The Princeton acceptance rate, unlike those of other schools, is not available through university-sponsored admissions data. However, based on past data, the Princeton acceptance rate is quite low—on par with other renowned universities like Harvard and Yale. As one of the most prestigious universities, you can expect the Princeton admissions process to be competitive.
In 2023, many Ivy League colleges hit historically low acceptance rates. Since Princeton has not released their acceptance rates for the last two years, it can be hard to gauge any changes in the Princeton acceptance rate. Additionally, students may encounter different Princeton university acceptance rates reported by different sources.
What is the Princeton acceptance rate?
According to the U.S. News and World Report, the Princeton acceptance rate is 4%. However, for the 2022 and 2023 admissions cycles, there has not been any data released from the university on the Princeton acceptance rate.
By not releasing the Princeton acceptance rate, Princeton aims to remove pressure from the application process, especially given the recent trends of declining college acceptance rates. Student journalists satirized the university’s decision not to release the acceptance rate for Princeton in an article declaring that this year, “Princeton University accepts 0.00% of applicants to Class of 2027.”
Is Princeton prestigious?
By nearly all metrics, Princeton University is prestigious.
Currently, Princeton is ranked the #1 university in the United States by U.S. News and World Report. Rankings like these are based on a combination of factors, including graduation and retention rates, academic reputation, the Princeton University acceptance rate, and faculty resources.
Princeton is an Ivy League university, a classification that specifies membership to the Ivy League athletic conference. However, the title of “Ivy League” has become a shorthand for some of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country, including Harvard, Yale, Brown, and Cornell.
Due to the low Princeton University acceptance rate, Princeton is ranked #3 of the “hardest colleges to get into.”
Though the most recent Princeton acceptance rate has not been released, class statistics for the 2022 admissions cycle state that for accepted students, the middle 50% of SAT scores for Math are between 760-800, and for Reading and Writing are between 730-780. These high scores speak to the academic strengths of admitted students.
Interpreting the Princeton University acceptance rate
The Princeton acceptance rate shows you how competitive the school’s admissions process is. However, the Princeton University acceptance rate does not tell you everything you need to know about Princeton.
Additionally, given the lack of university data, you’ll find some inconsistencies around acceptance rate reporting for Princeton. The Princeton acceptance rate is listed differently by different resources: The U.S. Department of Education states that the Princeton acceptance rate is 6%, whereas the U.S. News and World Report lists an even lower rate of 4%. This is indicative of declining college acceptance rates across the U.S., including at other prestigious universities like Yale and Columbia.
The Princeton acceptance rate of 4% means that out of all students who applied, just 4% were admitted. For every 100 students, Princeton accepted 4 of them.
From Princeton’s most recent statistics, 1,500 students enrolled in the class of 2026. If the Princeton enrollment is equal to the number of students who got into Princeton, that means that at a 4% acceptance rate, around 37,500 students applied. The actual number of students who applied to Princeton is likely higher than this, as more students are generally admitted than actually enroll.
Princeton acceptance rates: does Princeton early action help?
The Princeton acceptance rate likely differs based on whether students decide to apply Early Action or Regular Decision. Though we do not have specific data, the Princeton Early Action acceptance rate is probably slightly higher than the general Princeton acceptance rate.
When applying to colleges, there are multiple types of college application deadlines: Early Action, Early Decision, and Regular Decision. Early Action and Early Decision are both early application options, with deadlines in the fall and decisions released in the winter, whereas Regular Decision submissions are usually in the winter with acceptances released in the spring.
College acceptance rates often differ based on which deadline the student chooses: Early Action acceptance rates are often higher than Regular Decision acceptance rates. However, compared to the difference between Early Decision and Regular Decision, this increase is not significant.
The Princeton Early Action acceptance rate is likely slightly higher than the Princeton University acceptance rate for Regular Decision. However, both the Princeton Early Action acceptance rate and the Princeton acceptance rate for Regular Decision are low. Additionally, the slightly higher Princeton Early Action acceptance rate largely indicates a stronger applicant pool rather than lower admissions standards. This means you shouldn’t necessarily apply early to Princeton based on the Princeton University acceptance rate alone.
If a student is prepared to submit their Princeton application by the fall and is confident that their application—namely their essays, letters of recommendation, test scores, and GPA— is strong enough, they should consider applying early.
Princeton acceptance rate for international students
The Princeton University acceptance rate for domestic students may be different than the Princeton acceptance rate for international students.
