The Wharton School’s Huntsman Hall at the University of Pennsylvania. Courtesy photo

Penn’s Admissions Have Hit Peak Selectivity

The news is in – selectivity is at an all-time high at Penn. Their Class of 2029 is officially the most selective cohort in the university’s history.

A few weeks ago at Penn’s Board of Trustees meeting, Vice Provost and Dean of Admissions Whitney Soule revealed the news that this year’s incoming class was admitted at a jaw-dropping 4.9% acceptance rate. That’s 3,530 students chosen from a huge pool of 72,544 applicants.

ACCEPTANCE RATES ARE MORE EXCLUSIVE YEAR AFTER YEAR

This milestone caps off a five-year trend that’s seen applications soar and acceptance rates tighten up each year. Last year, the Class of 2028 clocked in at a 5% acceptance rate from 68,804 applicants. Before that, the Class of 2027 had 61,221 applicants and a 5.2% rate. The Class of 2026 landed at 5.4%, and the Class of 2025 had a 5.7% acceptance rate – so it’s safe to say that the competition is only getting fiercer.

“We are especially impressed with the accomplishments, the resolve, [and] ambition demonstrated by the students we have admitted to the Class of 2029,” said Soule. “We look forward to their contributions to the multiple dimensions of diversity in the University.”

The new class comes from all over the globe – from 49 states and 95 countries – and includes 2,420 students. 15.1% hail from Pennsylvania, with 13.6% being legacy students.

This admissions cycle also marks the end of an era for Penn’s test-optional policy, launched during the pandemic. Starting with the 2025–26 cycle, applicants will once again need to submit SAT or ACT scores. Many other universities are shifting back to this as well.

Penn is also rethinking how affordability plays into access, and they have some news on the financial aid front. Starting in the 2025–26 academic year, families with typical assets making up to $200,000 will now be eligible for full-tuition scholarships (up from the previous $140,000 threshold). Also, primary family homes are officially off the table when it comes to calculating assets for aid.

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