UPenn Waitlist Acceptance Rate: Stats and Tips

For the Class of 2028, the University of Pennsylvania offered waitlist spots to 2,958 students, of whom 2,288 accepted. Ultimately, only 66 students were admitted, resulting in a waitlist acceptance rate of 2.9%. Although getting off the waitlist is highly competitive, it isn’t impossible, so don’t worry! In this blog, you’ll gain a clear understanding of UPenn’s waitlist acceptance rate, how it directly affects your admission chances, and the steps you can take if you find yourself on UPenn’s waitlist.

• What Is UPenn’s Waitlist Acceptance Rate?
• UPenn Waitlist Acceptance Rate vs Ivy League Schools
• Is It Worth Staying on UPenn’s Waitlist?
• What to Do If You’re Waitlisted by UPenn
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is UPenn’s Waitlist Acceptance Rate?

For the Class of 2028, UPenn’s waitlist acceptance rate was 2.9%. But is it always that competitive? Here’s a breakdown of how UPenn’s waitlist acceptance rate has looked over the past decade:

The data shows just how unpredictable the UPenn waitlist can be from year to year. If you zoom out and look at the past decade, you’ll see that UPenn’s waitlist story is full of twists.

On average, UPenn offers spots to about 3,100 students each year, with around 2,300 actually sticking with it. From that group, roughly 113 students end up getting admitted, which puts the average waitlist acceptance rate at around 5%.

Here’s how the numbers break down:

• Best year. The Class of 2024, when nearly 17% (391 students) made it off the waitlist.
• Toughest year. The Class of 2022, when only 9 students were admitted, was just 0.4%.
• Recent trend. Over the last three cycles, the average rate has hovered closer to 3%, showing just how competitive things have become lately.

So what does this all mean if you’re sitting on UPenn’s waitlist? Honestly, it’s quite unpredictable. Some years, hundreds of students are admitted, while in others, almost nobody makes it through. 

The odds are slim given UPenn’s waitlist acceptance rate, but as the Class of 2024 proved, there are rare years when being on the waitlist really pays off.

UPenn’s Yield Rate 

Another important metric is the yield rate. The yield rate reflects the percentage of admitted students who choose to enroll, which in turn determines how many spots remain available for waitlisted students. For UPenn’s Class of 2028, around 2,395 of the 3,523 admitted students accepted their offers, which works out to a 68% yield. Here’s a historical look:

As evident from the table, UPenn’s yield rate has consistently stayed in the high 60s over the past few years, with a noticeable jump above 70% for the Class of 2025. This pattern highlights UPenn’s strong appeal, where most admitted students choose it over other Ivy League and top-tier schools.

For you, this also means the waitlist is highly competitive since most admitted students accept their offers. The best strategy is to put forward a strong application from the start rather than relying on a waitlist spot.

UPenn Waitlist Acceptance Rate vs Ivy League Schools

When compared with other Ivy League schools, UPenn’s waitlist acceptance rate sits in the middle range. Let’s see how it stacks up against its peers (at least those that release their waitlist data):

For the Class of 2028, UPenn’s waitlist acceptance rate was 2.9%. When you compare UPenn to its Ivy League peers, the numbers show an interesting picture. UPenn’s rate is:

• Higher than Dartmouth’s 1.3%, which is one of the most restrictive waitlists in the Ivy League.
• Equal to Princeton’s 2.9%, putting both schools at about the same level of difficulty.
• Lower than Yale’s 4.1% and Cornell’s 6.3%, where students had comparatively better odds of getting off the waitlist.

In short, UPenn falls right in the middle of the spectrum. It isn’t as generous as Cornell or Yale, but not as brutally selective as Dartmouth either. The key takeaway is that while a 2.9% chance may seem slightly better than some schools, it still means that the overwhelming majority of waitlisted students are not admitted.

So, the bottom line is this: if you land a spot on UPenn’s waitlist, it’s definitely a sign that you’re a strong and competitive applicant. The admission officers already see you as capable of thriving at UPenn, which is no small achievement. But at the same time, you must have a strong backup option ready and continue pursuing other schools actively so that you are not stuck in limbo.

Is It Worth Staying on UPenn’s Waitlist?

Despite the low waitlist acceptance rate, staying on UPenn’s waitlist can be worth it if UPenn is one of your top choices. However, you need to keep expectations realistic and have strong backup plans in place.

For the Class of 2028, UPenn offered waitlist spots to 2,958 students. Of those, 2,288 accepted their place, but only 66 were eventually admitted. That works out to just a 2.9% acceptance rate, which is quite low.

A big factor behind this low number is the yield rate. Each year, about 68% of admitted students choose to enroll at UPenn. Because most admitted students accept their offers, the incoming class fills quickly, leaving little space for waitlist admits.

That said, the waitlist does move in certain years. For example, for the Class of 2024, many more students were admitted from the list. But the movement is unpredictable; you might see a year with hundreds admitted, or almost nobody getting admitted at all.

So, if UPenn is your dream school, staying on the waitlist makes sense. Just make sure you also commit to another college so you are not left without options if the waitlist does not open up.

What to Do If You’re Waitlisted by UPenn

Being waitlisted at UPenn can feel like you’re stuck in between, but don’t panic! Based on UPenn’s official waitlist FAQs, there are specific steps you can take to improve your chances and make the most of this situation. 

1. Accept your waitlist spot by the deadline.

The first and most crucial step is to officially accept your place on UPenn’s waitlist through the Penn Applicant Portal by April 15. When you log into your portal, you’ll see an option to either accept or decline your waitlist position. If UPenn is still a school you’d seriously consider attending, select “yes” to stay on the list. Remember, your application will remain under consideration until the class is full, which generally happens by June end.

