As a transfer applicant, you should be aware of the UPENN Transfer Acceptance Rate & Admission Requirement. The UPENN acceptance rate for the 2023 academic year is 9%. It’s important you know the University of Pennsylvania transfer acceptance rate, GPA, decision date, application deadline, and prerequisites, which we will cover in this post. Try to read this article to the end and grab the essential information.
About University of Pennsylvania (UPENN)
The University of Pennsylvania (UPENN), located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the fourth-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Founded in 1740, the private Ivy League research institution has four undergraduate schools, 12 graduate and professional schools, and is one of the world’s highest ranking universities.
Penn’s academics are boosted by its inherent culture and ecosystem of innovation. You name it, if it’s cutting-edge, the University’s faculty—and students—have their hands in it. Grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and enriched by the integrated resources of four undergraduate and 12 graduate schools, Penn offers students an unparalleled education informed by inclusivity, intellectual rigor, research, and the impetus to create new knowledge to the benefit of individuals and communities around the world.
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Penn faculty and students share a passion for engaging with communities around the world, and Penn Global provides innumerable opportunities for them to pair passion and knowledge in ways that both enrich their academic careers and positively impact diverse people and populations all over the globe.
UPENN Transfer Acceptance Rate
Transfer applicants have a slightly higher chance of admission than freshmen applicants.
The UPENN Transfer Acceptance Rate for first-time, first-year applicants at the University of Pennsylvania is 6%. Transfer students, on the other hand, have a slightly lower acceptance rate: 5%. In 2022, 3,516 students applied to UPENN as transferees. However, just 161 people were accepted. Only 118 of them enrolled, resulting in a 73% yield rate.
The UPENN acceptance rate for the 2023 academic year is 9%.
The fewer freshmen applicants accepted, the more selective the university. In general, fewer transfer applications are approved than freshmen applicants.
It’s not surprising that Penn follows the aforementioned rule of thumb as an Ivy League institution.
The admission rate for transfer candidates to the famous college is consistently lower than the acceptance rate for applicants straight out of high school.
Because transferees can only apply to Penn in the fall, available spaces can only be filled by a relatively small percentage of all applicants.
- Up to 52% of admitted first-time, first-year students have GPAs of 4.0
- Around 93% graduated in the top 10% of their high school class
- The average SAT scores of admits range from 1480 to 1570
- The average ACT scores of admits range from 33 to 35
Let’s look at the UPENN Transfer Acceptance for both transfer and freshmen applicants from 2017 to 2023:
| Year | Transfer Applicants | Freshmen Applicants |
| 2017 | 8% | 12% |
| 2018 | 8% | 10% |
| 2019 | 6% | 10% |
| 2020 | 8% | 9% |
| 2021 | 5% | 9% |
| 2022 | 5% | 6% |
| 2023 | 5% | 6% |
UPENN Admission Requirement 2023
UPENN is on the hunt for competitive applicants. The UPENN admission requirement 2023 is stated below:
High school GPA Required
High school rank Neither required nor recommended
High School transcript Required
College prep courses Recommended.
SAT/ACT Considered but not required
Recommendations Required.
UPenn Admissions Statistics
Acceptance Rate – 9%
- Early Decision Acceptance Rate – 23%
- Total Applicants – 42,205
- SAT Range – 1460-1570
- SAT Reading – 710-770
- SAT Math – 750-800
Students Submitting SAT – 65%
- ACT Range – 33-35
- ACT English – 34-36
- ACT Math – 31-35
- ACT Writing – 8-10
Students Submitting ACT – 35%
Students Receiving Financial Aid – 89%
The following is the breakdown of the estimated cost of attending UPENN as an undergraduate student:
| Expenses | Cost |
| Tuition | $56,212 |
| Fees | $7,240 |
| Room and board | $15,284 |
| Transportation | $1,036 |
| Others | $2,004 |
| Total | $81,776 |
Depending on a number of factors, such as the student’s budget upon entrance to Penn as an undergraduate, one should decide whether or not to make plans for room and board upon transferring to the elite institution.
UPENN Transfer Application Process
The following is the requirements you will submit to UPenn as transfer applicants:
1. Complete the Common Application or Coalition Application
It’s not uncommon for some institutions to require transfer applicants to apply via either the Common App or Coalition App. At Penn, however, students who are interested in transferring may apply using either platform.
2. Submit high school and college transcripts
Postsecondary experience — this is what separates transfer applicants from freshmen applicants.
And that is why the University of Pennsylvania requires the submission of official transcripts from both high school and college currently being attended. This is especially true for admitted ones who are planning on actually enrolling. In order to avoid problems when transferring to Penn, students should request for their transcripts ASAP.
3. Submit your college report
Simply put, the college report, whose form is available on the website of the Common App, collects information about your academic and disciplinary standing at your current institution.
After completion, the college report may be submitted via the Penn Applicant Portal, which becomes accessible to a transfer student after applying.
4. Submit your midterm report
Penn’s admissions officers also want to check out information on the courses a transfer applicant is currently taking. And that is why one of the requirements is the printing of the midterm report form, which is downloadable from the Common App’s website, and asking each professor to provide the current grade of the student in the course being taught.
But it’s important to note that the midterm report is required only for those who will enter UPenn as sophomores.
5. Submit two letters of recommendation
When it comes to submitting letters or recommendations, transfer applicants to Penn have 2 options:
- Submit 2 academic recommendations
- Submit 1 academic recommendation and 1 non-academic recommendation
According to the Ivy League itself, you should consider obtaining a recommendation letter from a professor in your area of academic interest. It does, however, discourage submitting letters from instructors from the same disciplines. Needless to say, the best recommendations can come from professors who know you well.
On the other hand, Penn says to get your hands on a non-academic recommendation from someone who would be able to add information not captured elsewhere on your application.
6. Submit SAT or ACT scores (optional)
Due to its test-optional admissions policy for both freshmen applicants and transfer applicants, college students looking to transfer to UPenn may or may not submit their SAT or ACT scores — those who choose not to or are unable to submit theirs will not be disadvantaged in the transfer admissions process.
7. Submit supplementary materials
Besides the things mentioned above, the University of Pennsylvania also accepts supplementary materials from transfer applicants, some of which may be required, while others may be optional.
Those who have exceptional talent in visual arts or music, for instance, may choose to submit an art or music sample. In some instances, a portfolio may be a requirement, such as for those who are enrolling in Penn’s architecture program as sophomores.
An additional recommendation letter may also be submitted by those who want the elite school to know them better.
8. Pay the application fee
As mentioned earlier, the application fee is $75.
Take Point
The University of Pennsylvania’s adherence to the principle of selectivity is not only consistent but also essential in upholding its academic reputation. As a beacon of educational excellence, Penn acknowledges that maintaining a lower acceptance rate for transfer applicants underscores its dedication to fostering a community of exceptional scholars.
For those contemplating a transfer to this prestigious institution, understanding the dynamics of the application timeline and the highly competitive nature of the admissions process is imperative. The journey to becoming a Penn student is an achievement that is pursued by many and achieved by a few.
With each application, the university seeks individuals who will not only contribute to the academic community but who will also thrive within its rigorous and intellectually stimulating environment. So, as you consider taking the next step towards joining the ranks of Penn’s accomplished scholars, remember that the pursuit of excellence is a journey well worth undertaking.