Acceptance Rate
5%
Avg. SAT
1580
75th percentile
“Princeton wraps you in ivy-clad traditions and intellectual rigor, turning ambitious undergrads into lifelong scholars amid a quiet New Jersey enclave.”
Princeton, NJ
Location
Small City
Campus Setting
You step into Princeton's world through the iconic FitzRandolph Gate, entering a campus founded in 1746 as the College of New Jersey by Presbyterian ministers seeking to train clergy—though it quickly pivoted to broader enlightenment ideals, producing two U.S. Presidents in its early years. This legacy shapes a school that's fiercely undergraduate-focused among Ivies, with a personality that's equal parts stately Gothic grandeur and quirky upperclassmen privilege. You'll thrive here if you're a voraciously curious overachiever who relishes deep dives into ideas, collaborates fiercely yet competes quietly, and doesn't mind a hint of old-money decorum. The surrounding Princeton, New Jersey—a leafy, affluent suburb 50 miles from Manhattan—offers walkable charm with indie bookstores and artisanal ice cream, but trade that for limited nightlife or diversity in dining; it's a bubble that sharpens focus yet can feel isolating if you crave urban pulse.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Princeton's classrooms, you'll join seminars where ten students debate ancient philosophy or quantum mechanics with professors who prioritize teaching over their own research empires, thanks to that enviable 5:1 student-faculty ratio—far cozier than even most peer Ivies. The intellectual culture demands you wrestle with a junior paper and senior thesis across all majors, fostering original thinkers in standouts like the School of Public and International Affairs (where future policymakers cut their teeth), computer science intertwined with neuroscience, or the humanities' Bendheim Center for Finance. Research abounds early, with undergrads co-authoring papers in labs tackling fusion energy or AI ethics, but brace for the tradeoff: infamous grade compression means A's are hard-won, pushing you to master for mastery, not GPA inflation.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
5,813 undergrad • 3,324 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
33%
Black / African American
7%
Hispanic / Latino
9%
Asian
19%
Other / Multi-racial
33%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Princeton, NJ
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Your week pulses with 8 a.m. lectures, collaborative problem sets in cozy dorm lounges, and evenings at one of 11 selective eating clubs—those opulent upperclassman haunts born in the 19th century that host everything from formal dinners to foam parties, though bicker (the selective rush) weeds out the less connected. Residential colleges pair you with grad-student 'masters' for mentorship, creating a house-like vibe across four years, while traditions like the P-rade (alums marching in orange-and-black) or reunions' massive beer tents infuse whimsy into the grind. The social scene skews preppy-athletic-intellectual, with 300+ clubs from a cappella to Ultimate Frisbee, but expect subtle hierarchies, chilly winters that empty quads, and a work-hard-play-hard ethos that leaves little room for burnout recovery—perfect if you feed on intensity, tougher if you seek laid-back inclusivity.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
The Ivy League
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
Yes
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$5,761
$30K – $48K
$5,544
$48K – $75K
$6,975
$75K – $110K
$17,703
$110K+
$42,868
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
98%
4 Years Graduation Rate
90%
6 Years Graduation Rate
98%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$110,066
98% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Princeton University and return in the fall. 90% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 98% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
90%
4-6 years
8%
Non-grad
2%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$57,410
Acceptance
5%
Undergrads
5,813
4-Year Grad Rate
90%
Endowment
$19.8B
Princeton, NJ 08544-0070
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