Though there is no official data on the Princeton acceptance rate for international students, Princeton admissions views international applications holistically. The school also evaluates international students and U.S. students by the same criteria. So, even if the Princeton acceptance rate for international students is different, both categories are evaluated based on the same metrics.
Princeton welcomes applications from international students—in fact, 15% of the Princeton Class of 2026 were international students.
Other Princeton admissions statistics to consider
Besides the acceptance rate for Princeton, there are other aspects of Princeton University that might affect a student’s decision to submit their Princeton application or pursue Princeton enrollment.
Students who attend Princeton come from all over the world: the states with the highest representation at Princeton are New Jersey, where Princeton is located, and California.
In the class of 2026, 51% of the students were female and 49% were male.
Outside of these statistics, as you decide whether to complete a Princeton application, there are many factors to consider: the location and setting of the college, the Princeton requirements, the size of the student body, and the school’s academic offerings. Students should research the colleges they are interested in. They should then build a college list based on which schools meet their needs—not which schools are the most prestigious.
Princeton University acceptance rate takeaways
Students wondering how to get into Princeton should aim to fully understand the Princeton acceptance rate.
Princeton University has been ranked #1 nationally by U.S. News and World Report. Though we do not have the most recent data on the acceptance rate for Princeton, based on information on past years’ Princeton acceptance rate and Princeton enrollment, the Princeton acceptance rate is likely between 4-6%.
Due to the declining acceptance rates across many elite universities, students should assume a lower acceptance rate—4% rather than 6%—when crafting their application for Princeton.
Princeton’s deadline options include Early Action and Regular Decision. Whereas Early Decision often has a significant effect on a college’s acceptance rate, Early Action tends not to. Since Princeton’s Early Action is a non-binding application option, any effect the deadline has on the acceptance rate will likely be fairly minimal.
For international students considering applying to Princeton, the application process is largely the same. International students should be aware that Princeton reads applications the same way for both domestic and international students. The school also will not penalize international students for any differences in school structure or testing.
Aside from the acceptance rate, other Princeton requirements may affect a student’s chance of admission. If you’re looking for more tailored advice on how to get into Princeton, schedule a meeting with an advisor here.
Where is Princeton?
Where is Princeton University located? Princeton University is located in Princeton, New Jersey. The Princeton University address is 36 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08544. This is also the location of the Princeton Admissions Office.
Since Princeton is located in a smaller city, students may wonder “where is Princeton University” in relation to major cities. So, where is Princeton University in relation to New York? Princeton is 42 miles southwest from New York City. Alternatively, you may ask, where is Princeton in relation to Philadelphia? Princeton is 49 miles northeast from Philadelphia.
The Princeton location is central between New York City and Philadelphia, which means that students have the ability to travel to both cities fairly easily.
Where is Princeton located within New Jersey?
Princeton is located in central New Jersey, close to the city of Trenton and the Pennsylvania border. The Princeton University campus sits on top of Lake Carnegie and is surrounded by the city of Princeton, NJ.
What city is Princeton in?
Once again, where is Princeton University located? Princeton University is located in Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton is a small city largely dominated by the Princeton University campus. Unlike schools like Harvard or Columbia, the Princeton University location is relatively suburban.
Students may also wonder, where is Princeton, NJ? As discussed, Princeton is in central New Jersey, towards the northwest corner of the state. The school is located in the middle of Princeton, New Jersey. The Princeton University address is just along the shore of Lake Carnegie.
Where is Princeton, NJ in relation to other cities in New Jersey?
The closest city to Princeton is Trenton, New Jersey. Trenton is New Jersey’s capital and is found on the New Jersey/Pennsylvania border.
Students may also wonder, where is Princeton University located in relation to Trenton? Princeton University is roughly 11 miles from Trenton, giving students relatively easy access to the state’s capital.
The Princeton location is also close to several smaller cities in New Jersey, such as Cranbury Township, Township of Plainsboro, and Montgomery Township.
What is Princeton known for?
Princeton University is best known as an Ivy League school. As such, Princeton is universally lauded for its strong academic programs across a variety of disciplines.
It can also be helpful to understand the answer to the question, where is Princeton ranked among the other Ivy League schools?
U.S News currently has Princeton ranking #1 in National Universities, and Forbes also has Princeton ranking #1 in Top Colleges 2023. With such a high ranking, Princeton is also known for its extremely competitive admissions process. Princeton’s acceptance rate was about 4% for the 2022-2023 admissions cycle, making Princeton University one of the hardest schools to get into.
