Penn

Penn SAT and ACT Requirements

Penn requires SAT or ACT scores for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1510 to 1570 on the SAT and 34 to 36 on the ACT.

2026-27 policy

Required

SAT middle 50%

1510–1570

ACT middle 50%

34–36

Acceptance rate

5.4%

Penn SAT scores by section

Section	25th percentile	75th percentile
Reading and Writing	740	770
Math	770	800
Total	1510	1570
ACT Composite	34	36

The total is the sum of the section percentiles, the standard way to estimate a middle 50% for the combined score.

Where your score puts you

Below 1510: lower than three quarters of enrolled students. A retake has the most upside here.
1510 to 1570: in line with the class. The rest of your application decides it.
Above 1570: higher than three quarters of enrolled students. Testing is no longer what holds the application back.

Other colleges where a 1510 is in range Other colleges where a 1570 is in range Convert an ACT score

Keep these numbers

Email me Penn's score ranges

The ranges on this page, plus a link to compare them with every other college we track.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Penn require the SAT or ACT?

Penn requires SAT or ACT scores for the 2026-27 cycle. Penn requires SAT or ACT scores (or an approved hardship waiver) starting with the 2025-26 admissions cycle, continuing for 2026-27. Scores may be self-reported at application time (recruited athletes must submit official scores); there is no minimum score.

What SAT score do you need for Penn?

The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1510, half scored between 1510 and 1570, and a quarter scored above 1570. A score at or above 1570 puts you ahead of most of the class on testing; a score below 1510 works against you.

What ACT score do you need for Penn?

The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 34 to 36 on the ACT. On the official conversion table that is an SAT 1500 to 1590.

Score ranges: College Scorecard API — U.S. Department of Education (api.data.gov) and Editorial overrides layer (overrides.json) — Common Data Set & institutional sources. They describe students who enrolled, not everyone admitted. Test policy: Penn admissions, verified for 2026-27.