Princeton University - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges

Princeton University

#1 in National Universities

4 year • Princeton, NJ

4 year • Princeton, NJ
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Overview

Princeton University is a private institution that was founded in 1746. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,604 (fall 2022), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 690 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Princeton University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #1. Its tuition and fees are $59,710.


Princeton, among the oldest colleges in the U.S., is located in the quiet town of Princeton, New Jersey. 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. First-year students and sophomores live in one of seven residential colleges that provide a residential community as well as dining services but have the option to join one of more than 10 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, "Princeton in the Nation's Service and the Service of Humanity," speaks to the university's commitment to community service.


Princeton includes highly ranked graduate programs through the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and School of Engineering and Applied Science. One unique aspect of Princeton's academic program is that undergraduate students are required to write a senior thesis, or for students in some engineering departments, take on an independent project. Notable alumni include U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, model/actress Brooke Shields and former first lady Michelle Obama. According to Princeton legend, if a student exits campus through FitzRandolph Gate prior to graduation, they may be cursed never to graduate.

Princeton University is a private institution that was founded in 1746. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,604 (fall 2022), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 690 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Princeton University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #1. Its tuition and fees are $59,710.


Princeton, among the oldest colleges in the U.S., is located in the quiet town of Princeton, New Jersey. 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. First-year students and sophomores live in one of seven residential colleges that provide a residential community as well as dining services but have the option to join one of more than 10 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, "Princeton in the Nation's Service and the Service of Humanity," speaks to the university's commitment to community service.


Princeton includes highly ranked graduate programs through the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and School of Engineering and Applied Science. One unique aspect of Princeton's academic program is that undergraduate students are required to write a senior thesis, or for students in some engineering departments, take on an independent project. Notable alumni include U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, model/actress Brooke Shields and former first lady Michelle Obama. According to Princeton legend, if a student exits campus through FitzRandolph Gate prior to graduation, they may be cursed never to graduate.

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At-a-Glance

Setting

Suburban

Tuition & Fees

$59,710

Undergraduate Enrollment

5,604

Acceptance Rate

6%

2024 Rankings

Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

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Admissions

Jan. 1

Application Deadline

6%

Acceptance Rate

SAT Range*

1500-1580

ACT Range*

34-35

High School GPA*

3.9

* These are the average scores of applications admitted to this school. Ranges represent admitted applicants who fell within the 25th and 75th percentile.

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Data provided by U.S. News College Compass Users.

Cost

Tuition & Fees

$59,710

Room & Board

$19,380(2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

$62,844

$11,080

Annual Cost*

$11,080

Annual Cost*

Tuition & Fees

$59,710

Room & Board

$19,380(2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

$62,844

*Average cost after aid

Academics

88%

4-Year Graduation Rate

5:1

Student/Faculty Ratio

74%

Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students

Popular Majors

MAJOR

% OF GRADUATES

ALUMNI STARTING SALARY

Social Sciences

20%

$97,649

Engineering

18%

$56,206

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

14%

$126,237

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

10%

$36,632

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

10%

$66,980

Social Sciences
20% Percent of Graduates
$97,649 Alumni Starting Salary
Engineering
18% Percent of Graduates
$56,206 Alumni Starting Salary
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
14% Percent of Graduates
$126,237 Alumni Starting Salary
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
10% Percent of Graduates
$36,632 Alumni Starting Salary
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
10% Percent of Graduates
$66,980 Alumni Starting Salary

* In cases where salary data at the specific major level is unavailable, a general salary for the major category is displayed.

Faculty Research Impact

Bibliometric Rank

5

Bibliometrics is the statistical analyses of publications and citations for the purpose of measuring faculty research impact.

Publications Cited in Top 25% of Journals

77%

Publications Cited in Top 5% of Journals

29%

Total Papers published between 2018-2022

23,554

Citations Per Publication

19:1

Data provided byLast updated 2023.

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Students

5,604

Undergraduate Enrollment

Graduate Enrollment

3,238

Total Enrollment

8,842

Full-Time Degree-Seeking Students

5,527

Student Diversity

Gender Distribution

Male50%
Female50%

Ethnic Diversity

49%

Minority Enrollment

49%

Minority Enrollment

38%

White

24%

Asian

12%

International

10%

Hispanic

8%

Black

7%

Two or more races

2%

Unknown

Not Specified is not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%.

Campus Life

Housing and Dorms

Types of campus housing available:

  • coed dorms
  • apartments for married students
  • apartment for single students
  • special housing for disabled students
  • cooperative housing
  • wellness housing
  • other housing options
  • Student Activities

    91+

    Sports Teams

    N/A

    Fraternities

    N/A

    Sororities

    After College

    Graduation Rate

    88%

    Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)

    17%

    Average Debt at Graduation

    $12,500

    $64,287

    Median Starting Salary of Alumni

    $64,287

    Median Starting Salary of Alumni

    Graduation Rate

    88%

    Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)

    17%

    Average Debt at Graduation

    $12,500

    Reviews & Ratings

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    Undergraduate data are based on the 2022 school year.

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    My Fit Custom College Ranking

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