Penn Admits 1,312 Students Via Early Decision

The University of Pennsylvania has admitted 1,312 students to the Class of 2022 through the first-choice Early Decision program.

Penn’s admitted Early Decision cohort was selected from a pool of 7,074 applications, the largest in the University’s history and a 15 percent increase over the prior year. Early Decision applicants commit to matriculate if admitted.

“The class of 2022 is the first full cohort of students applying to college who had the opportunity to take the redesigned SAT (rSAT). With changes to format and scoring instituted by The College Board in 2016, most students received higher scores on the rSAT than what they would have received in the older SAT format. The rSAT represents a significant change within the larger college application landscape that may have impacted college search, choice, and application behavior on the part of individual students,” says Dean Eric J. Furda ’87.

Penn’s Early Decision pool has grown by 38 percent since the Class of 2018 applied. This year, applications from the U.S. increased by 17 percent, and applications from abroad were up 5 percent. Penn continues to work in close collaboration with college counselors and with community-based organizations across the country and around the world. This year’s application pool included applicants from 3,173 high schools – a 9 percent increase in the number of high schools in the applicant pool in 2016 – and 64 community-based organizations.

The Early Decision admitted students represent a diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives, including:

  • Members from 45 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and 54 foreign countries
  • Among US citizens and permanent residents, 43 percent self-identify as students of color
  • 25 percent have a parent or grandparent who attended Penn
  • 12 percent are non-US citizens or permanent residents
  • 11 percent will be the first generation in their families to attend college
  • 52 percent are female

The University of Pennsylvania enrolls a freshman class of 2,445 students across the College of Arts & Sciences, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Wharton School and School of Nursing. Applications for Regular Decision may be submitted via the Common Application or the Coalition Application by January 5, 2018.

Tune in to a special edition of Dean Furda’s radio show The Process, powered by the Wharton School, on SiriusXM Radio Channel 111 on December 18 at 6 p.m. Eastern Time to hear expert advice on post-Early Decision results, Regular Decision deadlines and financial aid. Call in at 1-844-WHARTON.