When Do Princeton Decisions Come Out? Class of 2031 Notification Dates

Decisions for Princeton’s Single-Choice Early Action (SCEA) applicants are released in mid-December, while Regular Decision (RD) applicants hear back in late March. Waitlisted and transfer applicants hear back a bit later.

Knowing when Princeton releases decisions lets you plan your next steps. In this blog, you’ll see all decisions dates for the Class of 3031, including the possible outcomes of each round and what to do when you receive each one.

• When Does Princeton Release Decisions?
• When Do Princeton Waitlist Decisions Come Out?
• When Do Princeton Transfer Decisions Come Out?
• What to Do After Receiving Your Princeton Decision
• Waiting on Princeton’s Decision? Get Expert Guidance
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

When Does Princeton Release Decisions?

Princeton releases freshmen decisions twice a year:

Source: Princeton College Admissions Office

For the Class of 2030, Princeton released SCEA decisions last December 11, 2025. Meanwhile, it released RD decisions last March 26, 2026. The exact dates shift yearly, but they consistently release decisions in mid-December and late March.

When do Princeton Early Action decisions come out?

Princeton releases SCEA decisions in mid-December. Students have until November 1, 2026 to submit their applications, and admits have until May 1, 2027, to respond.

Princeton sends out email announcements, but the actual decision letter itself is posted inside the Princeton Applicant Portal.

When you open the letter, you’ll see three possible outcomes:

• If you’re admitted, it means you’re offered a spot in the incoming class, but you still have until May 1 to make a decision.
• If you’re deferred, it means your application has been moved into the RD pool for a second review. You’ll receive a decision in late March.
• If you’re denied, it means your application has been closed for that cycle.

When do Princeton Regular Decision results come out?

Princeton’s RD results are released in late March on Ivy Day, alongside other Ivy League schools.

Princeton’s RD deadline is January 1, 2027, and successful admits have until May 1 to accept or reject the offer. Same as SCEA, decisions will be found in the Applicant Portal.

There are also three possible outcomes for RD applicants:

• If you’re admitted, you’ve been offered a spot in the incoming class and will have until May 1 to make a decision.
• If you’re waitlisted, it means your application is still in consideration in case spots open up after May 1.
• If you’re denied, your application is closed for the cycle.

Haven’t applied yet? See every Princeton application deadline

Before looking at when Princeton releases decisions, you’ll need to hit their deadlines first. Our guide to Princeton application deadlines tells you the important dates you need to know.

When Do Princeton Waitlist Decisions Come Out?

Princeton decisions come out for waitlisted applicants from May through the end of June. Princeton admits waitlisted students depending on how many admitted students choose to enroll. If you accept your waitlist spot, you’ll need to commit elsewhere by May 1 but remain open to a possible Princeton offer later in the summer.

This means that if you find yourself waitlisted in late March, you should accept the waitlist spot within a few days if you want to remain under consideration.

When Do Princeton Transfer Decisions Come Out?

Princeton transfer decisions come out in mid-May. The deadline for transfer applicants is March 1, 2027. If you’re accepted, you have until late May to respond with your decisions.

Princeton only opens transfer applications for the fall semester and doesn’t have a waitlist.

What to Do After Receiving Your Princeton Decision

Your next steps depends on the decision your received from Princeton:

If you’re waitlisted and later get accepted into Princeton, you can withdraw from the school where you originally deposited. That means you’ll forfeit that deposit, which is typically non-refundable. But since Princeton historically admits only a small number of students from the waitlist, committing to another school by May 1 is the safest option.

For denied students, you can still reapply as a transfer student in the future.

Waiting on Princeton’s Decision? Get Expert Guidance

Still building your Princeton application? In our Standard College Counseling program you’ll work one-on-one with an advisor through the whole admissions process, whether you’re choosing competitions to join or building a school list.

If you need only one-off support, whether it’s polishing an essay before submitting your application or writing a letter of continued interest when you’ve been deferred or waitlisted, check out the Ad Hoc Consulting program.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What time of day do Princeton decisions come out?

Princeton decisions are typically released around 7:00 PM Eastern Time.

2. When does Princeton release Early Action decisions?

Princeton releases SCEA decisions in mid-December. For the Class of 2030, decisions were made available on December 11, 2025.

3. When does Princeton release Regular Decision results?

Princeton releases RD results in late March on Ivy Day, alongside other Ivy League schools. For the Class of 2030, that was March 26, 2026.

4. Can I appeal if Princeton rejects my application?

No, you cannot appeal an undergraduate admissions rejection from Princeton since the school doesn’t have an appeals process.

5. How does Princeton notify applicants of their decision?

Princeton sends applicants an email informing them that results are available, then you’ll need to log in to the Applicant Portal to view the decision.

Takeaways

• Princeton releases decisions in mid-December for SCEA applicants, and late March for RD applicants. Waitlisted applicants hear back from May to the end of June. Transfer decisions come out in mid-May.
• SCEA applicants receive an admit, defer, or deny decision. RD applicants receive an admit, waitlist, or deny.
• Working with a college admissions consultant can help increase your chances of receiving an admit decision or further strengthen your profile if you’ve been waitlisted or deferred.