Lori Meadows
Princeton University has had a long history of racial discrimination, with the first African American admitted to the university in the 20th century being sent home after his race was revealed. Since then, the university has actively worked towards creating a diverse community. In 2022, the total enrollment at Princeton University was 8,842 students, of which 6.42% identified as Black or African American. This translates to approximately 568 Black or African American students enrolled at Princeton University in 2022.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of students | 8,842 |
| Undergraduate students | 4,689 |
| Graduate students | 3,079 |
| Full-time students | 8,778 |
| Part-time students | 64 |
| Percentage of Black or African American students | 6.42% |
| Number of female students | 3,664 |
| Number of male students | 4,189 |
| Percentage of female students | 41% |
| Percentage of male students | 59% |
| Number of international students | N/A |
| Percentage of international students | 12% |
| Number of countries represented | 56 |
| Number of states represented | 47 |
| Number of Pell-Grant-eligible students in the class of 2024 | Over 20% |
| Percentage of students receiving financial aid through grants | 61% |
| Percentage of students receiving financial aid through loans | 3% |
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What You'll Learn
- In 2022, 6.42% of Princeton students were Black or African American
- The first Black student to attend Princeton in the 20th century was Bruce M. Wright in 1935
- The first Black person to receive a degree from Princeton was Rev. Irwin William Langston Roundtree in 1895
- The first Black person to receive an undergraduate degree from Princeton was John Leroy Howard in 1947
- Princeton has taken steps to increase diversity and enrol more low-income students
In 2022, 6.42% of Princeton students were Black or African American
In 2022, 6.42% of Princeton University's students were Black or African American. This amounts to 569 students out of a total enrollment of 8,842 students. The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
The historical context of this figure is important to understand. The first Princeton degree earned by an African American was a Master of Arts degree from the College of New Jersey (as Princeton University was then known) in 1895. The first African American to receive a Princeton degree was John Leroy Howard, who earned his undergraduate degree in 1947. However, it is important to note that Bruce M. Wright, the first African American admitted to Princeton in the 20th century in 1935, was sent home promptly after his race became apparent.
Since then, Princeton has actively worked towards fostering a diverse community. The University uses climate data to evaluate and monitor campus inclusivity and has implemented various strategies, tools, and resources to advance inclusion. For instance, Princeton has taken steps to enrol more low-income students, with more than 20% of its 2024 class being Pell-Grant-eligible. Additionally, the University practices need-blind admissions, meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need, allowing students to graduate debt-free.
Despite these efforts, there is still room for improvement. The percentage of students of colour at Princeton has grown to almost 50%, indicating that the University is actively working towards enhancing its diversity.
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The first Black student to attend Princeton in the 20th century was Bruce M. Wright in 1935
Bruce M. Wright, the first Black student admitted to Princeton in the 20th century, had his admission revoked due to his race. Wright's story is a testament to the racial barriers that existed in higher education, particularly at Princeton University, during this period.
Wright's acceptance to Princeton in 1935 was groundbreaking, but his time at the university was unfortunately short-lived. Upon arriving on campus, Wright's race became apparent, and he was promptly sent home. This incident highlights the pervasive racism and exclusion faced by African Americans in higher education at the time. Despite being denied the opportunity to study at Princeton, Wright persevered and pursued his academic goals elsewhere. He earned a B.A. from Lincoln University, a historically Black institution, in 1942, and later graduated from New York Law School in 1950, embarking on a successful legal career.
The pressure to admit African American undergraduates to Princeton had been building in the years leading up to Wright's admission, with alumni advocating for increased diversity. However, even after Wright's admission, the integration of African American students at Princeton occurred slowly. In 1947, John Howard became the first Black undergraduate alumnus, and in 1963, only ten Black students were enrolled at the university. It was not until World War II and the establishment of a Naval Training School at Princeton in 1942 that the colour barrier was significantly challenged, with four Black students entering the university through this program.
Wright's experience at Princeton was not an isolated incident, as the university stood alone among its peers in excluding African American students well into the 20th century. The university's history with slavery and its slow integration of African American students are important aspects of its past that have been addressed through initiatives like the Princeton & Slavery project. The recognition of Wright during the 2001 Class Day exercises and his honorary membership in the Class of 2001 are steps towards acknowledging the injustices faced by Black students historically.
Today, Princeton University strives for diversity and inclusion, with an enrolled student population that includes various racial and ethnic backgrounds. While there is still progress to be made, the university is committed to fostering an environment where individuals of all races and ethnicities can thrive and contribute to the rich tapestry of its community.
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The first Black person to receive a degree from Princeton was Rev. Irwin William Langston Roundtree in 1895
Princeton University is committed to fostering a diverse community where individuals of all backgrounds can thrive equally. The university has been actively working towards enhancing its processes and infrastructure to support this goal.
In terms of racial demographics, Princeton's student population is diverse, with 34.6% of students identifying as White, 18.3% as Asian, 8.89% as Hispanic or Latino, 6.42% as Black or African American, 5.46% as having Two or More Races, 0.0905% as American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0679% as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.
While the journey towards inclusivity has been challenging, Princeton has made significant strides since its early years. The first Black person to receive a degree from Princeton, then known as the College of New Jersey, was Rev. Irwin William Langston Roundtree, who earned a Master of Arts degree on June 12, 1895. Rev. Roundtree was a graduate student, and his achievement paved the way for future Black students at the university.
