Getting in
For Fall 2025, 42,303 first-year students applied to Princeton, 1,868 were admitted and 1,408 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 4.4%.
Source: Princeton Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Sep 30, 2026.
By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025
| Applicants | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state | 4,602 | 229 | 5% |
| Out-of-state | 27,134 | 1,398 | 5.2% |
| International | 10,567 | 241 | 2.3% |
Source: Princeton Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Sep 30, 2026.
By school or major. Princeton's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by degree or department.
Source: Princeton Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Single-choice early action. Princeton has no early decision plan, and the Common Data Set does not report how many applied or were admitted in early action, so it gives no early acceptance rate.
Source: Princeton Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Sep 30, 2026.
Majors
38 majors across 2 schools. Every departmental major in Princeton's official Undergraduate Announcement, grouped by the degree it leads to, the A.B. or the B.S.E. Minors, certificates and graduate programs are left out.
Departmental majors for the Bachelor of Arts32
- African American Studies (A.B.)
- Anthropology (A.B.)
- Architecture (A.B.)
- Art and Archaeology (A.B.)
- Astrophysical Sciences (A.B.)
- Chemistry (A.B.)
- Classics (A.B.)
- Comparative Literature (A.B.)
- Computer Science (A.B.)
- East Asian Studies (A.B.)
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (A.B.)
- Economics (A.B.)
- English (A.B.)
- French and Italian (A.B.)
- Geosciences (A.B.)
- German (A.B.)
- History (A.B.)
- Linguistics (A.B.)
- Mathematics (A.B.)
- Molecular Biology (A.B.)
- Music (A.B.)
- Near Eastern Studies (A.B.)
- Neuroscience (A.B.)
- Philosophy (A.B.)
- Physics (A.B.)
- Politics (A.B.)
- Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (A.B.)
- Psychology (A.B.)
- Religion (A.B.)
- Slavic Languages and Literatures (A.B.)
- Sociology (A.B.)
- Spanish and Portuguese (A.B.)
Source: Princeton Undergraduate Announcement, Departmental Majors for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Departmental majors for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering6
- Chemical and Biological Engineering (B.S.E.)
- Civil and Environmental Engineering (B.S.E.)
- Computer Science (B.S.E.)
- Electrical and Computer Engineering (B.S.E.)
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (B.S.E.)
- Operations Research and Financial Engineering (B.S.E.)
Source: Princeton Undergraduate Announcement, Departmental Majors for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Choice Early Action | November 1 | Mid-December | No |
| Regular Decision | January 1 | Late March | No |
Admitted in either round, you have until May 1 to reply. A graded written paper is due with the application.
Source: Princeton Admission, Application Dates and Deadlines (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Single-choice early action is not binding: if admitted, you have until May 1 to decide. If you apply this way, you may not apply to an early program at any other private college or university in the United States. You may still apply early to any public institution or service academy, to any institution outside the United States, and to any college with a nonbinding rolling process, as long as the decision is nonbinding.
Source: Princeton Admission, Application Dates and Deadlines (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
Princeton is test-optional for students applying in the 2026-27 cycle to enroll in fall 2027. If you apply without an SAT or ACT score, you are not at a disadvantage. If you send scores, send them directly from the testing agency.
Source: Princeton Admission, Standardized Testing (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
The Common Data Set marks the SAT or ACT as not required for fall 2027 applicants, but considered if submitted.
Source: Princeton Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Sep 30, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
- Testing. Princeton requires the SAT or ACT for fall 2028 entry, starting with the 2027-28 admission cycle.
Source: Princeton Admission, Standardized Testing (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
We found nothing else announced for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: Princeton Admission, Application Dates and Deadlines (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at Princeton, 2026-2027:
| Tuition | $68,140 |
|---|---|
| Housing | $13,010 |
| Food | $9,110 |
| Fees | $314 |
| Books, course materials, supplies and equipment | $1,050 |
| Personal expenses | $3,000 |
| Total | $94,624 |
Princeton's 2026-27 student budget. Transportation varies and is not in the total.
Source: Princeton Admission, Fees & Payment Options (2026-27 student budget) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 11, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $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 incomes | $6,128 |
What first-year, full-time students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from Princeton's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to Princeton University on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA · Private4.9% admitted$28,699 average net price
Columbia UniversityNew York, NY · Private4.9% admitted$21,590 average net price
University of ChicagoChicago, IL · Private4.5% admitted$14,860 average net price
Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA · Private4.2% admitted$19,066 average net price
California Institute of TechnologyPasadena, CA · Private3.8% admitted$16,075 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.