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University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania admits 5 of every 100 applicants — a reach school for nearly everyone applying to University of Pennsylvania, whatever the rest of the profile says.
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University of Pennsylvania sits in Philadelphia proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The university runs its own medical system, which colors both its budget and its biggest programs.
Its highest-earning path is Computer and Information Sciences, General, where graduates median $241,380 four years out. Faculty pay averages $265,404 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 10,650 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 98.9% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1500 and 1570 — above the PA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Pennsylvania's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
You can apply to University of Pennsylvania without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1500 and 1570; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 730 | 750 | 770 |
| SAT Math | 770 | 790 | 800 |
| ACT Composite | 34 | 35 | 35 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Pennsylvania received 59,465 applications and admitted 3,489 (5.9%), with 2,416 enrolling.
How University of Pennsylvania compares
| University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% | 82% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $68,686 | $33,730 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $111,371 | $62,101 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Pennsylvania student earns $111,371 — 79% above the Pennsylvania median of $62,101 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
University of Pennsylvania lists tuition at $68,686 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. University of Pennsylvania's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $68,686 as the ceiling, not the bill.
University of Pennsylvania enrolls 10,650 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs University of Pennsylvania's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
96.5% of University of Pennsylvania students finish a bachelor's within six years — 41.7 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $68,686 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at University of Pennsylvania
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $241,380 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $202,069 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $153,279 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $136,806 |
| Economics | $129,985 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $126,419 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $114,492 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $114,266 |
| Marketing | $112,211 |
| Chemical Engineering | $109,884 |
| Cognitive Science | $109,784 |
| Philosophy | $107,454 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $98,475 |
| Political Science and Government | $93,033 |
| History | $88,517 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $87,439 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $78,295 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $76,395 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $73,190 |
| Psychology, General | $73,012 |
| Sociology | $72,217 |
| Biology, General | $68,435 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $61,989 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $44,735 |
Median earnings for these 24 University of Pennsylvania programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $111,371 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 52 additional University of Pennsylvania programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Pennsylvania?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1500–1570 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 5.4% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Pennsylvania's acceptance rate?
5.9% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 3,489 admitted from 59,465 applicants.
How much does University of Pennsylvania cost?
At University of Pennsylvania, published tuition is $68,686 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is University of Pennsylvania's ceiling, not a quote.
What do University of Pennsylvania graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $111,371 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Pennsylvania
- Swarthmore College — 7.5% admitted
- Haverford College — 12.4% admitted
- Carnegie Mellon University — 11.7% admitted
- Pennsylvania College of Art and Design — 99.2% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.