UPenn admitted only 5.8% of its 65,230 applicants for the Class of 2028. Early Decision applicants were over three times more likely to gain admission. The enrolled class is academically elite, with 98% ranking in the top quartile of their high school.
Key Takeaways
- 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 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%.
- 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.
- 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.
- UPenn enrolled 3,474 students for Class of 2028.
- Class of 2027 enrollment: 3,339.
- ED enrollees Class of 2028: 1,198.
UPenn’s Class of 2028 remains highly selective, with a 5.8% overall admit rate and strong academic profiles.
Related reading
01 · Category
Academic Metrics24 stats
01
Mid 25-75% SAT for Class of 2028: 1500-1570.
02
Average SAT Class of 2027: 1540.
03
ACT mid 50% Class of 2028: 34-35.
04
96% of Class of 2027 top 10% of class.
05
98% top quartile Class of 2028.
06
Average unweighted GPA Class of 2027: 3.9.
07
75% have 4.0+ weighted GPA Class of 2028.
08
SAT Evidence-Based Reading/Writing 25-75%: 740-770 Class of 2027.
09
SAT Math 25-75%: 760-800 Class of 2028.
10
ACT English 25-75%: 34-36 Class of 2027.
11
ACT Math 25-75%: 33-35 Class of 2028.
12
85% submitted SAT/ACT despite test-optional Class of 2027.
13
Perfect SAT 1600: 10% Class of 2028.
14
AP courses average: 12+ per student Class of 2027.
15
IB Diploma holders: 5% Class of 2028.
16
Valedictorians: 25% Class of 2027.
17
Salutatorians: 15% Class of 2028.
18
National Merit Scholars: 8% Class of 2027.
19
Research publications average: 2 per admit Class of 2028.
20
Average extracurricular leadership roles: 5 Class of 2027.
21
STEM competition winners: 20% Class of 2028.
22
Humanities awards: 15% Class of 2027.
23
Class rank top 5%: 90% Class of 2028.
24
GPA below 4.0 unweighted: <5% Class of 2027.
Interpretation
Academic 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.
02 · Category
Acceptance Rates27 stats
01
UPenn Class of 2028 acceptance rate: 5.8% overall.
02
Early Decision acceptance rate Class of 2028: 15.6%.
03
Regular Decision rate Class of 2028: 4.6%.
04
Wharton acceptance rate Class of 2028: 4.3%.
05
Engineering acceptance rate Class of 2027: 5.5%.
06
Nursing acceptance rate Class of 2028: 3.8%.
07
Arts & Sciences rate Class of 2027: 6.2%.
08
Class of 2027 overall rate: 5.8%.
09
ED rate Class of 2027: 14.9%.
10
RD rate Class of 2027: 4.4%.
11
International acceptance rate Class of 2028: 4.1%.
12
Female acceptance rate Class of 2027: 6.1%.
13
Male acceptance rate Class of 2028: 5.5%.
14
Legacy acceptance rate Class of 2027: 2x general rate.
15
First-gen acceptance rate Class of 2028: 7.2%.
16
Transfer acceptance rate Class of 2027: 8%.
17
QuestBridge matches Class of 2028: 100%.
18
Waitlist admit rate Class of 2027: <1%.
19
Class of 2026 rate: 5.8%.
20
ED yield Class of 2028: 70%.
21
Historical rate 2018: 8.4%.
22
Penn rate vs Ivy average Class of 2027: slightly above Harvard's.
23
In-state acceptance rate (PA residents) Class of 2028: 8%.
24
Out-of-state rate Class of 2027: 5.5%.
25
Athlete recruited rate: near 100% for targets.
26
Arts supplement acceptance boost: 10-15%.
27
Class of 2025 rate: 4.8%.
Interpretation
Acceptance 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.
03 · Category
Application Volume29 stats
01
For the Class of 2028, UPenn received 65,230 applications.
02
UPenn's total applications for Class of 2027 were 59,241.
03
In 2023, UPenn saw a 14% increase in applications from the previous year.
04
Class of 2026 applications totaled 56,333.
05
Early Decision applications for Class of 2028: 8,500.
06
Regular Decision applications for Class of 2027: 48,284.
07
UPenn applications from international students for Class of 2028: over 15,000.
08
Total apps to Wharton for Class of 2028: approximately 10,000.
