From the School
Princeton combines the strengths of a major research university with the qualities of an outstanding liberal arts college. The University prepares its 5,200 undergraduates for lives of leadership and service.
Chartered in 1746, Princeton is the fourth-oldest college in the nation. It is a private, non-sectarian university.
Overall
From The School
Princeton's admission process goes beyond simply looking for academically accomplished students. For each first-year class, Princeton brings together a varied mix of high-achieving, intellectually gifted students from diverse backgrounds to create an exceptional learning community. American minorities comprise about 44% of the undergraduate student body, and students from more than 90 countries are represented.
Princeton cares about what students have accomplished in and out of the classroom. The admission process is highly selective. In 2018, the university offered admission to 5.5 percent of applicants for the class of 2022.
Students applying to Princeton are asked to describe their talents, academic accomplishments, and personal achievements. A transcript, recommendations and a graded writing sample preferably in the subjects of English or history, also are required. To be considered for admission to Princeton, students must submit the results of the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT. Two SAT Subject Tests are recommended but not required. Students may apply to the university online, or submit a paper application, if needed.
Under Princeton's admission policy, need for financial aid is not in any way a disadvantage. Princeton welcomes applications from talented students of diverse economic backgrounds. An application fee waiver is available to students from low-income backgrounds or if the application fee presents a financial hardship.
Overview
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Testing Policies
Deadlines
Early Action — November 1
Regular — January 1
Other Admission Factors
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Class Rank
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendation(s)
Extracurricular Activities
Talent / Ability
Character / Personal Qualities
Selectivity Rating
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From The School
Academic Programs
Students are encouraged to bring a multidisciplinary approach to their studies, synthesizing what they discover in different classes and through their own research. This approach may be informal, based on a student's particular avenue of study, or it may be more formally structured, such as with the integrated science curriculum that combines the study of physics, mathematics, computer science, and molecular biology.
A global perspective is emphasized across the curriculum, with special opportunities such as the Study Abroad Program and the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies. Global summer internships are available through the International Internship Program and the Princeton Environmental Institute Summer Internship Program. The Bridge Year Program allows selected students to delay the start of their first year to engage in nine months of University-sponsored service abroad.
Majors and Degrees Offered
Princeton undergraduates pursue either the bachelor of arts (A.B.) or the bachelor of science in engineering (B.S.E.) degree. Students in the A.B. degree program choose a concentration (major) in one of 31 departments in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, including undergraduate programs in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the School of Architecture. The B.S.E. degree is granted by the School of Engineering and Applied Science, which has six engineering departments.
Princeton offers doctoral programs in a range of subjects in the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, School of Architecture, School of Engineering and Applied Science, and within the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
In addition to their major course of study, students are encouraged to enroll in one or more of the University's 53 interdisciplinary certificate programs, which offer diverse fields of study. For example, a student may wish to concentrate in ecology and evolutionary biology while pursuing a certificate in musical performance.
Undergraduates benefit from small class sizes, a 5-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, and one-on-one advising with faculty, particularly while working on independent projects such as the junior paper and senior thesis. The university's 1,252 faculty members are leaders in their disciplines, and it is not uncommon for students to receive classroom instruction from a Nobel laureate, Pulitzer Prize winner, or MacArthur fellow. During their first year, students are introduced to many of Princeton's notable faculty through the freshman seminars program, which offers small discussion-focused classes on a variety of topics. One such freshman seminar may cover the art and science of motorcycle design; another may explore the qualities that make a poem endure.
Faculty and Class Information
Graduation Rates
Majors
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ARCHITECTURE AND RELATED SERVICES.
Architecture.
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AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
African-American/Black Studies.
East Asian Studies.
Near and Middle Eastern Studies.
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BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Molecular Biology.
Neuroscience.
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ENGINEERING.
Chemical Engineering.
Civil Engineering, General.
Computer Engineering, General.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Mechanical Engineering.
Operations Research.
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
English Language and Literature, General.
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FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Comparative Literature.
French Language and Literature.
German Language and Literature.
Portuguese Language and Literature.
Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.
Spanish Language and Literature.
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HISTORY.
History, General.
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MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Mathematics, General.
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MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
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PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Philosophy.
Religion/Religious Studies.
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PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Astrophysics.
Chemistry, General.
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other.
Physics, General.
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PSYCHOLOGY.
Psychology, General.
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PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS.
Public Administration.
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SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Anthropology.
Economics, General.
Political Science and Government, General.
Sociology.
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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
Music, Other.
Students Say
Degrees
Doctoral/Research
Master's
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Experiential
Internship
Notable Faculty
Prominent Alumni
Academic Rating
Graduation Rates
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Experiential
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Students Say
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
Estimated cost of attendance for 2018-19
Tuition: $49,330
Room charge: $9,540
Board rate: $6,840
Estimated miscellaneous expenses (books, supplies, laundry, telephone, recreation, etc.): $3,500
Total: $70,010
Financial Aid
Princeton offers one of the strongest need-based financial aid programs in the country, ensuring that all qualified students, regardless of financial need, can afford to attend. There is no income cutoff on Princeton's aid application; any family who feels the need for financial assistance is welcome to apply for aid.