It is worth noting that prior to Rev. Roundtree, there is evidence of Black students studying at Princeton as early as the 18th century. John Witherspoon, starting in 1774, tutored John Quaumino (also spelled Quamine) and Bristol Yamma for two years before they embarked on missionary work. In the 1790s, John Chavis, a former slave, studied religion at Princeton and later became a Presbyterian minister. These individuals laid the foundation for the inclusion and representation that Princeton continues to cultivate today.
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The first Black person to receive an undergraduate degree from Princeton was John Leroy Howard in 1947
In 2022, Princeton University had a total enrollment of 8,842 students, including both undergraduate and graduate students. Of these, 6.42% of the student population identified as Black or African American. This amounts to approximately 568 Black students enrolled at Princeton University in 2022.
The history of Black students at Princeton is a complex one. While the first Black person to receive a degree from Princeton was Rev. Irwin William Langston Roundtree, who received a Master of Arts degree in 1895, the first Black person to receive an undergraduate degree was John Leroy Howard in 1947. Howard was one of the first Black students to enter Princeton, along with James Everett Ward, Arthur Jewell Wilson Jr., and Melvin Murchison Jr., who were admitted through the United States Navy's V-12 program during World War II. Despite facing administrative resistance and racial segregation in the early 20th century, Howard and the other students paved the way for the integration of Princeton's undergraduate student body.
In fact, in 1935, Bruce M. Wright became the first African American admitted to Princeton in the 20th century. However, upon arriving on campus and his race becoming apparent, he was promptly sent home. This incident highlights the racial tensions and barriers that existed at Princeton and other institutions during that time.
It is important to note that full integration at Princeton did not occur until after World War II due to administrative resistance. The first African American admitted to Princeton after the war as an undergraduate student was Simeon Moss in 1949, and he paved the way for the regular admission of Black undergraduate students, including his brother Joseph R. Moss, who enrolled in 1951.
Today, Princeton continues to strive for a diverse student body at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, and the University uses various strategies and tools to advance inclusion and monitor campus inclusivity.
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Princeton has taken steps to increase diversity and enrol more low-income students
In 2022, 6.42% of Princeton University's student population identified as Black or African American. This amounts to approximately 569 students out of a total enrollment of 8,842.
Princeton University has taken several steps to increase diversity and enrol more low-income students. Here are some key initiatives and programs:
- The Princeton University Preparatory Program (PUPP): PUPP was founded by Professor Miguel Centeno to advocate for and support low-income, first-generation, and immigrant students. The program provides guidance and resources to help students navigate the college application process and gain admission to selective institutions. PUPP has been highly successful, with nearly 100% of its alumni enrolling in college, including competitive schools like Princeton, Harvard, and Columbia.
- Expansion of Outreach and Recruitment Efforts: Princeton's Admission office has increased its outreach to high-achieving, low-income students and their families. They have utilized brochures, letters, and online information to highlight the university's financial aid program, diverse community, high graduation rate, and academic support. The university has also expanded its contacts with community-based organizations (CBOs) serving low-income students and arranged visits and information sessions with CBO students. Additionally, Princeton has hired admission officers specifically dedicated to providing outreach and support to low-income applicants.
- Waived Application Fees: Princeton has waived application fees for low-income students, removing a potential financial barrier to accessing higher education.
- Freshman Scholars Institute (FSI): The FSI is a seven-week summer program that helps admitted Princeton students from low-income and disadvantaged backgrounds transition to the academic rigour of the university. The program offers courses in the humanities, quantitative reasoning, life sciences, and engineering. It also provides introductory workshops for freshman chemistry and a summer research program, enabling students to gain hands-on laboratory experience.
- Emma Bloomberg Center for Access and Opportunity: Established in 2021, this centre aims to support all students, especially first-generation and lower-income (FLI) students, in thriving at Princeton and beyond. It offers signature programs such as the Scholars Institute Fellows Program and the Freshman Scholars Institute to prepare low-income students for success.
- Enhanced Financial Aid: Princeton's financial aid program is among the most generous in the country. In 2022, 61% of undergraduate students received financial aid through grants, contributing to the university's diverse and inclusive community.
These initiatives demonstrate Princeton's commitment to increasing diversity, including racial and socioeconomic diversity, and ensuring that talented students from all backgrounds have access to the university's educational opportunities.
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Frequently asked questions
6.42% of Princeton University's student population identify as Black or African American. This amounts to around 569 students, based on the university's total enrollment of 8,842 students in 2022.
The first Black person to receive a degree from Princeton University was Rev. Irwin William Langston Roundtree, who received a Master of Arts degree in 1895. The first Black undergraduate degree was awarded to John Leroy Howard in 1947. However, it is important to note that Bruce M. Wright, who was admitted to Princeton in 1935, was the first Black student admitted to the university in the 20th century.
In 2022, the graduation rate for Black or African American students at Princeton University was 100%, the highest of any demographic.
Princeton University has taken several steps to increase diversity and enhance inclusion on campus. The university has implemented need-blind admissions, meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need, and offering no-loan policies for both domestic and international students. Additionally, Princeton has created various centres and organisations to support students of diverse backgrounds and identities, such as the Carl A. Fields Center for Cultural Understanding and the Davis International Center.
