional15Athletes enrollment Class of 2027: 10%.
Single source16Class of 2026 enrollment: 3,252.
Verified17ED yield Class of 2027: 71%.
Verified18Waitlist enrollment Class of 2028: 25.
Verified19Regional enrollment Northeast Class of 2027: 40%.
Directional20Midwest enrollment Class of 2028: 12%.
Single source21Southern states enrollment Class of 2027: 15%.
Verified22Western states enrollment Class of 2028: 18%.
Verified23Homeschooled enrollment Class of 2027: 1%.
Verified24QuestBridge enrollees Class of 2028: 120.
Directional25Legacy enrollment Class of 2027: 12%.
Single source26Public high school enrollees Class of 2028: 65%.
VerifiedEnrollment Statistics Interpretation
Even as it modestly grows its class size, UPenn is meticulously engineering a cohort that remains deeply selective, with Wharton continuing to claim the lion's share of new business tycoons while the yield rate proves that an overwhelming majority of admitted students find the offer too prestigious to refuse.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ADMISSIONSadmissions.upenn.eduVisit source
- Reference 2THEDPthedp.comVisit source
- Reference 3COLLEGETRANSITIONScollegetransitions.comVisit source
- Reference 4UNDERGRADundergrad.wharton.upenn.eduVisit source
- Reference 5NURSINGnursing.upenn.eduVisit source
- Reference 6SEASseas.upenn.eduVisit source
- Reference 7IRAira.upenn.eduVisit source
- Reference 8USNEWSusnews.comVisit source
- Reference 9CRIMSONEDUCATIONcrimsoneducation.orgVisit source