ic S/general/checkmark circled Thanks for subscribing! Be on the lookout for our next newsletter.
ic S/general/checkmark circled
Saved to My Favorites. View My Favorites

Princeton Admissions

If you are applying to Princeton, the deadline for Fall 2023 admissions is January 1 and the fee for the application is $70.

Students who submit their applications to Princeton for fall semester should hear back from Princeton by March 31.

Princeton Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of Princeton's admissions stats.

Princeton 2022 Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA 3.9
Mean SAT Score 1501
Admissions Test Policy Test Optional
Waitlist Yes

Princeton University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Princeton University.

Application Type Offered Application Deadline Notification Deadline
Early Decision I No –– ––
Early Decision II –– –– ––
Early Action Yes November 1 December 15
Regular Decision Yes January 1 March 31

Considering Applying Early to Princeton?


Princeton does not offer early decision but does offer early action.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1. Princeton will release EA admissions decisions no later than December 15.

➡️ Explore a list of some competetive colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.


More on Princeton University Admissions


Transferring to Princeton University

For more information on transferring to Princeton University, contact the school directly.

For Students Waitlisted to Princeton

In 2022, Princeton waitlisted 1,265 students and 1,000 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 150 eventually received an admissions offer.

What's Most Important for Getting Into Princeton?

Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are are most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that put the most emphasis on the admissions factors where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at Princeton

Curious about the factors that are considered by Princeton during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor Level
Academic GPA Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities Very Important
Class Rank Very Important
Extracurricular Activities Very Important
Application Essay Very Important
Recommendation(s) Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record Very Important
Talent/Ability Very Important
Standardized Test Scores Very Important
Alumni/ae Relations Considered
Geographical Residence Considered
Work Experience Considered
First Generation Considered
Interview Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status Considered
Volunteer Work Considered

Make sure to check with Princeton for more information on admission factors.

Princeton Application Requirements

To apply to Princeton, all applicants must submit the following items. Check with Princeton's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area Required Recommended Required for Some Details (If Any)
Interview
Transcript(S) of College Record
Standardized Test Scores
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)
Written Essay or Personal Statement
Letter(s) of Recommendation
Transcript of High School Record

GPA and Testing


What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Princeton?

Students admitted to Princeton have an average unweighted GPA of 3.9.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Princeton looks at standardized tests scores during the admissions process.

Princeton is test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

What is a Good SAT Score for Princeton?

To be competitive with other Princeton applicants, you should strive to score between 1470 and 1560 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Princeton 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1560 and 25% of scored lower than 1470, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Princeton student is 1501.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Princeton students scored 800 or higher and 75% of students scored 720 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Princeton students scored 770 or higher, and 75% scored a 720 or higher.

What is a Good ACT Score for Princeton?

To be most competitive at Princeton, you should strive to earn between 33 and 35 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 35 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Princeton's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 35, and three out of four students scored lower than 35 on the ACT.

A 33 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Princeton students. Only one out of every four students scored below 33.

Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.

More Information on Transferring to Princeton University

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 1. Applicants should hear back by May 15.

Transfer students can enroll in Princeton during the following terms:

• Fall Term


Princeton Admissions FAQs


Can I defer my acceptance to Princeton?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Princeton.

Does Princeton accept transfer credits?

✅ Princeton accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does Princeton accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Princeton accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Princeton?

❌ No, Princeton is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If you have higher than average scores, you may want to send them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you it might make sense to leave them out of your application.

What is Princeton's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for Princeton is 4%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Princeton?

❌ Princeton does not offer early decision.

Want To Learn More About Princeton?

Choose one of the options below to find out more about about Princeton:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Princeton

Explore other colleges in New Jersey or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.

Princeton Admissions Requirements

Admission Difficulty

Unknown

4%

--

Princeton Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Jan 1

Transfer Applications are Due

Mar 1

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Princeton is Jan 1.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Princeton is Mar 1.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

Princeton ACT Scores

ic_reflect

ACT Range

33 - 35

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

ACT Score

Estimated Chance

35 and Above

Good

33 to 35

Avg

33 and Less

Low

Stand out on your college application

  • • Qualify for scholarships
  • • Most students who retest improve their score
Sponsored by ACT
Take the Next ACT Test

ACT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

The median ACT score of an admitted student to Princeton is 34. Students with an ACT score of 35 and above have a good chance of getting into Princeton. Students with an ACT score that falls between 33 and 35 have an average chance of getting admitted, and students with an ACT score of 33 or below have a low chance of being offered admission.

Princeton SAT Scores

ic_reflect

Composite SAT Range

1470 - 1560

ic_reflect

Math SAT Range

740 - 800

ic_reflect

Reading SAT Range

720 - 770

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

SAT Score

Estimated Chance

1560 and Above

Good

1470 to 1560

Avg

1470 and Less

Low

SAT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

The median SAT score for Princeton students is 1501. Applicants with SAT scores of 1560 and above have a good chance of being admitted to Princeton, while applicants with SAT scores between 1470 to 1560 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1470 have a low chance of being offered a spot at Princeton.

Princeton GPA

Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)

3.93

GPA Needed to Get Accepted

At Princeton, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 3.93. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

8,478

Campus Setting

Suburban

Acceptance Rate

4%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$56,010

Out-of-State

$56,010

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 1
Do You Work at a University?

Claim your page to customize your profile and connect with students!

Claim Free Account
F43DB07C-E631-43A5-9C99-000231808F35
Scholarship Tips

Want to find money for school that doesn’t need to be paid back? Access insights and advice on how to search and apply for scholarships!

Find Scholarships
ECE68226-946A-49FB-9EBE-25C918B98643
Need Advice or Have a Question About Princeton?

Connect with the world's largest college forum for candid, authentic discussion.

Join the Conversation