Princeton University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Princeton, New Jersey · Private nonprofit · Most selective · CDS 2024-2025
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Princeton University is a private nonprofit university in Princeton, New Jersey that admits about 5% of applicants, making it a most selective school. The average family pays about $6,128 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer Science, Economics and Public Policy Analysis, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 98% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 12.4 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Princeton University is a private institution located in Princeton, New Jersey and one of the most selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Princeton University admits fewer than 1 in 10 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 5%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1530 and an ACT composite around 34. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $6,128 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about Princeton University right now
Princeton University admitted 4.4% of applicants for the Class of 2029, drawing from a record 42,303-applicant pool, and enrolled 1,409 first-year students. Roughly 25% of the class is Pell-eligible, the highest share in Princeton's history, and 16.7% are first-generation college students. Princeton's financial aid is one of the most generous in higher education: 69% of the Class of 2029 qualifies for aid, and the average undergraduate aid package for 2025 to 2026 is more than $80,000. Most families earning up to $150,000 receive aid that covers the full cost of attendance including tuition, housing, food, books, and personal expenses, most families earning up to $250,000 receive aid covering full tuition, and many families with incomes up to and beyond $350,000 still receive grant aid. Princeton replaced loans with grants back in 2001, so admitted students do not graduate with university-issued debt. Distinctive features for parents include the residential college system, an undergraduate-focused faculty culture, a senior thesis required of nearly every student, and the largest per-student endowment in the U.S. at $36.4 billion. The university also runs more than 500 student organizations and competes in NCAA Division I athletics in the Ivy League. President Christopher Eisgruber continues to lead the university, and the campus has remained focused on access while neighboring Ivies face federal funding disputes.
What GPA does my child need for Princeton University?
69% of enrolled students at Princeton University had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 3.95, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What does Princeton University weight in admissions?
Princeton University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Class rank
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
SAT and ACT scores Princeton University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 770–800, with an EBRW midpoint near 745. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 34–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1500 |
| 50th percentile | 1530 |
| 75th percentile | 1560 |
| % submitting SAT | 56% |
| 25th percentile | 34 |
| 50th percentile | 35 |
| 75th percentile | 35 |
| % submitting ACT | 21% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
How much does Princeton University actually cost?
Published tuition is $62,688 for in-state students and $62,688 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $20,250 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $6,128 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 19% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $6,128 |
| Application fee | $70 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Princeton University
| Regular deadline | 1/1 |
| Notification date | 4/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Action | Yes (Restrictive) |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from Princeton University?
These predict outcomes at Princeton University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Princeton University
The most popular undergraduate programs at Princeton University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer Science, Economics and Public Policy Analysis. Across all programs, Princeton University confers roughly 698 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Public Policy Analysis program report a median income of about $98,995 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 172 | — |
| Economics | 122 | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | 120 | $98,995 |
| History | 68 | — |
| Operations Research | 64 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 53 | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 51 | — |
| Political Science and Government | 48 | $94,020 |
Is Princeton University safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Princeton University disclosed 71 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 12.4 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 4 violent offenses and 16 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Princeton University?
About 95% of undergraduates at Princeton University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in New Jersey parents ask about
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick58% acceptance
- Seton Hall University73% acceptance
- Stevens Institute of Technology48% acceptance
- New Jersey Institute of Technology65% acceptance
- Montclair State University88% acceptance
- College of New Jersey62% acceptance
- Rider University79% acceptance
- Ramapo College of New Jersey71% acceptance
Next steps for Princeton University
Common questions parents ask about Princeton University
What GPA do I need for Princeton University?
69% of enrolled students at Princeton University had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 3.95, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Princeton University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 770–800, with an EBRW midpoint near 745. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 34–35.
How much does Princeton University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Princeton University after grants and scholarships is $6,128 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $62,688. Budget against the net figure.
Is Princeton University realistic for my child?
Princeton University admits 5% of applicants, so 770–800 SAT Math is target range and below 770 is a reach. Then check the $6,128 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Princeton University?
Princeton University accepts about 5% of applicants out of roughly 40,468 who apply each year. That makes it a most selective school.
Is Princeton University test-optional?
Yes. Princeton University is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Princeton University?
About 98% of students at Princeton University graduate within six years, and 75% finish in four years. 98% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Princeton University look for in applicants?
Princeton University rates course rigor, class rank, GPA and test scores as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Princeton University a public or private school, and where is it located?
Princeton University is a private nonprofit institution located in Princeton, New Jersey.
What are the most popular majors at Princeton University?
The largest undergraduate majors at Princeton University by annual graduates are Computer Science, Economics and Public Policy Analysis. The school awards about 698 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Princeton University safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Princeton University reported 71 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 12.4 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Princeton University?
At Princeton University, 95% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Princeton University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers