Penn's early decision acceptance rate increased this year to 32 percent, up from last year's all-time low of 28 percent.
The higher acceptance rate is a result of the fact that fewer students applied early, Dean of Admissions Eric Furda said.
This year, Penn received 3,666 early decision applications, compared to last year's 3,912. The University accepted 1,156 this past December.
Those students will compose about 47 percent of the class of 2013.
Although the acceptance rate rose, Furda explained that the admissions committee was no less selective this year than it was in the past.
"If anything," he said, "the quality of the applicants clearly went up."
Average SAT critical reading scores improved 4 points to 700, math scores improved 8 points to 729 and writing scores improved 5 points to 717.
Furda added that average GPA also increased.
He stressed that the increased acceptance rate can be attributed to a number of different factors.
"It could be the economic climate or the lingering effects of Harvard and Princeton getting rid of early decision programs," he said.
Furda explained the admissions committee focused on "recruiting globally and locally this year," which attracted students from all over the world.
The admitted members of Penn's class of 2013 come from 42 different states and countries all across the globe.
The number of international applicants increased by two percent. Of those accepted, the most will come from Korea, Canada, India and China.
The members of the class of 2013 also represent many different ethnicities. Penn admitted 64 black students, 265 Asian American students, 71 Latino students and three Native American students.
Sarah Meyohas, a senior at the Dalton School in New York City, explained why she chose to apply early decision.
"When I first walked down Locust Walk, music was playing and students were signing up for different clubs," she said. "I wanted to be a part of that."
Bridget Ercole, a student at the Bryn Mawr School for Girls in Maryland, chose Penn both because of her family's ties to the school and her interest in nursing.
"I've grown up as a Quaker girl, with my parents who graduated in 1975 and 1976 and my brother, a member of the Class of 2005," she said. "When I discovered that nursing was the direction I wanted to take, I knew that Penn, with the top nursing school in the country, would be the perfect fit."
The members of the class of 2013 are excited for next fall.
"Each day I eagerly anticipate moving into my dorm, starting classes, going to games and in general starting my life anew in Philly," said Nathan Werksman, a senior at the Chadwick School in Los Angeles.
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