Penn released regular decision results for the Class of 2030 on Thursday, wrapping up the University’s first admissions cycle since reinstating its standardized testing requirement.
According to the Penn Admissions announcement, over 61,000 students applied to Penn this year, marking a decrease from last year’s applicant pool of over 72,000. Results were released to students on March 26 at 7 p.m.
Penn did not disclose a regular decision acceptance rate, continuing its policy of withholding detailed admissions results since 2022.
“Each year, I’m inspired by the thoughtfulness, curiosity, and sense of purpose students bring to the application process,” Vice Provost and Dean of Admissions Whitney Soule wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian. “The Class of 2030 reflects not only exceptional academic preparation, but a genuine commitment to engaging and improving the world around them.”
According to the annoucement, the Class of 2030 includes students from over 87 countries and all 50 states. The cohort also features the largest number of admitted students from Philadelphia in Penn’s history.
“This collective breadth of experience is one of the things that makes the Penn community so dynamic, shaping students’ experiences in ways they may not yet anticipate,” the press release read.
The Class of 2030’s admissions cycle is the University’s first with a test-mandatory application since 2020, when Penn introduced a test-optional policy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Penn’s reinstatement of its SAT or ACT score-reporting mandate in 2025 came as several peer institutions — including Harvard University, Brown University, Yale University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — similarly restored requirements. Penn was the sixth Ivy League institution to return to the policy.
The 2025-26 admissions cycle also signaled the end of Penn’s non-evaluative alumni conversations, which previously allowed applicants to connect with a member of the Penn Alumni Ambassador Program. Soule announced the removal of the conversations last July.
These results come months after Penn released early decision results for the Class of 2030 in December 2025. Over 7,800 students applied to Penn through the Early Decision Program.
Penn also welcomed 112 students to the Class of 2030 through the QuestBridge National College Match program, which allows low-income students to apply early to selective institutions at no cost. This cycle’s QuestBridge cohort includes 83 first-generation college students.
This year represents the third full application cycle at Penn since a 2023 United States Supreme Court ruling declared race-conscious admissions unconstitutional, barring the university from considering race in its admissions decisions.
According to a September 2025 admissions report, 21% of last year’s admitted class — the Class of 2029 — are first-generation students, 24% are from historically underrepresented backgrounds in higher education, and 57% identify as students of color.
Soule told the DP at the time that the admissions trends reflect the University’s broader goals for future classes at Penn.
“We are excited to welcome a group of students who will learn from one another, challenge each other, and contribute meaningfully to the Penn community,” she wrote on the Class of 2030.
Senior reporter Ananya Karthik covers central administration and can be reached at karthik@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies communication and economics. Follow her on X @ananyaakarthik.
Senior reporter Christine Oh leads coverage of student life and can be reached at oh@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies English and philosophy. Follow her on X @ChristineOh_.
