Princeton University is often hailed as one of the best universities in the country. But what else do you know about this prestigious institution? Is Princeton University Ivy League? And what kinds of activities does it offer students?
In this guide, we'll introduce to you all the essential facts to know about Princeton, including where it’s based, what the Princeton acceptance rate is, what the student outlook and life are like, and what kind of financial aid you can expect to get.
Feature Image: Ivy by Patricia Barcala, used under CC BY 2.0/Cropped from original
Princeton University Overview
Princeton University is not only one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the US, but also one of the best in terms of its academics, faculty, and research. A private liberal arts university and one of eight members of the Ivy League, Princeton is committed to academic excellence, research, and community service.
The school is known for many things, including its top-quality teaching and highly accomplished faculty, tight-knit student community, varsity sports, and groundbreaking research. It’s also one of the few elite institutions that requires all seniors to produce a senior thesis or independent project in order to graduate.
So where is Princeton exactly? Like all Ivy League schools, Princeton can be found in the Northeast: it’s located in the quiet suburb of Princeton, New Jersey, about an hour from Philadelphia and two hours from New York City.
The campus covers approximately 500 acres and is within walking distance of many historical sites, parks, restaurants, and art exhibitions.
- Undergraduate College
- School of Architecture
- School of Engineering and Applied Science
- Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
- Graduate School
Note that the university has no medical school, business school, or law school.
Princeton is a medium-sized institution that's home to about 8,000 students, including more than 5,000 undergraduates; it also has 1,289 faculty members.
As a highly prestigious institution, Princeton is extremely tough to get into: the present Princeton acceptance rate is just 5%, making it one of the most selective schools in the country. This means that only five out of every 100 applicants get admitted.
It’s easy to see, then, why Princeton is ranked so highly. Usually, the Princeton University ranking is within the top five, or even top three, spots on most college ranking lists.
Here’s an overview of what we’ve covered so far about Princeton:
| Location | Princeton, NJ |
| Campus Size | 500 acres |
| # of Schools | 5 |
| Enrollment | Total: 8,374 Undergraduate: 5,428 |
| # of Faculty Members | 1,289 |
| Princeton Acceptance Rate | 5% |
| Ranking | Top 5 |
Student Outlook at Princeton
As a Princeton student, you can expect to graduate within six years and make a great salary upon graduation.
The six-year graduation rate at Princeton is 97%, which indicates that the majority of students finish their bachelor’s degree programs within six years. It also means that 4% of undergraduates will take longer than six years or not finish their degrees at all.
As for how Princeton alumni fare after graduation, the answer is, pretty darn good! According to data on PayScale, Princeton graduates make a median early career salary of $76,800 and a mid-career salary of $154,300. This puts the school within the top 10 universities for best income for grads.
Princeton student section at a football game (Joe Shlabotnik/Flickr)
Student Life at Princeton
While Princeton might be on the smaller side, that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot to do at this elite Ivy.
Most students thoroughly enjoy their time at Princeton, with 94% of freshmen returning for their second year. This high percentage shows that the overwhelming majority of undergrads are very satisfied with their experiences, both academically and socially.
Part of this is likely due to the tight-knit residential atmosphere. At Princeton, all freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus, and because housing is guaranteed for four years, a whopping 94% of undergraduates live on campus.
Academically, Princeton University has a lot to offer. There are 36 Princeton University majors (with computer science available as both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering). These majors span a variety of fields, from anthropology and literature to science and engineering. Some of the most popular majors include social sciences, engineering, computer science, and biology.
Princeton also has 55 interdisciplinary undergraduate certificate programs, which are similar to minors in that they supplement your major and allow you to gain proficiency in another field.
Another notable quality of Princeton is its small class sizes: the student-faculty ratio is just 5:1, meaning that there are only five students per professor. Such a ratio ensures you’ll get plenty of individual attention from your teachers.
Beyond academics, students can participate in more than 300 student-run groups, which cover an eclectic assortment of interests, from art and languages to anime and improv.
Additionally, sports are big at Princeton, which is home to 37 varsity intercollegiate sports teams. The Princeton Tigers compete at the NCAA Division I football level as part of the Ivy League.
