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Summary
Princeton University is a private institution that was founded in 1746. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,220, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 600 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Princeton University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 1. Its tuition and fees are $37,000 (2011-12).
Princeton, the fourth-oldest college in the United States, is located in the quiet town of Princeton, N.J. Within the walls of its historic ivy-covered campus, Princeton offers a number of events, activities, and organizations. The Princeton Tigers, members of the Ivy League, are well known for their consistently strong men’s and women’s lacrosse teams. Students live in one of six residential colleges that provide a residential community as well as dining services but have the option to join one of the 12 eating clubs for their junior and senior years. The eating clubs serve as social and dining organizations for the students who join them. Princeton’s unofficial motto, "In the Nation’s Service and in the Service of All Nations," speaks to the university’s commitment to community service.
Princeton includes highly ranked graduate programs through the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Princeton, along with Harvard and the University of Virginia, eliminated its early decision program in 2006 in an attempt to create a more equal opportunity admissions process for applicants of all socioeconomic backgrounds. One unique aspect of Princeton’s academic program is that all undergraduate students are required to write a senior thesis. Notable alumni include U.S. President Woodrow Wilson; John Forbes Nash, subject of the 2001 film A Beautiful Mind; model/actress Brooke Shields; and First Lady Michelle Obama. According to Princeton legend, if a student exits campus through FitzRandolph Gate prior to graduation, he or she may be cursed never to graduate.
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Princeton University is unique in combining the strengths of a major research university with the qualities of an outstanding liberal arts college. Whether through independent study, student-initiated seminars, or lectures in emerging fields such as neuroscience, Princeton students have the flexibility to shape dynamic academic programs that prepare them for leadership and lives of service. Through its groundbreaking financial aid program, Princeton ensures that all qualified students who are accepted can afford to attend the University. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1746 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | suburban |
| 2010 Endowment | $14,760,707,000 |
Applying
When applying to Princeton University, it's important to note the application deadline is January 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 1. The application fee at Princeton University is $65. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.8 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | most selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 9% |
| Application deadline | January 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | January 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Princeton University is 6:1, and the school has 71.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Princeton University include: Political Science and Government, General; Economics, General; History, General; Public Policy Analysis, General; and English Language and Literature, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 98.0 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 6:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 90% - High | ||||||||||
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Student Life
Princeton University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,220, with a gender distribution of 50.8 percent male students and 49.2 percent female students. 97.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 2.0 percent of students live off campus. Princeton University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at Princeton University.
| Total enrollment | 7,802 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
Princeton University offers a number of student services including women's center, health service, and health insurance. Princeton University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Princeton University.
| Students who have cars on campus | N/A |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Princeton University, 59.4 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $35,688.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $37,000 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $12,069 (2011-12) - High |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
