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Princeton University
With a 4.6% admission rate, no GPA makes Princeton University a safety. The numbers below tell you what the admitted few look like.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Princeton University sits in Princeton proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. International students are a visible presence here — 12.6% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $217,973 four years out. 19.2% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 5,709 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 98.4% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1500 and 1580 — above the NJ middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Princeton University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Princeton University received 39,644 applications and admitted 1,782 (4.5%), with 1,366 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1500–1580 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Princeton University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 740 | 760 | 780 |
| SAT Math | 760 | 780 | 800 |
| ACT Composite | 34 | 34 | 35 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Princeton University compares
| Princeton University | New Jersey median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 4.6% | 78.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $62,688 | $17,014 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $110,066 | $58,902 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Princeton University: $110,066 median at year ten, versus $58,902 across New Jersey institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $62,688 regardless of where you're from. At Princeton University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 5,709 undergrads, Princeton University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
97.6% of Princeton University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 42.8 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $62,688 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Princeton University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $217,973 |
| Computer Engineering | $214,274 |
| Economics | $160,763 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $115,927 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $107,792 |
| Political Science and Government | $88,576 |
| History | $80,347 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $63,216 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $62,344 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $61,323 |
Median earnings for these 10 Princeton University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $110,066 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 27 additional Princeton University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Princeton University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1500–1580 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 4.6% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Princeton University's acceptance rate?
4.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,782 admitted from 39,644 applicants.
How much does Princeton University cost?
At Princeton University, published tuition is $62,688 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Princeton University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Princeton University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $110,066 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in New Jersey
- Rabbinical College of America — 95.2% admitted
- Ramapo College of New Jersey — 70.6% admitted
- Rider University — 78.6% admitted
- Rutgers University-Camden — 66.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.