When you hear that Princeton’s cost of attendance is around $90,718 per year, it might sound hard to believe. But that’s the real number—that’s the sticker price for undergraduates in the 2025–2026 school year. The amount includes tuition, housing, food, fees, and even estimated personal expenses.
But here’s the thing: almost no one actually pays the full amount. Thanks to Princeton’s generous financial aid, the real cost is a whole different story. Learn more in this blog.
- How Much Is Princeton’s Cost of Attendance?
- Payment Options: How to Pay the Princeton Cost
- How Princeton Financial Aid Changes the Game
- Tips for Submitting Your Financial Aid Info to Princeton
- Financial Aid Deadlines: What to Submit and When
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Takeaways
How Much Is Princeton’s Cost of Attendance?
Tuition is the biggest slice of the Princeton bill. For the 2025–2026 school year, tuition is $65,210. That’s it. No in-state discounts, no out-of-state premiums. Everyone pays the same because Princeton is a private school. Tuition alone makes up about 70% of the total Princeton cost of attendance.
To make it easier to see where all that money goes, here’s a quick breakdown of the Princeton cost of attendance for 2025–2026:
| Expense | Cost |
| Tuition | $65,210 |
| Housing | $12,450 |
| Food | $8,720 |
| Student Fees | $288 |
| Personal Expenses, Books, and Miscellaneous Expenses | $4,050 |
| Estimated Total | $90,718 |
Now that you’ve seen the full picture, let’s break down what each of these costs actually means for you.
Room and board
After tuition, the next biggest chunk of the Princeton cost goes to your dorm and meals. Most undergrads live on campus and eat in the dining halls, so room rates and meals are automatically included in the cost of attendance.
Housing is priced at $12,450 per year. This covers a standard shared room in one of Princeton’s residential colleges or upperclass dorms. The rooms are furnished and include utilities like electricity, heating, water, and Wi-Fi.
There’s no need to budget separately for any of that. All first-year students are required to live on campus, and many students choose to stay for all four years because of the convenience and strong campus community.
The meal plan costs $8,720 annually and includes unlimited access to Princeton’s dining halls. That means you can eat as many meals as you want during open hours, with no swipe limits. The plan includes five dining halls across campus and accommodates vegetarian, vegan, kosher, halal, and allergen-friendly diets.
You’ll also get access to late meals, 10 guest meals per semester, and rotating menus that feature both global cuisine and local options.
Together, housing and dining add up to $21,170 per year. This part of the Princeton cost covers your basic living needs while you’re in school, so you don’t need to worry about rent, groceries, monthly bills, or even cooking. It keeps your expenses predictable and your daily life on campus simple.
Extra fees, books, and personal expenses
These are the quiet costs that don’t always show up on your tuition bill but still affect your budget. While they’re smaller compared to tuition or housing, they’re a real part of the Princeton cost of attendance, and Princeton provides solid estimates for them.
First, you’ll need to pay $288 per year in required student fees. This covers things like class dues, student government, and campus services. It’s automatically added to your bill and helps fund some of the things you’ll use or benefit from throughout the year.
Then there’s the estimate for books and personal expenses, which is around $4,050. This includes the cost of textbooks, supplies, toiletries, laundry, clothes, your phone bill, and day-to-day spending money.
You won’t pay it in a single lump sum, but you’ll definitely feel it over the course of the year. If you’re careful with money, you might spend less. But if you like to eat out, shop a bit, or upgrade your tech, the estimate is pretty accurate.
There’s also health insurance to consider. If you don’t have a plan through your family, Princeton requires you to enroll in the university’s Student Health Plan, which costs about $3,500 per year. This isn’t included in the official cost of attendance because it only applies to some students.
Still, if you need it, it’s important to budget for it. The coverage includes doctor visits, mental health services, prescriptions, and hospital stays.
These might seem like small add-ons, but together they shape your real college budget. They’re part of the full picture of what it costs to attend Princeton, beyond just the price of classes and a dorm room.
Travel and other costs
If you’re coming from far away, expect to spend on travel. Princeton says transportation could add anywhere from a few hundred bucks to $5,000 per year, depending on where you’re flying from. Again, that’s not part of the official Princeton university cost per year, but it’s worth planning for.
Payment Options: How to Pay the Princeton Cost
Once you know what the Princeton cost is for the year, the next step is figuring out how to pay it. Whether you’re covering the full amount or just a portion after financial aid, Princeton gives families a few different ways to manage the bill.
Here are the main payment options Princeton offers:
1. Semester payments
You can choose to pay in two big chunks: once at the start of the fall semester, and again at the start of spring. Any extra charges (like books or one-off fees) are due in full during the semester when they’re added.
2. Monthly payment plan
If it’s easier to spread things out, you can enroll in a ten-month payment plan that runs from August through May. This plan has a $40 enrollment fee per semester, but it can make the cost more manageable month to month.
3. Princeton Parent Loan (PPL)
Families can apply for a Parent Loan through Princeton. The current fixed interest rate is 6.81%, and it’s adjusted each year. It’s based on credit history and the family’s ability to repay. This loan is used to cover any remaining Princeton cost not covered by aid.
4. Federal Direct PLUS Loan
This is a federal loan for parents. They can borrow up to the full cost of attendance, minus any financial aid received. For the 2024–2025 academic year, the PLUS loan interest rate is 9.08%, with possible program fees of up to 4.228%.