The Princeton University campus also has a lot to offer. To get a sense of the area, take a look at the Princeton campus map, which details several green spaces and historic buildings. Families can see several of these famous buildings, including the Princeton University Chapel, on the Princeton campus tour.
Understanding whether Princeton is the right fit
The question “where is Princeton University located” can help students understand whether the Princeton University campus would be a good fit for them. Princeton, New Jersey is well-known as a college town. With the Princeton University address located in the middle of Princeton, the campus has a small-town feel.
For all students, Princeton is “reach” school. As you prepare your Princeton application, check out our many resources on the admissions process. These include our How to Get Into Princeton Guide, Princeton University Panel, and Princeton essay examples.
Which airport is closest to Princeton University?
The Princeton Airport is the closest airport to Princeton University. The Princeton Airport is just 4 miles north of the Princeton University campus—around a 10 minute car ride. However, the Princeton Airport is relatively small. This means that most students will travel to campus via other airports.
So, where is Princeton University in relation to a major airport? The largest airport closest to Princeton University is Newark Liberty International Airport. Are you wondering, where is Princeton in relation to Newark? The answer: relatively nearby. In fact, the Princeton University address puts Princeton just over 40 miles from Newark Airport.
Is Princeton, NJ a good place to live?
Located between New York City and Philadelphia, Princeton is a great option for students interested in attending college in the Northeast. Princeton is considered a college town, as the Princeton University campus is one of the city’s largest employers. The Princeton location makes it a great place to live for both students and staff. With its proximity to two major cities as well as New Jersey’s capital, the Princeton location gives students access to urban life while preserving a small-town campus feel.
Where is Princeton in comparison to other college towns? With 4,688 undergraduate students, Princeton is a major university with a relatively smaller student population. With just over 30,000 residents, Princeton’s community is small as well.
The Princeton University location is also nearby other Ivy League colleges. Where is Princeton located in relation to other Ivy League universities? The Princeton University address puts it closest to the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University—that is, Philadelphia and New York City. .
Overall, Princeton, NJ is a good place to live, especially for students who want to attend a stellar research university and still live in a college town. Princeton University is in the middle of Princeton, New Jersey. With 9.5 million square feet in area, Princeton’s campus comprises most of the city. As one of the best colleges in the United States, Princeton University helps make Princeton, NJ a great place to live.
Can I visit Princeton University?
Before submitting a Princeton application, try to visit Princeton’s campus. Princeton University welcomes interested students to visit its campus on a Princeton campus tour. Per the Princeton Admissions Office, tours are available Monday through Friday. Attending a Princeton campus tour is a great way to familiarize yourself with the Princeton location and the campus layout.
Princeton has transit options for students coming from New York, Philadelphia, and Newark, NJ. This makes it easy for students to reach campus from various major metropoles.
Those travelling by car may wonder, where is Princeton University parking? Visitor parking is available on campus, at Stadium Drive Garage. You can also find short-term parking in surrounding areas.
Looking at the Princeton campus map can be a great way to learn about Princeton. However, a Princeton campus tour will give you a firsthand experience of Princeton’s campus. Be sure to watch our “Making the Most of Your College Visits” webinar before booking your Princeton campus tour.
Exploring Princeton University Campus
The Princeton location makes it a convenient stop between two major U.S. cities, New York and Philadelphia. There is much to explore when you visit Princeton. If you research “where is Princeton located?” and find yourself excited about attending college in Princeton, NJ, try to visit the campus.
The Princeton campus map is a great resource when visiting Princeton. It can highlight the school’s main attractions and answer questions like “where is Princeton University’s Frist Campus Center.” The Princeton University address itself will take you to the Admission Information Center, close to the Princeton University Store. This is a good place to start exploring.
Per the Princeton campus map, Princeton’s campus is located on the shores of Lake Carnegie, directly in the middle of downtown Princeton. Students may also wonder, where is Princeton open to the public? Visitors are welcome to walk around Princeton’s campus; however, some buildings may be closed to the general public. These include academic departments and dormitories.
Using the Princeton campus map, you can find directions to various historic buildings. One great first stop is the Frist Campus Center. The Frist Campus Center is one of the main buildings on campus where visitors can see live performances, explore Princeton’s food options, and get a sense of the campus life. Students can also visit the Princeton University Chapel, one of Princeton’s most famous buildings.
