Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
University of Pennsylvania reports a middle 50% SAT of 1440 to 1550 (enrolled, Class of 2030 fall 2026 entry). We use 1500 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1440 to 1550 (enrolled, Class of 2030 fall 2026 entry) |
| Middle 50% ACT | 33 to 35 |
| Acceptance rate | Not reported in the cited source. |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Required for the Class of 2030 (fall 2026 entry) and after; Penn reinstated SAT/ACT after several test-optional cycles |
| Type | Private university |
Source: Penn official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
Penn's first class admitted after reinstating required testing; applications fell from over 72,000 to 61,264 the same cycle.
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon University | 1510 to 1560 | 11.7% |
| Swarthmore College | 1500 to 1550 | 7.5% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 1440 to 1550 | Not reported |
| Villanova University | 1410 to 1490 | 27.0% |
| Lehigh University | 1380 to 1490 | 25.9% |
| University of Pittsburgh (Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences) | 1280 to 1440 | 58.1% |
| Pennsylvania State University, University Park | 1280 to 1410 | 55.3% |
| Bucknell University | 1170 to 1380 | 28.9% |
| Temple University | 1130 to 1358 | 80.4% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for Pennsylvania Colleges.
Lehigh University National Merit Scholarship: $1,000 or $2,000 per year to National Merit Finalists who name Lehigh their first-choice school; no separate application.
Pitt Rees-Chancellor's Scholars Program: Full tuition plus average room and board for up to 64 students per cohort through the Frederick Honors College, funded by a $30 million gift; first cohort enrolls fall 2027.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our Pennsylvania SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Carleton College | Minnesota | 1460 to 1530 |
| Dartmouth College | New Hampshire | 1440 to 1550 |
| Middlebury College | Vermont | 1450 to 1530 |
| University of Notre Dame | Indiana | 1460 to 1540 |
A score that is competitive at Penn lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Pennsylvania colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1440 to 1550. A score at or above 1550 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1440 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
Penn lists its policy as: Required for the Class of 2030 (fall 2026 entry) and after; Penn reinstated SAT/ACT after several test-optional cycles. Check the official admissions page for your entry term before choosing test dates.
The cited source does not report one. Use the SAT range and the school's published requirements instead.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for Penn? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
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