Since 2001, when Princeton initiated its landmark no-loan financial aid program, the university has been a leader in changing the face of financial aid policy. The university offers every aid recipient a financial aid package that replaces loans with grant aid that students do not pay back.
If admitted, applicants can be confident that their financial need, as determined by Princeton's aid office, will be met. Today, about 60 percent of undergraduates receive aid, compared with 38 percent more than a decade ago. As a result, Princeton has been able to enroll growing numbers of students from low and middle-income backgrounds. About 82% of students graduate without debt, and those who choose to borrow for additional expenses, such as a laptop computer, graduate with an average debt of $8,900. The average aid package for the Class of 2021 was $52,690, which exceeds the cost of tuition.
Dates
Required Forms
School
Financial Aid Statistics
Expenses per Academic Year
Available Aid
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Financial Aid Rating
Overall
From The School
Princeton is a residential campus that provides a close-knit living environment for its undergraduates. Through its six residential colleges, students pursue a host of recreational and academic activities. The residential colleges also serve as home base for academic advising for students, who learn about all that the university has to offer from faculty and staff advisers, peer mentors, and fellow students.
With more than 300 student organizations, as well as an extensive calendar of cultural and athletic events, students find it easy to pursue their interests or explore new ones. The Frist Campus Center serves as the hub of campus life, and is home to the Women's Center, the LGBT Center, the Pace Center for Civic Engagement, and the Undergraduate Student Government, as well as many other student clubs and organizations.
For many students, social life at Princeton includes becoming a member of an eating club. The 11 historic eating clubs are open to juniors and seniors and are run independently of the university. Fraternities and sororities are not recognized as official student organizations on campus.
Princeton is an NCAA Division I school. The university offers 37 varsity sports and 38 club teams. Each year more than 1,000 students participate in intercollegiate varsity and junior varsity sports. In any given year, more than half of Princeton's varsity athletic teams compete in national championships. In recent years, Princeton teams have won national titles in lacrosse, rowing, fencing, track and field, and squash. The women's basketball team finished its 2014-15 regular season with an unprecedented 30-0 record.
Student Body Profile
Demographics
Students Say
Overview
From The School
Location
Princeton is a residential campus set on 500 park-like acres located in the town of Princeton (pop: 30,000) in central New Jersey. Known for its beauty and architectural variety, including the famed "Collegiate Gothic" style of architecture, the campus is home to historic landmarks such as Nassau Hall, which was built in 1756 and played an important role during the American Revolution.
Princeton students enjoy convenient transportation options to New York City and Philadelphia, both only about an hour away by car. Other nearby attractions include numerous parks, cultural venues, and commercial hubs. For arts lovers, the McCarter Theatre is a campus treasure within easy walking distance.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
Academic support services include academic advising centered in each of the six residential colleges; the McGraw Center, which offers workshops and individual consultations with students as they evolve as scholars; and the Writing Program, which strengthens students' writing skills through a required seminar. Ongoing tutoring sessions also are available at the program's Writing Center.
Throughout their undergraduate careers, Princeton students are supported by a range of first-rate academic resources, including libraries, laboratories, and one of the leading university art museums in the country. The largest library on campus, Firestone Library, contains more than 70 miles of shelving and a vast range of electronic resources. The Peter B. Lewis Library, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, offers impressive print and digital collections in the sciences. In the past several years, new initiatives in African American studies and neuroscience have resulted in expanded activities.
A state-of-art and environmentally sustainable science facility houses the chemistry department and provides laboratory space for research and teaching. A new neuroscience and psychology building recently opened, and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment opened in 2016.
The impressive Lewis Center for the Arts opened in 2017 and includes multiple venues for dance, music, theater and the visual arts. A range of athletic facilities also are available across campus.
Campus Life
Housing Options
Cooperative
Dorms Coed
Wellness Housing
Students Say
Special Needs Admissions
Special Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Sports
Basketball
Crew Rowing
Cross Country
Diving
Fencing
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Light Weight Football
Soccer
Squash
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Water Polo
Wrestling
Crew Rowing
Cross Country
Diving
Fencing
Field Hockey
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Squash
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Water Polo
Student Services
Womens Center
LGBT Support Groups
Minority Support Groups
Army ROTC Offered on-campus
Navy ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Rutgers University
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Rutgers University
Sustainability
Data provided by Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), STARS®, as of March, 2019.
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: http://ope.ed.gov/security
Other Information
Campus Visits Contact
Dean of Admission
P.O. Box 430
Princeton, NJ 08542-0430
Experience College Life
Firestone Library
McCarter Theater
University Art Museum
University Chapel
Frist Campus Center
Institute for Advanced Study
Jersey Shore
Access to cities: New York and Philadelphia
Waterfront Park
Campus Tours
8:45am-5pm (summer hours 8:30am-4:30pm)
6092583060
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: 1 hour