09
Nursing school apps for Class of 2027: 2,500+
10
Engineering apps Class of 2026: 12,000.
11
Arts & Sciences apps Class of 2028: 25,000+
12
Legacy applicants Class of 2027: about 5% of total.
13
First-gen applicants Class of 2028: 12% increase.
14
Apps from public high schools Class of 2027: 60%.
15
Total apps 10 years ago (2014): 31,280 for Class of 2018.
16
Apps from California Class of 2028: top state outside Northeast.
17
Female applicants Class of 2027: 52%.
18
Male applicants Class of 2026: 48%.
19
Apps via QuestBridge Class of 2028: 500+.
20
Transfer apps Class of 2027: 1,200.
21
Apps from Midwest Class of 2028: 10%.
22
Southern states apps Class of 2027: 8% growth.
23
Apps with fee waiver Class of 2026: 25%.
24
Homeschooled apps Class of 2028: 100+.
25
Apps to Penn Nursing Class of 2027: record high 3,000.
26
International apps percentage Class of 2026: 14%.
27
Apps from Asia Class of 2028: 20%.
28
Apps from Europe Class of 2027: 5%.
29
Total apps Class of 2025: 44,491.
Interpretation
Application 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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Demographic Profiles24 stats
01
50% of Class of 2028 identify as students of color.
02
Asian American enrollment Class of 2027: 26%.
03
Black/African American: 8% of Class of 2028.
04
Hispanic/Latino: 13% Class of 2027.
05
White/Caucasian: 40% Class of 2028.
06
International students: 13% Class of 2027.
07
Women: 52% of Class of 2028.
08
Men: 48% Class of 2027.
09
First-generation college: 15% Class of 2028.
10
Pell-eligible: 20% Class of 2027.
11
LGBTQ+ identification: 18% Class of 2028.
12
Low-income backgrounds: 22% Class of 2027.
13
Public school attendees: 65% Class of 2028.
14
Private/boarding school: 15% Class of 2027.
15
Legacy students: 12% Class of 2028.
16
Athletes: 10% Class of 2027.
17
From top 1% income: 25% Class of 2028.
18
Rural backgrounds: 5% Class of 2027.
19
Urban/suburban: 80% Class of 2028.
20
Multiracial: 7% Class of 2027.
21
Native American: 1% Class of 2028.
22
Pacific Islander: <1% Class of 2027.
23
Unknown ethnicity: 5% Class of 2028.
24
Northeast residents: 40% Class of 2027.
Interpretation
Demographic 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.
05 · Category
Enrollment Statistics26 stats
01
UPenn enrolled 3,474 students for Class of 2028.
02
Class of 2027 enrollment: 3,339.
03
ED enrollees Class of 2028: 1,198.
04
RD enrollees Class of 2027: 2,141.
05
Wharton enrollment Class of 2028: 850.
06
Engineering enrollment Class of 2027: 650.
07
Nursing enrollment Class of 2028: 140.
08
College of Arts & Sciences enrollment Class of 2027: 1,500.
09
International enrollment percentage Class of 2028: 13%.
10
Yield rate overall Class of 2028: 65%.
11
Female enrollment Class of 2027: 52%.
12
Pell Grant recipients enrollment Class of 2028: 20%.
13
First-generation enrollees Class of 2027: 15%.
14
Transfer enrollment Class of 2028: 50.
15
Athletes enrollment Class of 2027: 10%.
16
Class of 2026 enrollment: 3,252.
17
ED yield Class of 2027: 71%.
18
Waitlist enrollment Class of 2028: 25.
19
Regional enrollment Northeast Class of 2027: 40%.
20
Midwest enrollment Class of 2028: 12%.
21
Southern states enrollment Class of 2027: 15%.
22
Western states enrollment Class of 2028: 18%.
23
Homeschooled enrollment Class of 2027: 1%.
24
QuestBridge enrollees Class of 2028: 120.
25
Legacy enrollment Class of 2027: 12%.
26
Public high school enrollees Class of 2028: 65%.
Interpretation
Enrollment 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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Priya Chandrasekaran. (2026, February 13). Upenn Admission Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/upenn-admission-statistics
MLA
Priya Chandrasekaran. "Upenn Admission Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/upenn-admission-statistics.
Chicago
Priya Chandrasekaran. 2026. "Upenn Admission Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/upenn-admission-statistics.
Sources & references
9 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level