These options give you some flexibility when planning how to pay for Princeton. Whether you’re paying out of pocket, spreading costs over time, or using a combination of aid and loans, Princeton has systems in place to help make it work.
How Princeton Financial Aid Changes the Game
Princeton has one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country. It’s all need-based, and they promise to meet 100% of your demonstrated need with grants—not loans. Here are some quick facts:
- 89% of recent seniors graduated debt free.
- 100% of the average grant covers 100% of tuition.
- 65% of students are qualified for financial aid in the 2023-24 academic year.
- For families making up to $65,000 per year, the aid package covers full tuition, room, and board.
- For the Class of 2025, 100 percent of families making up to $180,000 per year qualified for financial aid.
If your family makes under $100,000 a year, you’re likely paying nothing. If your family makes under $200,000, there’s still a good chance you’ll get significant aid. Even families earning above that threshold can qualify depending on their financial situation.
So, the real cost you pay at Princeton could be way less than the sticker price. Sometimes, it’s even less than what you’d pay for your local state school.
Tips for Submitting Your Financial Aid Info to Princeton
Applying for financial aid at Princeton means turning in the right documents, the right way, and on time. To help you avoid delays or mistakes, Princeton offers these tips for getting your paperwork in order:
1. Use the correct year’s tax return.
Princeton follows the “prior-prior year” rule. This means you need to submit your parents’ federal tax return from two years before the year you’ll start college. So, if you’re applying for fall 2025, you’ll submit your 2023 federal tax return. You’ll use that same info on both the Princeton Financial Aid Application (PFAA) and the FAFSA.
2. Upload documents through your aid portal.
Once you’ve submitted the PFAA, you’ll get access to Princeton’s financial aid portal. That’s where you upload your tax documents. This is the safest and most efficient way to get your info to the aid office. Make sure to include:
- A signed 1040 tax return
- All related schedules
- W-2s and business returns if applicable
- Any K-1 forms
3. Don’t forget to report nontaxed income.
You’re required to report nontaxed income like child support, VA benefits, and contributions to tax-deferred retirement plans. Even though these don’t show up on tax returns as taxable income, Princeton still needs them to calculate aid accurately.
4. If your parent didn’t file a U.S. tax return, submit a Non-Filer Statement.
If your parent didn’t file a U.S. federal tax return, they must submit a Non-Filer Statement through the portal. They’ll also need to provide proof of income from other sources, like:
- W-2s
- Disability or VA benefits
- Translated foreign tax forms, if they filed in another country
The goal is to give Princeton a full, clear picture of your financial situation, even if your family has unique circumstances. If you’re ever unsure what to submit, Princeton’s financial aid office has resources and staff ready to help.
Financial Aid Deadlines: What to Submit and When
If you’re planning to apply for financial aid at Princeton, timing matters. You’ll need to submit several forms, and the deadlines vary depending on whether you’re applying Early Action, Regular Decision, or as a Transfer.
Here’s a quick look at the key dates:
| Form | Early Action (EA) | Regular Decision (RD) | Transfer Program |
| Princeton Financial Aid Application (PFAA) | November 9 | February 1 | March 9 |
| Parents’ 2023 federal tax return and W-2 forms | November 9 | February 1 | March 9 |
| Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) | February 10 | February 10 | March 9 |
| Noncustodial parent form or waiver request | November 9 | February 1 | March 9 |
Princeton doesn’t use the CSS Profile. Instead, it has its own internal aid application (the PFAA), which is available through the Princeton applicant portal. Be sure to upload all forms by the right deadline for your admission round so your aid eligibility can be determined on time.
If your parents don’t file a U.S. tax return or you have special circumstances (like separated parents or international status), Princeton provides alternatives and waivers. Just check their official financial aid page for full instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much is tuition at Princeton for the 2025–2026 school year?
Tuition at Princeton is $65,210 for the 2025–2026 academic year. This is the largest part of the Princeton cost of attendance, which also includes housing, meals, fees, and personal expenses.
2. What is the total cost of attendance at Princeton?
The full Princeton cost of attendance for undergraduates in 2025–2026 is $90,718. That number includes tuition, housing, food, student fees, and an estimate for books and personal expenses.
3. What is the Princeton university cost per year after financial aid?
That depends on your family’s financial situation. Most students do not pay the full price. The average financial aid grant is over $76,000, which means the real Princeton university cost per year for many students is under $15,000—and sometimes even $0.
4. What is the Princeton university tuition for 4 years?
If you paid full price, Princeton university tuition for 4 years would total about $260,840. But with financial aid, many students pay much less over time, and some pay nothing at all for tuition.
Takeaways
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to the full Princeton cost of attendance, but here are the main things to remember:
- The total Princeton university cost per year is about $90,718, which includes tuition, housing, food, fees, and personal expenses. Tuition alone makes up $65,210 of that amount.
- Most students do not pay the sticker price. Thanks to Princeton financial aid, many families end up paying far less—or nothing at all—depending on their income and circumstances.
- Housing and dining are automatically included in the official cost, and the unlimited meal plan covers a wide range of dietary needs. Personal costs like books, laundry, and phone bills are estimated at $4,050, and some students also need to budget for travel and health insurance.
- You can pay the Princeton bill through a semester plan, a monthly installment option, or with help from loans like the Princeton Parent Loan or Federal Direct PLUS Loan. These flexible methods make the Princeton cost more manageable for families.
- Want expert help figuring out your actual cost and getting the most financial aid possible? A college admissions consultant can guide you through the process and help you take full advantage of what Princeton offers.
