UPenn: the complete school report for parents
UPenn rates 5 of the 18 admission factors Very Important, among them course rigor, GPA and the essay. This is a genuinely holistic review. It does not consider demonstrated interest and the interview, so campus visits and emails will not move the decision. With a 4.9% admit rate and 59% of enrolled students at a 4.0 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and a strong test score is close to expected. Major matters more than the name on the diploma here: five years out, Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates earn a median $298,016 against $50,835 for Fine and Studio Arts.
UPenn is officially University of Pennsylvania, also known as Penn. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-10-21.
Is UPenn a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places UPenn against the figures above. No account needed.
What does UPenn actually weigh in admissions?
UPenn rates 5 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, the essay, recommendations, personal qualities. It does not consider 3 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is UPenn's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How UPenn rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Considered |
| the essay | Very Important |
| extracurricular activities | Important |
| recommendations | Very Important |
| personal qualities | Very Important |
| talent | Important |
| class rank | Important |
| demonstrated interest | Not Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Considered |
| first-generation status | Considered |
| geography | Considered |
| state residency | Considered |
| volunteer work | Important |
| work experience | Important |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does UPenn consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does UPenn consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does UPenn consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UPenn consider the application essay?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The essay is doing as much work as the transcript.
Does UPenn consider extracurricular activities?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UPenn consider recommendation letters?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does UPenn consider character and personal qualities?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does UPenn consider a special talent or ability?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UPenn consider class rank?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UPenn consider demonstrated interest?
No. UPenn does not consider it. Campus visits, emails and info sessions do not move the decision.
Does UPenn consider an interview?
No. UPenn does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does UPenn consider legacy status?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. It can act as a tiebreaker but will not carry a weak application.
Does UPenn consider being first-generation?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. Say so on the application; it is read as context.
Does UPenn consider where we live?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UPenn consider state residency?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UPenn consider volunteer work?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UPenn consider work experience?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UPenn consider religious affiliation?
No. UPenn does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
59% of enrolled students had a 4.0 GPA or above. The average was 3.9 on a 4 scale, reported for 98% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 59% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 32% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 5% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 4% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 0% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0% |
| 2.00–2.49 | Not reported |
What is the UPenn waitlist really like?
UPenn offered a place on its waiting list to 3,252 applicants and 2,566 accepted one. 60 were ultimately admitted. That is 2.3% of those who waited.
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
UPenn admitted 3.1% of 5,144 transfer applicants, against 4.9% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
Applying Early Decision changes the odds materially: 13.3% of ED applicants were admitted against 4.9% overall, a gap of 8 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.
| Regular application deadline | January 5 |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | March 25 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | Yes |
| Early Decision deadline | November 1 |
| Early Action offered | No |
| Application fee | $75 |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | Yes |
What does my child need to take in high school?
UPenn sets no fixed course requirements, but recommends 20 academic units. A college-preparatory program is recommended. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | Not stated | 4 years |
| Mathematics | Not stated | 4 years |
| Science | Not stated | 4 years |
| Foreign language | Not stated | 4 years |
What will UPenn actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $28,699 a year at UPenn after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $65,670. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 100% of demonstrated need on average.
16% of UPenn graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $33,655 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $167 a month in repayment. UPenn’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from UPenn pay off?
Graduates earn a median $111,371 ten years after entering, and $90,555 at six years. 92% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 84% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
$298,016 to $50,835, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at UPenn:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $298,016 | 172 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $242,357 | 398 |
| Computer Science | $171,166 | 109 |
| Economics | $152,236 | 234 |
| Marketing | $124,208 | 61 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $116,666 | 106 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $114,013 | 206 |
| Political Science and Government | $111,976 | 120 |
| Cognitive Science | $109,527 | 75 |
| Biology, General | $78,245 | 158 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $59,903 | 62 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $50,835 | 40 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
99% of first-years return for a second year. 86% graduate within four years and 97% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 94.8% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 97.4% of everyone else, a gap of 2.6 points.
How big are the classes?
58% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 5% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 8:1, and 79% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
What is life at UPenn like?
9,989 undergraduates, 82% of first-years from out of state. 100% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 56% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 19% of men join a fraternity and 17% of women a sorority. 19% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $78,252.
Penn has a two-year housing and dining requirement: all undergraduates, including first-years, live in on-campus housing for their first four semesters and join a dining plan. First-years join one of 13 undergraduate College Houses.
Source: Housing & Dining, Penn Admissions
Penn is a charter member of the Ivy League and fields varsity teams in 17 men's sports and 16 women's sports. In 2024-25, 2,734 team members competed in 30 leagues and tournaments. The teams are the Quakers.
In 2024-25, 1,620 Penn students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents earned academic credit through study abroad. Penn reports the most students studying abroad of any Ivy League school and ranks 34th among doctoral and research institutions for study abroad participation (IIE, 2025).
For the Class of 2025, 91% of graduates were working full-time or continuing their education within six months, and the median starting salary for those employed full-time was $103,418. The Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships supports student research, including the College Alumni Society Undergraduate Research Grant.
Source: Outcomes, Penn Admissions; Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, Penn
How is UPenn ranked, and how strong is the alumni network?
UPenn is ranked #14 for Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027. Its full set of published positions, including the ones that are less flattering:
| Ranking | Position |
|---|---|
| Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 | #14 |
| Academic Ranking of World Universities (ShanghaiRanking) 2026 | #14 |
Shown in full, including the less flattering ones.
Source: University of Pennsylvania, Times Higher Education World University Rankings; University of Pennsylvania, ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. UPenn recommends 20 academic units.
- 59% of enrolled students are at a 4.0 GPA or above, averaging 3.9. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
- The waitlist is live but thin: 60 of 2,566 who waited were admitted, about 2%.
- Its highest-earning major returns $298,016 five years out against $50,835 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about UPenn
What GPA do you need for UPenn?
59% of enrolled students at UPenn had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 3.9, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Does the UPenn waitlist move?
2,566 students accepted a place on the UPenn waiting list and 60 were admitted in the 2025-2026 cycle.
What do UPenn graduates earn?
UPenn graduates earn a median $111,371 ten years after entering, and 92% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with UPenn
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: UPenn’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-10-21. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.