R1 ResearchPrivate nonprofit

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey·Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above·Mid East·princeton.edu
6-yr Graduation
98%
+8.5pp vs R1 Research
Total enrollment
9,137
peer median 13,917
Avg net price
$6,128
-$28k vs R1 Research
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Admissions & acceptance rate

First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.

Applied
40,468
40,468 candidates competed
Admitted
1,868
4.6% acceptance rate
Enrolled
1,410
75.5% yield

Graduation rate & outcomes

Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.

Overall completion
98%+8.5pp vs R1 Research
4-year graduation
75%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
98%
Full-time retention
98%

Pell equity

0.6pp gap
Pell recipients
97%271 of 278
Non-Pell (all)
98%1035 of 1060
Subsidized loan, no Pell
100%1 of 1
No Federal Aid
98%1034 of 1059

Pell and non-Pell students graduate at nearly identical rates, a notably small equity gap.

Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.

Program outcomes

Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.

Of 110 Title IV programs, 11 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 99 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.

Total programs
110
Passing
11
10.0% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
0
0.0% of portfolio
Fail rate
0.0%
-0.6pp vs 0.6% national

Pass / fail distribution

110programs
  • Passing11 · 10.0%
  • No Data99 · 90.0%
  • Failing0 · 0.0%

Severity spectrum

Critical
0
Severe
0
Recoverable
0
At Risk
0
Watch
0
Safe
11
No data
99

Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.

Earnings premium gap

Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.

11
History
Doctoral Degree · History
+68.0%
$90,535 vs $53,884
English Language and Literature General
Bachelor Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
+76.2%
$61,323 vs $34,808
Ecology Evolution Systematics and Population Biology
Bachelor Degree · Biological And Biomedical Sciences
+79.1%
$62,344 vs $34,808
Research and Experimental Psychology
Bachelor Degree · Psychology
+81.6%
$63,216 vs $34,808
History
Bachelor Degree · History
+130.8%
$80,347 vs $34,808
Political Science and Government
Bachelor Degree · Social Sciences
+154.5%
$88,576 vs $34,808
Public Policy Analysis
Master's Degree · Public Administration And Social Service Professions
+160.3%
$120,163 vs $46,158
Public Policy Analysis
Bachelor Degree · Public Administration And Social Service Professions
+209.7%
$107,792 vs $34,808

Debt vs earnings

Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.

1
Public Policy Analysis
Bachelor Degree · Public Administration And Social Service Professions
10%
$10,750 debt · $107,792 earn

Accreditation status & history

Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.

AccreditedInstitutional accreditor

Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Accredited since 1921Next review Jan 2032

Programmatic accreditations · 1

Action history · 2

  1. Jun 2024Renewal of Accreditation
    Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  2. Jan 2021Approved for Distance Education
    Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Tuition & cost

What families actually pay, broken down by family income.

Net price by family income

Aid exceeds costFamily pays
$0–30k$41
$30–48k$352
$48–75k$1,217
$75–110k$4,478
$110k+$36,094

Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.

Avg net price (private)
$6,128
-$27,958vs R1 Research median $34,086
Federal loans
2.0%
In-state tuition
$62,688
Out-of-state
$62,688

Federal aid volume & trends

Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.

In AY 2024–25, 1,417 students received $9.0M in Pell grants, alongside $2.2M in federal Direct Loans.

Pell recipients
1,417
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$9.0M
$8,983,046 total
Direct Loans
$2.2M
192 loan awards

Pell recipients · 5-year trend

1k
20
1k
21
1k
22
1k
23
1k
24

Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25

Subsidized$92K
24 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$663K
112 loan awards
Unsubsidized · Grad$248K
16 loan awards
Parent PLUS$1.1M
35 loan awards
Grad PLUS$93K
5 loan awards

Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student loan default rate

The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.

Of 114 borrowers who entered repayment, 0 (0.0%) defaulted within three years below the 2.3% national rate.

Default rate
0.0%
-2.3pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
114
Defaulted
0
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard

Default rate vs national, by cohort

2016
0.9%
2017
0.9%
2018
0.7%
2019
0.0%
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate

* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Academic programs at Princeton

Top program areas ranked by completions.

Distinct CIP programs53
UndergraduateOffered
GraduateOffered

Top program families by completions

2,196 total completions
01Engineering
45820.9%
02Social Sciences
37817.2%
03Computer Sciences
26712.2%
04Physical Sciences
26412.0%
05Public Admin
23010.5%
06Biological Sciences
22310.2%
07History
1285.8%
08Foreign Languages
904.1%
09Mathematics
884.0%
10Psychology
703.2%

Enrollment trends & demographics

Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.

Fall total
9,137
12-mo unduplicated
9,226
Undergraduate
5,882
Graduate
3,344

Gender split

Men
52%4,814
Women
48%4,412

Race / ethnicity composition

White
33.7%
Asian
23.4%
Non-resident
12.6%
Hispanic
10.1%
Black
8.7%
Two or more
7.2%
Unknown
4.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.1%

Athletics & Title IX gender equity

How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.

Athletes
1,020
594 M · 426 W
Women athletes
41.8%
Athletic aid
$0
Total student aid
Budget
$50.4M
Total expenses

Men vs women · spending splits

Athletic student aid
$0
$0
Recruiting expense
$1.3M
$586K
Head-coach salaries
$227K
$181K
Men Women

Sport-by-sport · 19

Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
147 M · 130 W
$2.4M
Rowing
94 M · 93 W
$3.2M
Football
122 M ·
$5.1M
Lacrosse
51 M · 33 W
$2.6M
Swimming and Diving (combined)
36 M · 29 W
$1.8M
Soccer
31 M · 26 W
$1.6M

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Campus safety & crime statistics

Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.

Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
7.96
71 offenses · 8,922 students

3-year trend

8.262 yrs ago5.771 yr ago7.96Latest
Offenses · 3-yr
192
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
30
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
2
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
11

Criminal offenses by type

Motor vehicle theft
47
Rape
10
Fondling
6
Burglary
4
Aggravated assault
3
Robbery
1

By location

71total
  • On campus62
  • Non-campus8
  • Public property1

Includes 7 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).

VAWA offenses

1
Domestic violence
6
Dating violence
7
Stalking
14 total under the Violence Against Women Act.

Hate crimes by bias

  • Religion1

Arrests vs disciplinary referrals

CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons00
Drugs03
Liquor0218

Residence-hall fires

  • Forbes1 fire
    Machinery/IndustrialDamage $1,000-$9,999
  • Prospect Apartments1 fire
    Machinery/IndustrialDamage $100-$999

Data quality: 2 reports were later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student-faculty ratio

Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.

Student-to-faculty
5.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
1,076

Princeton vs Peer comparison

The peer institutions Princeton selected for federal comparison reporting.

GraduationRetentionSelectivityEnrollmentAffordabilityYield
This institutionPeer median

A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.

Carnegie
SubjectPrinceton University
98%9,137$6,128R1 Research
84%63.5%7,040$36,228R1 Research
85%40.1%11,946$29,278R1 Research
94%11.7%15,888$31,944R1 Research
95%12.9%20,031$40,815R1 Research
78%79.4%21,153$38,509R1 Research
Peer group median90%40.1%13,917$34,086

Institutions like Princeton

Explore the federal data for institutions in Princeton's comparison group.

Princeton Institutional Research office

The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.

Office
Office of Institutional Research
Phone
(609) 258-3000
Address
Princeton, New Jersey 08544

The page from The Office of Institutional Research at Princeton University focuses on data reporting guidelines, ensuring data security, privacy, and the consistent presentation of information. It provides resources and links to various data-related guidelines and documents for both internal and external compliance requirements.

Visit IR office page
Team
3 members
  • Jed Marsh
    Vice Provost for Institutional Research
  • Jonathan Stoessel
    Institutional Research Analyst
  • La Reina Bates
    Institutional Research Analyst

Common Data Set

Princeton's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.

Student–faculty ratio
4.4 to 1
Est. net price (aided)
$21,186
after avg need-based grant
01

Affordability & Value

Cost of attendance

G
Total$64,477
Tuition
$45,72971%
Fees
$5911%
Room & board
$14,10722%
Books
$1,4252%
Other
$2,6254%

Total sticker cost of attendance is $64,477 (2015-2016).

Sticker vs. net price

G+H
Sticker COA
$64,477
Net (aided)
$21,186
Avg need grant
$43,291

Sticker $64,477 → about $21,186 net for aided students after the average need-based grant ($43,291); 100% of demonstrated need is met.

Where grant aid comes from

H1
Scholarships/Grants: Institutional80.8%
Self Help: Total4.3%
Scholarships/Grants: Federal4.1%
Scholarships/Grants: External sources2.8%
Self Help: State and other work study2.1%
Scholarships/Grants: State2.0%
Athletic Awards1.6%
Self Help: Student loans from all sources1.3%
Self Help: Federal work study0.8%
Tuition Waivers0.2%

0% of need-based grant dollars come from the institution itself.

Graduate debt

H4/H5
Grads with debt
22%
Avg debt
$21,238

22% of graduates borrowed; those who did owed $21,238 on average.

02

Academic Experience

Class-size distribution

I3
2-9 students607
10-19 students558
20-29 students142
30-39 students65
40-49 students76
50-99 students125
100+ students60

71% of classes have under 20 students; 11% have 50+.

Faculty profile

I
Student–faculty ratio
4.4 to 1
Faculty with terminal degree
99%
Women faculty
26%

Key faculty indicators.

Degrees by discipline

J
Engineering (CIP 14)18.62%
Interdisciplinary studies (CIP 30)18.56%
Social sciences (CIP 45)14.12%
Computer and information sciences (CIP 11)12.51%
Biological / Life Sciences (CIP 26)5.59%
Physical sciences (CIP 40)4.09%
Psychology (CIP 42)3.92%
Mathematics and statistics(CIP 27)3.86%

STEM-dominant: ~48% of bachelor's degrees are in computing, engineering, math & sciences.

03

Transfer Path

Transfer admissions

D1
Applied
2,023
Admitted
20
Enrolled
15

2,023 transfer applicants → 20 admitted (1.0%) → 15 enrolled

Source publications

Frequently asked questions about Princeton University

Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Princeton.

What is the graduation rate at Princeton University?

Princeton University reports a 6-year graduation rate of 98% per the latest IPEDS.

How many students attend Princeton University?

Princeton University reports a total enrollment of 9,137 students per the latest IPEDS.

What is the average net price at Princeton University?

The average net price at Princeton University is $6,128 per the latest College Scorecard. Net price is the published cost of attendance minus grant aid.

What is the yield rate at Princeton University?

Princeton University's yield rate is 75.5%, the share of admitted students who enrolled, per the latest IPEDS.

Where is Princeton University located?

Princeton University is located in Princeton, New Jersey 08544-0070.

Who runs Institutional Research at Princeton University?

Princeton University's IR work is done by the Office of Institutional Research.

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDS2025 provisional data (Fall 2025–26 release, July 28, 2026)
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
Federal Pell Grant volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursements by institution and award year.
Federal student loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Federal Direct Loan recipient counts and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.

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