Philadelphia, PA · 10.7k students
Trajecta score
+0.3 since '20Ranked #11 of 2,375
5-year trend
84.0 · #6
2020
88.0 · #8
2021
84.5 · #19
2022
83.4 · #25
2023
84.3 · #23
2024
Academic Profile
97/ 100
Career Outcomes
94/ 100
Student Success
98/ 100
Affordability
60/ 100
Academic Investment
99/ 100
Access & Equity
49/ 100
Academic Profile
97
Career Outcomes
94
Student Success
98
Affordability
60
Academic Investment
99
Access & Equity
49
AI Fit Analysis
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See how your profile stacks up at University of Pennsylvania — predicted chances, program fit, and a personalized application strategy.
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Cost / Net Price
$89k / $29k
SAT Avg
1,553
Retention
99%
Grad Rate
97%
Admissions
Test Scores
Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$68,686
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$68,686
per year
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
17%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
10%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$15,715
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
3.90
average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen · 91% reporting
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what University of Pennsylvania reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Important | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Considered | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Very Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Very Important | |||
| Interview | Interview: Not Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Important | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Very Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Important | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Important | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Not Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2026-27
school's admissions site ↗All Applicants – Gratitude
Required50-200 wordsWrite a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge.
All Applicants – Community at Penn
Required50-200 wordsHow will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn.
School-Specific – College of Arts and Sciences (required for CAS applicants)
Required50-200 wordsDescribe something you are curious about—something you'd like to learn more about or find a new approach to—and how you might pursue that curiosity in the College.
School-Specific – Wharton School (required for Wharton applicants)
Required50-200 wordsDiscuss a current issue of importance to you and how you hope a Wharton education would help you explore it.
School-Specific – School of Engineering and Applied Science (required for SEAS applicants)
Required50-200 wordsDescribe how you plan to pursue your engineering interests at Penn, particularly within the intended major you selected.
School-Specific – School of Nursing (required for Nursing applicants)
Required50-200 wordsWhy are you applying to Nursing, where do you see yourself professionally in the future, and how will you contribute to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare?
Huntsman Program – Target Language Selection (required for Huntsman applicants)
RequiredNo stated limitPlease select your target language.
Huntsman Program – Language Experience (required for Huntsman applicants)
Required50-200 wordsDescribe your experience with the target language you selected.
Huntsman Program – Program Interest (required for Huntsman applicants)
Required50-400 wordsWhat draws you to a dual degree in international studies and business, and how would you use what you learn to address a global issue where these two domains intersect?
M&T Program – Program Interest (required for M&T applicants)
Required50-400 wordsExplain how you will use the M&T program to pursue problems or opportunities that require both engineering and business perspectives.
M&T Program – Something You Created (required for M&T applicants)
Required50-200 wordsDescribe something you created, designed, improved, or built. What motivated you, and what did you learn from the process?
LSM Program (required for Life Sciences & Management applicants)
Required50-400 wordsWhat questions, problems, or opportunities would you hope to explore through LSM, and how might the integration of life sciences and management shape your approach to them?
VIPER Program – Major Combination Interest (required for VIPER applicants)
Required50-200 wordsWhich major combination(s) interest you most right now and why?
VIPER Program – Program Interest (required for VIPER applicants)
Required50-400 wordsDescribe your interest in the VIPER program, including how any past experiences (academic, research, extracurricular, etc.) have shaped your interest in energy science and technology, and how you envision participation in VIPER fitting into your future goals.
NHCM Program (required for Nursing & Health Care Management applicants)
Required50-400 wordsDescribe your interest in nursing and health care management, and how Penn's coordinated dual-degree program in nursing and business would help you meet your goals. Please ensure that this essay is distinct from your single-degree application, if applicable.
VIC Program (required for Visual and Interactive Computing applicants)
Required400-650 wordsDiscuss how your interests align with the Visual and Interactive Computing (VIC) program at the University of Pennsylvania.
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Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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