Princeton University Tuition and Financial Aid
Like most elite private universities, Princeton University can get very expensive. The current rate for Princeton tuition and fees is $62,400 per year.
According to the College Board, the average tuition and fees for private four-year universities is $32,410 per year, which is about $20,000 less than what Princeton costs.
Nevertheless, Princeton surprisingly has one of the best financial aid policies in the country.
As a need-blind school, Princeton doesn't take into account applicants’ ability to pay before making an admissions decision. It also vows to meet 100% of students’ financial need, so whatever amount you need for college, Princeton will pay in grants—never loans. Note that Princeton doesn't give out any merit or athletic scholarships.
Here’s an overview of what students can expect to get covered at each family income level:
| Family Income Bracket | Average Grant | What It Covers |
| $0-$65,000 | $71,340 | Full tuition + fees, room & board |
| $65,000-$85,000 | $65,620 | Full tuition + fees, 75% room & board |
| $85,000-$100,000 | $62,800 | Full tuition + fees, 58% room & board |
| $100,000-$120,000 | $58,780 | Full tuition + fees, 35% room & board |
| $120,000-$140,000 | $56,400 | Full tuition + fees, 21% room & board |
| $140,000-$160,000 | $52,210 | Full tuition |
| $160,000-$180,000 | $47,470 | 91% tuition |
| $180,000-$200,000 | $41,900 | 81% tuition |
| $200,000-$250,000 | $35,185 | 68% tuition |
| $250,000 and above | $25,430 | 49% tuition |
Source: Princeton University Official Website
As you can see, Princeton has one amazing financial aid policy for students; they really do care that you can afford to attend! In fact, 82% of recent Princeton graduates completed their degrees debt-free.
So if you’re concerned about money, Princeton is definitely a great college to apply to!
Did you know that Albert Einstein had his own office at Princeton?
Princeton History and Alumni
The fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the US, Princeton was originally founded as the College of New Jersey in 1746. Based in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Princeton was moved to Newark just one year later. Then, in 1756, it was relocated again, this time to a city called Princeton (the current Princeton University location). Despite its new setting, the school's name was not officially changed to Princeton University until 1896, more than 100 years later.
The 20th century witnessed many changes to Princeton, including the formation of a graduate school (1900), School of Architecture (1919), School of Engineering (1921), and School of Public and International Affairs (1930).
Later, Princeton voted to go coeducational, admitting women undergraduates for the first time in 1969. Over the years, the university has established several institutes to support people of all types of backgrounds, including the Center for Jewish Life (1994) and the LGBT Center (2005).
Many famous figures have interacted with Princeton since its founding. For example, George Washington received a formal thank you at the university's Nassau Hall for his contributions to the American Revolution. Nassau Hall also served as the US Capitol for six months in 1783.
In the 20th century, world-renowned physicist Albert Einstein became a life member of Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study and even had his own office on campus.
Numerous people have graduated from Princeton and gone on to have impressive careers. Some Princeton University notable alumni include the following:
- Woodrow Wilson, former US president
- James Madison, former US president
- Michelle Obama, former First Lady
- Jeff Bezos, CEO and president of Amazon
- Malcolm Forbes, editor-in-chief of Forbes
- Ted Cruz, Texas senator
- Robert L. Johnson, co-founder and CEO of BET
- Meg Whitman, CEO of Quibi and former CEO of Hewlett-Packard
- David Duchovny, actor
- Jimmy Stewart, actor
- Ellie Kemper, actress
- F. Scott Fitzgerald, author (did not complete degree)
Resources for Princeton University Applicants
Princeton is one of the most challenging universities to get into, which is why we're here to help. If you're applying to Princeton, you should first check out our Princeton admission requirements page. This will give you the rundown of what test scores and GPA you’ll need to have in order to be on par with admitted applicants to Princeton.
Next, get the tips you’ll need on applying to Princeton by reading our in-depth guides to getting into the Ivy League (written by an actual Ivy alum) and getting into Princeton.
Finally, as you work on your Princeton application, refer to our Princeton essay-writing tips to help you produce a memorable statement and raise your chances of getting accepted.
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Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.
Holly R.