Undergraduate Admission and Enrollment
Princeton admits a class of students each year that stands out not just for outstanding academic ability but also for the wide range of backgrounds, interests, accomplishments and aspirations it represents.
The University seeks students who will benefit from a Princeton education and will use that educational experience to impact their communities and the world.
Princeton offers two admission programs for first-year applicants: Single-Choice Early Action—requiring applicants to apply early only to Princeton—and Regular Decision. Both programs have a candidate’s reply date of May 1.
The University also offers a transfer admission process that enrolls a group of exceptionally well-prepared transfer students. Students from lower-income backgrounds, community college students and U.S. military veterans are particularly encouraged to apply.
Application deadlines
| Single-Choice Early Action | Nov. 1 |
| Regular Decision | Jan. 1 |
| Transfer | March 1 |
Admission 2022: Class of 2026
As of August 23, 2022; all percentages rounded
| Applicants | Number | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 38,019 | — |
| Men | 18,421 | 48.5 |
| Women | 19,598 | 51.6 |
| International students | 9,031 | 23.8 |
| Admitted | Number | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 2,167 | — |
| Men | 1,045 | 48.2 |
| Women | 1,122 | 51.8 |
| International students | 295 | 13.6 |
| Enrolled, first year, first time | Number | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 1,500 | — |
| Men | 737 | 49.1 |
| Women | 763 | 50.9 |
| International students | 226 | 15.1 |
| Approximate undergraduate enrollment, 2022–23 | Number | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 5,548 | — |
| Men | 2,770 | 49.9 |
| Women | 2,778 | 50.1 |
| Diversity | ||
| African American | 442 | 8 |
| Asian American | 1,306 | 23.5 |
| International | 687 | 12.4 |
| Latino/Hispanic | 557 | 10 |
| Multiracial (non-Hispanic) | 377 | 6.8 |
| Native American | 7 | 0.1 |
| Pacific Islander | 6 | 0.1 |
| Alumni children | 692 | 12.5 |
In 2022–23, the largest numbers of undergraduate students came from New Jersey (891), New York (634), California (567), Pennsylvania (252) and Florida (236). Students also came from 99 nations.
In recent years, approximately 90% of each entering class has graduated from Princeton within four years, and 97% of all undergraduates have received a degree from Princeton within six years.
Undergraduate Costs and Financial Aid
Here is what it costs for an undergraduate to study at Princeton:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $57,410 |
| Room | $10,960 |
| Board | $7,670 |
| Miscellaneous expenses (books, supplies, etc.) | $3,500 |
| Total | $79,540 |
The University’s pioneering financial aid program provides the assistance necessary to make sure that all students, including international students, who are admitted and need financial aid can attend. The aid comes in the form of grants, which do not need to be repaid. Approximately 63% of all undergraduate students receive aid. Because no student is required to take out loans, Princeton’s aid program allows its students to graduate debt-free.
Class of 2026
| Percent on aid | % |
|---|---|
| Aid recipients | 61% |
| Non-aid | 39% |
| Average aid award | |
|---|---|
| Grant aid | $62,635 |
The average financial aid grant for students from families earning up to $65,000 covers full tuition, room and board. Most students from families with incomes up to $160,000 pay no tuition, and for an average family with income around $190,000, grant support would cover roughly 83% of tuition.
The amount parents are asked to contribute varies from family to family based on a review of their financial circumstances. Princeton uses its own need formula to determine parental contributions.
Financial Aid for Admitted Students
Selected income ranges for the Class of 2026.
| Gross family income | Average grant* | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| $0–65,000 | $76,700 | Full tuition, room + board |
| $100,000–120,000 | $66,950 | Full tuition, 51% room + board |
| $200,000–250,000 | $39,025 | 68% tuition |
* A grant does not have to be repaid.
Princeton’s Estimated Financial Aid Budget, 2022–23
| Source | % | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Total scholarship budget | $217,401,000 | |
| Provided by the University | 94.2% | |
| Endowed scholarships | $177,552,000 | |
| General funds | $26,084,000 | |
| Yearly gifts to scholarship program | $935,000 | |
| Provided by government | 3.5% | $7,630,000 |
| Provided by outside organizations | 2.3% | $5,200,000 |
Graduate Admission and Enrollment
Of the 13,607 applicants to the Graduate School for 2022–23, 1,443 were admitted and 748 accepted the offer of admission.
While graduate candidates submit applications to the Graduate School, faculty members in the individual departments that will award the degrees review the applications and make admission recommendations to the dean.
In 2021-22, Princeton awarded 447 Ph.D.s and 208 final master’s degrees.
Graduate Admission 2022–23:
All Master’s and Doctoral Candidates
All percentages rounded
| Applicants | Number | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 13,607 | — |
| Men | 8,549 | 63 |
| Women | 5,058 | 37 |
| International students | 7,743 | 57 |
| U.S. minority students | 2,506 | 43* |
| U.S. first-generation or low-income students | 1,881 | 32* |
| Women in STEM | 2,999 | 30† |
| Admitted | Number | % Admitted | % of Admits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 1,443 | 11 | — |
| Men | 840 | 10 | 58 |
| Women | 603 | 12 | 42 |
| International students | 583 | 8 | 40 |
| U.S. minority students | 426 | 17 | 50* |
| U.S. first-generation or low-income students | 211 | 11 | 25* |
| Women in STEM | 329 | 14 | 36† |
| Yielded | Number | % yielded | % of accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 748 | 52 | — |
| Men | 420 | 50 | 56 |
| Women | 328 | 54 | 44 |
| International students | 311 | 53 | 42 |
| U.S. minority students | 202 | 47 | 46* |
| U.S. first-generation or low-income students | 118 | 56 | 27* |
| Women in STEM | 158 | 48 | 37† |
* Percentage is of all U.S. students
† Percentage is of all STEM students
Graduate Enrollment 2021–22
The Graduate School enrolled 3,142 degree candidates in 42 departments and programs in academic year 2021 –22. Forty-two percent of the Graduate School’s students are female, and 41% are citizens of other countries. Thirty-nine percent of domestic graduate students at Princeton are members of U.S. minority groups. The median time from matriculation to receiving a Ph.D. at Princeton, including all departments, is 5.7 years (for 2021 –22).
Enrollment of Graduate Degree Candidates by Academic Division, 2021–22
| Division | Number | % |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities | 513 | 16 |
| Natural sciences | 912 | 29 |
| School of Architecture | 116 | 4 |
| School of Engineering and Applied Science | 803 | 26 |
| Social sciences | 594 | 19 |
| Princeton School of Public and International Affairs | 204 | 6 |
| Total | 3,142 | 100 |
Graduate Costs and Financial Support
All Ph.D. and many master’s degree candidates in the Graduate School receive financial support for the duration of their degree program through some combination of University fellowships, assistantships in research or teaching, and non-University awards. Princeton guarantees funding for its regularly enrolled, degree-seeking Ph.D. candidates for all years of regular program enrollment, contingent upon satisfactory academic performance. This funding covers the full cost of tuition and fees and a stipend intended to support the estimated living expenses of a single graduate student.