Admission & test scores

University of Pennsylvania SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1510–1570 on the SAT, with an ACT midpoint of 34. University of Pennsylvania admits 5% of applicants — highly selective. 99% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1510–1570middle half of admits
ACT midpoint34admitted students
Acceptance rate5%highly selective
First-year retention99%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile
1510
Average
1553
75th percentile
1570

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1510 and a quarter above 1570. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 10,650.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

UniversityAvg SATACTAcceptanceIn-state tuition
Rice University Houston, Texas 1553 35 8% $64,144
Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey 1553 34 5% $62,688
Stanford University Stanford, California 1553 35 4% $65,910
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland 1553 — 6% $65,230
Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts 1553 35 4% $61,676
University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois 1554 34 4% $70,662

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

University of Pennsylvania admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for University of Pennsylvania?
The middle half of admitted students scored between 1510 and 1570 on the SAT, with an average of 1553. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.
What ACT score does University of Pennsylvania require?
The ACT midpoint of admitted students is 34.
How hard is it to get into University of Pennsylvania?
University of Pennsylvania admits 5% of applicants, which is highly selective. Of those who enrol, 99% return for a second year.
Does University of Pennsylvania require SAT or ACT scores?
This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.
What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.