Princeton University: Competitive Applications Every Year

Princeton University is a prestigious institution with a highly selective admissions process. The university receives thousands of applications each year for its undergraduate and graduate programmes. For instance, the university received 39,644 applications for the Class of 2027, out of which only 1,782 applicants were accepted, resulting in an acceptance rate of around 4.5%. The university's early acceptance rate is slightly higher at 10%. In addition to strong academic performance, Princeton seeks students with diverse backgrounds, interests, and aspirations who will positively impact their communities and the world.

Princeton's acceptance rate is 4%

Princeton University is an extremely selective institution, with an acceptance rate of just 4%. This means that for every 100 applicants, only 4 are admitted. The university's early acceptance rate is slightly higher at 10%.

The university received 39,644 applications for the Class of 2027 and offered admission to 1,782 applicants, resulting in an acceptance rate of 4.5%. The acceptance rate has varied slightly over the years, with 4.38% of applicants accepted for the Class of 2025, and 5.63% for the Class of 2024.

Princeton seeks students who will benefit from its unique educational experience and go on to impact their communities and the world. The university considers a student's GPA and high school class rank to be very important academic factors in the admissions process. Letters of recommendation are also given significant weight.

The university offers two admission programs for first-year applicants: Single-Choice Early Action and Regular Decision. Both programs have a candidate's reply date of May 1. Princeton also offers a transfer admission process that enrols a group of exceptionally well-prepared transfer students, with students from lower-income backgrounds, community college students, and U.S. military veterans particularly encouraged to apply.

71.5% of the Class of 2028 qualify for financial aid

The Class of 2028 at Princeton University is comprised of 1,411 first-time, first-year students, 16.3% of whom are first-generation college students. Of these students, 71.5% qualify for financial aid, with 21.7% eligible for need-based Federal Pell Grants. This is a reflection of Princeton's commitment to attracting, enrolling, and supporting students from all backgrounds.

The University's financial aid model means that most families with incomes up to $100,000 per year do not need to pay anything for their student to attend. Many families living in the US with incomes up to and beyond $300,000 also receive grant aid, including those with multiple children in college. The average aid package for an undergraduate student in the 2024-25 academic year is approximately $73,000.

Princeton's financial aid program is made possible by the University's endowment and the continued support of alumni and others. The University's endowment generated a 3.9% investment gain in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, with a total value of $34.1 billion. The endowment supports the University's teaching and research mission and its support for undergraduate and graduate students, including financial aid.

The University's holistic admissions process seeks to enrol students who will benefit from a Princeton education and use that experience to positively impact their communities and the world. The admissions statistics for the Class of 2028 show that 50.8% of students are female, and 49.2% are male. The class includes international students from 56 countries, reflecting the University's commitment to diversity.

Princeton's financial aid program ensures that students from all socioeconomic backgrounds have access to a Princeton education. The University's endowment funds about 71% of the undergraduate financial aid budget, contributing to the University's efforts to increase socioeconomic diversity. The Class of 2028 benefits from this commitment to accessibility, with 71.5% of students qualifying for financial aid and receiving the support they need to succeed.

The average aid package for an undergraduate is $73,000

Princeton University is committed to making its education accessible to all, regardless of financial circumstances. The university's financial aid program is designed to encourage all qualified students to apply. In fact, Princeton is often less expensive than state colleges or universities.

The average aid package for an undergraduate student in 2024-25 is approximately $73,000. This aid package is intended to cover the full cost of attendance, including tuition, housing, food, books and personal expenses. Most families with incomes up to $100,000 receive aid, with approximately 25% of all undergraduates expected to receive this level of support.

The university's no-loan policy ensures that students are not required to take out loans, allowing them to graduate with little to no debt. Instead, the aid comes in the form of grants, which do not need to be repaid. The amount of aid offered is based on a review of a family's income, assets, and support provided to undergraduate siblings for college costs. Princeton uses its own need formula to determine the family contribution, which can vary from family to family.

Princeton's financial aid program is recognised as one of the most generous in the country. The university is one of the few institutions that apply the same financial aid policy to international students. This commitment to accessibility and affordability ensures a diverse group of students from various socioeconomic backgrounds.

In addition to its financial aid program, Princeton offers various payment options to accommodate different financial situations. These options include semester payments, monthly payments, and loan opportunities for families.

The application deadline for Princeton is 1 January

Princeton University is an extremely selective institution, with an acceptance rate of just 4%. The application deadline for Princeton is 1 January, and prospective students should be aware that competition is fierce. In 2022, for the Class of 2026, Princeton offered admission to 2,167 students, or 4.57% of the 38,019 applicants. The university tends to keep its admissions numbers under wraps until the end of the yearly cycle, so it is unclear how many applications it receives each year. However, the high number of applicants for the Class of 2026 gives an indication of the volume of applications Princeton handles annually.

For those seeking to apply, Princeton offers two admission programs for first-year applicants: Single-Choice Early Action and Regular Decision. Both programs have a candidate's reply date of 1 May. Single-Choice Early Action requires applicants to apply early only to Princeton, and in 2024, Princeton admitted 791 students to its early pool for the Class of 2024. The university does not disclose how many students applied early, but it is believed the pool was smaller than usual.

Princeton also offers a transfer admission process for exceptionally well-prepared transfer students. The university encourages students from lower-income backgrounds, community college students, and US military veterans to apply through this process. In the academic year 2024-25, Princeton enrolled 36 transfer students, with 26 transferring from community colleges and 23 having served in the US military.

Princeton seeks students who will benefit from a Princeton education and will use that educational experience to impact their communities and the world. The university looks for outstanding academic ability, but also considers an applicant's wider background, interests, accomplishments, and aspirations.

The university offers two first-year admission programs

Princeton University is a highly selective private institution with a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,671 (as of fall 2023). The university offers two first-year admission programs: Single-Choice Early Action and Regular Decision. Both programs have a candidate's reply date of May 1.

The Single-Choice Early Action program requires applicants to apply early only to Princeton University. This means that applicants cannot apply early to other universities. For the Class of 2024, Princeton offered early admission to 791 students, 48% of whom self-identified as students of colour, 16% were from low-income backgrounds, 13% were first-generation college students, and 11% were international students. The university does not disclose the total number of early applications received until the end of the yearly cycle.

The Regular Decision program is the other option for first-year applicants. In 2022, Princeton offered admission to 2,167 students for the Class of 2026, resulting in an acceptance rate of 5.7%. The previous year, the acceptance rate was 4.4%, with 1,647 students offered admission out of 37,601 applicants for the Class of 2025.

Princeton seeks students who excel academically and demonstrate a wide range of backgrounds, interests, accomplishments, and aspirations. The university also offers a transfer admission process that enrols well-prepared transfer students, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds, community college students, and U.S. military veterans.

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