2. Submit one comprehensive update document.

UPenn allows waitlisted students to submit additional information, but you only get one chance to do this. The deadline for this update is also April 15th, the same day you need to accept your waitlist spot. Your update should include any new achievements, like better grades, awards, or other accomplishments that have happened since you submitted your original application. These could be things like winning a competition, getting promoted to a leadership role, improving your GPA, or completing a significant project.

The key is that this information should “shed new light on your candidacy” and show continued growth, and not something that’s a repetition of what you already stated originally.

3. Write a letter of continued interest (LOCI).

While UPenn doesn’t specifically require a letter of continued interest, including one as part of your comprehensive update document can be really helpful. This letter should be concise and serve two main purposes: expressing your continued enthusiasm for UPenn and updating them on recent accomplishments, so keep your letter focused and genuine. Admissions officers want to admit students who are likely to actually enroll, so demonstrating your commitment can work in your favor. 

However, don’t just say you’re interested. Explain specifically why UPenn remains the right fit for your academic and career goals. Here is how you can write a LOCI:

Dear University of Pennsylvania Admissions Committee,

Thank you for considering me on Penn’s waitlist. I remain deeply committed to attending the University of Pennsylvania and would immediately accept an offer of admission if extended. Since applying, I have continued to grow academically and personally, and I would like to share meaningful updates that strengthen my fit for Penn.

This semester, I maintained a 4.0 GPA while pursuing AP Physics and AP Literature, and was recognized as a National Merit Finalist. I also presented research on sustainable healthcare delivery at a regional symposium, where my project earned recognition in the innovation category.

Outside the classroom, I’ve expanded my role as president of our community health initiative, which now partners with three local organizations and impacts over 200 students. These experiences have strengthened my passion for interdisciplinary problem-solving, which is the very essence of a Penn education.

Penn excites me because of its unique culture and opportunities, such as the Vagelos Program in Life Sciences & Management, along with the Civic Scholars Program.

I am particularly inspired by Dr. Jeffrey G. Saven and Dr Elizabeth Rhoades, both Co-Directors of the Vagelos Molecular Life Sciences Program and chemistry professors. Their work in interdisciplinary molecular science resonates with my long-term goal of advancing innovative healthcare solutions.

For civic engagement, I am drawn to the Civic Scholars Program led by Rand Quinn, Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Education and Faculty Director of Civic House and Civic Scholars, whose research on community activism and urban education aligns with my passion for service and leadership

Most importantly, Penn’s collaborative spirit and drive to connect ideas across disciplines resonate with me. I know that Penn is where I can thrive academically while making meaningful contributions to campus life.

I understand how competitive admission from the waitlist can be, but I want to reaffirm that Penn is my top choice, and I would enthusiastically enroll if admitted.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

[Your Penn Application ID]

[Your Email Address]

[Your High School]

4. Understand UPenn’s waitlist process.

UPenn’s waitlist is not ranked, which means there isn’t a numbered order of students. Instead, when spots become available, the admissions committee reviews all waitlisted applicants who accepted their spot and makes decisions based on what the incoming class needs. This could be students with certain academic interests, geographic diversity, or other factors that help balance the class. The timeline for hearing back begins in May, and decisions are released on a rolling basis through June.

5. Maintain your backup plan

While you’re waiting to hear from UPenn, it’s absolutely essential to commit to another school by May 1st. This means paying a deposit at a college you’d be happy to attend. The deposit won’t be refundable if you end up getting off UPenn’s waitlist, but it guarantees you have a solid option.

Don’t let the possibility of getting off UPenn’s waitlist prevent you from getting excited about your backup choice. Many students find that once they start imagining themselves at their backup school, they realize it’s actually a great fit too!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does UPenn rank students on the waitlist?

No, UPenn’s waitlist is not ranked. The admissions committee reviews all students who accept their spot and selects candidates based on the university’s needs for the incoming class.

2. How many people does UPenn waitlist?

On average, UPenn waitlists about 3,100 students each year. Of these, roughly 2,300 accept their spot, and around 113 are admitted, which gives an average UPenn waitlist acceptance rate of about 5%. However, recent years have trended closer to 3%.

3. Can I increase my chances while on UPenn’s waitlist?

Yes, you can definitely increase your chances of getting admitted from the waitlist by accepting your spot immediately, submitting a single, meaningful update or letter of continued interest, and by maintaining strong grades.

Takeaways 

• UPenn’s waitlist acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 2.9%. Out of 2,958 students waitlisted, 2,288 were accepted, but only 66 were admitted.
• On average, about 3,100 students are waitlisted each year. Roughly 2,300 accept their spot, and around 113 are admitted, which gives us an average acceptance rate of about 5%.
• Recent years show lower numbers. Over the past three cycles, the average has dropped closer to 3%, highlighting how much tougher it has become.
• Compared to Ivy League peers, UPenn is in the middle. Its 2.9% rate is higher than Dartmouth’s (1.3%) and equal to Princeton’s (2.9%), but lower than Yale’s (4.1%) and Cornell’s (6.3%).
• Yield rate matters. With 68–70% of admitted students choosing UPenn, the incoming class fills quickly, leaving little room for waitlist admits.
• The waitlist is unpredictable. The best year was 2024 with 16.6% admitted, while the toughest was 2022 with just 0.4% admitted.

If you need more help navigating UPenn’s waitlist acceptance rate or boosting your chances of admission, consider working with a trusted college admissions consultant.