College Profiles/ Princeton University
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
Princeton University Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Princeton, NJ · 5,916 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to Princeton University for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
Princeton University admitted 4.4% of 42,303 first-year applicants in the 2025-2026 Common Data Set.[1] The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled first-years is 1490 to 1560.[1] The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $94,624.[2] First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $79,320.[1] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Restrictive Early Action Nov 1, Regular Decision Jan 1.[3]
4.4%
Overall admit rate[1]
1490 to 1560
Middle 50% SAT[1]
$94,624
Cost of attendance, 2026-2027[2]
$79,320
Average need-based grant[1]
$36.4B
Endowment, FY2025[4]
97.0%
Six-year graduation rate[1]
Princeton University at a Glance
- Location
- Princeton, NJ
- Type
- Private nonprofit
- Student to faculty ratio
- 8:1[1]
- Endowment
- $36.4 billion (FY2025)[4]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional (Fall 2027 entry); Required starting Fall 2028 entry[3]
- Application
- Common App[3]
- First-year retention
- 99.0%[1]
The ConnectPrep Take on Princeton University
The ConnectPrep take
Princeton gives families very little margin: 42,303 applicants, a 4.4% admit rate in the latest Common Data Set, and a 3.96 average GPA. It also asks for something most schools do not, a graded written paper, which rewards the student whose best thinking already lives in real coursework. Princeton offers Single-Choice Early Action on Nov 1 rather than binding Early Decision, and its Common Data Set does not report early admit counts, so choose the early round for fit, not for a number. Testing is optional for fall 2027 entry and required starting fall 2028. With a middle 50% SAT of 1490 to 1560, we tell families to submit at 1525 or higher and aim for 1560. Students apply to the university, not a major. The mistake we see most is treating the graded paper as an afterthought.
What to do this fall
- Choose a graded paper from junior year, ideally with teacher comments, and have it ready to upload by Nov 1 for SCEA.
- Book a fall SAT or ACT. Send an SAT of 1525 or higher, and keep working toward 1560.
- If your student leans toward the B.S.E., say so and explain why; engineering departments are chosen at the end of first year.
- File the Princeton Financial Aid Application by Nov 9 for SCEA, even if you are unsure you will qualify.
Applying to Princeton University? Get a free strategy session. We map your student’s round, testing plan, essays and every scholarship deadline for this school.
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Princeton University Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
42,303 |
1,868 |
4.4% |
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 75.4%.[1]
- 1,370 students were offered a waitlist spot, 1,086 accepted one, and 36 were admitted from it.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing[1] |
740 to 780 |
| SAT Math[1] |
760 to 800 |
| SAT composite[1] |
1490 to 1560 |
| ACT composite[1] |
34 to 35 |
| Enrolled students who submitted the SAT[1] |
60% |
| Enrolled students who submitted the ACT[1] |
20% |
| Average high school GPA[1] |
3.96 |
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 1560 on the SAT, the 75th percentile here, or 35 on the ACT. When testing is optional, we generally advise submitting scores at or above about 1520, the middle of the range. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What Princeton University looks for
In its own words: Princeton describes its review as comprehensive and holistic, with all information in each application considered in the student's individual context, and testing as just one element of that review.[6]
Princeton University Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Restrictive Early Action |
Nov 1 |
mid-Dec |
| Regular Decision |
Jan 1 |
late Mar |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from Princeton University’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
| Optional Arts Supplement |
Nov 6 (SCEA); Jan 8 (RD) |
Optional arts supplement is due a few days after the application deadline in each round.[3] |
| Graded Written Paper |
Nov 1 (SCEA); Jan 1 (RD) |
Princeton requires a graded written paper due with the application, an extra item many families overlook.[3] |
| Princeton Financial Aid Application |
Nov 9 (SCEA); Feb 1 (RD) |
Princeton's own financial aid application is due Nov 9 for SCEA applicants and Feb 1 for RD.[3] |
See how Princeton University compares with other colleges in the Mid-Atlantic deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
Princeton University Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance (2026-2027)[2] |
$94,624 |
| Tuition[2] |
$68,140 |
| First-years awarded need-based aid[1] |
70.6% |
| Average need-based scholarship or grant[1] |
$79,320 |
| Average total financial aid package[1] |
$79,320 |
| Average share of need met[1] |
100.0% |
Estimated cost of attendance; tuition 68,140, housing 13,010, food 9,110.[2]
- For a family that qualifies for need-based aid, the average grant would bring the $94,624 cost of attendance down to roughly $15,304 before loans and work-study. This is a ConnectPrep calculation for illustration; your student’s number depends on your family’s finances, so run the school’s net price calculator.
- Princeton University states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.[7]
- Aid packages are loan-free.[2]
- Most families with incomes up to $250,000 pay no tuition; most families with incomes up to $150,000 have the full cost of attendance covered.[7]
- International students: Full need met for admitted international students, same as for US students (school states it does not limit aid for international students).[7]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[8]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$41 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$352 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$1,217 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$4,478 |
| Over $110,000 |
$36,094 |
| All aided students |
$6,128 |
Academics and Majors at Princeton University
Most popular fields by share of bachelor’s degrees awarded[1]
- Social sciences20%
- Engineering18%
- Computer and information sciences14%
- Biological/life sciences9%
- Public administration and social services9%
Signature programs
Senior thesis
Every senior writes a thesis (some engineering departments substitute a substantial independent project).[9]
First-year seminars and the precept system
About 70 first-year seminars capped at 15 students, plus small precept discussion sections that the school calls a defining component of a Princeton education.[10]
B.S.E. in the School of Engineering and Applied Science
About 25% of each class pursues the engineering degree, choosing one of six departments at the end of first year.[11]
Interdepartmental minors and certificates
Over 50 interdepartmental minors and certificate programs let students add a second field.[12]
Choosing a major and getting in
Students apply to the university, not to a department, school, or program. After enrolling they pursue either the A.B. or the B.S.E.; A.B. students choose a major in spring of sophomore year and B.S.E. students choose one of six engineering departments at the end of first year.[5]
Princeton University Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[1] |
99.0% |
| Graduated within four years[1] |
72.8% |
| Graduated within six years[1] |
97.0% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[8] |
$110,066 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[8] |
$10,320 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[8] |
19% |
Make Princeton University a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
Compare Similar Colleges
Princeton University FAQs
What is the Princeton University acceptance rate?
Princeton University admitted 4.4% of first-year applicants (1,868 of 42,303), according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
When are the Princeton University application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Restrictive Early Action Nov 1; Regular Decision Jan 1.
How much does Princeton University cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $94,624. First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $79,320. The school states it meets 100% of demonstrated need.
What SAT score do you need for Princeton University?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1490 to 1560 on the SAT and 34 to 35 on the ACT. ConnectPrep advises aiming for 1560, the 75th percentile. Testing policy for fall 2027 entry: Optional (Fall 2027 entry); Required starting Fall 2028 entry.
Is Princeton test optional for 2027?
Yes. Princeton remains test optional for students entering in fall 2027, but the SAT or ACT will be required for applicants seeking to enroll in fall 2028. The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 1490 to 1560 on the SAT and 34 to 35 on the ACT. We advise submitting an SAT at or above 1525, the midpoint of that range.
Does Princeton meet full financial need?
Yes. Princeton meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans, and it meets full need for admitted international students as well. Most families with incomes up to $250,000 pay no tuition, and most families with incomes up to $150,000 have the full cost of attendance covered. The estimated 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $94,624.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Princeton University. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
