Princeton Enrollment
The fourth-oldest college in the United States and one of the oldest in the world, Princeton University was founded in 1746 and is situated in central New Jersey. Students at Princeton can learn from one another as they pursue their academic goals and can select from a wide range of extracurricular activities thanks to the university’s diverse campus community. You need to know more about its student profile and Princeton enrollment.
Among notable Princeton, alums are Steve Forbes, president and chief executive officer of Forbes, Inc.; Ralph Nader, an attorney, and best-selling author; Eric Schmidt, former president and chief executive officer of Google; Meg Whitman, president and chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard; and Jeff Bezos, founder, and president of Amazon.com. Albert Einstein, a renowned scientist and Nobel Prize-winning physicist, is credited with making Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study of Physics famous.
In Princeton’s creative writing program, undergrads have the chance to study under some of the most well-known authors working today, including Jeffrey Eugenides, Chang-rae Lee, Paul Muldoon, and Joyce Carol Oates.
How Many Students Are Enrolled At Princeton?
College enrollment has decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, as measured by students who are actively enrolled in classes as opposed to those who are taking gap years.
However, the different enrollment trends across the country as compared to Princeton show a significant difference in the value students place on a college degree and speak to the greater educational disparities in America.
In the United States as a whole, college enrollment declined by 3.4 percent last fall and 3.2 percent this fall. When compared to prior years, these statistics show a significant absence of nearly 240,000 college students. Let’s discuss how many students are enrolled at Princeton.
Regarding Princeton enrollment, there are 4,774 undergraduate and 3,079 graduate students enrolled at Princeton, for a total of 7,853 students. About 5,936 students are enrolled in the online degree and certificate programs. The school has 4,189 male students and 3,664 female students, divided by gender. There are 85 part-time students and 7,768 full-time students, according to attendance status.
When compared to private, four-year colleges in New Jersey that are not for profit, Princeton University has a very large student body. Its enrollment is very small when compared to comparable schools in rankings like Harvard University and the University of Chicago (average population is 17,374).
What Is Princeton’s Acceptance Rate?
The calculated Princeton enrollment’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2026 happens to be between 3 and 4 percent. Princeton has become more selective, with the acceptance rate falling by more than 30% in just five years, according to trends in admissions over the previous five years.
Applying early will increase your chances of admission to Princeton, where the early acceptance rate is typically around 15%. Here’s a record of what is Princeton’s acceptance rate over the years.
| Class | Early Admission Acceptance Rate | Regular Admission Acceptance Rate | Princeton Enrollment Overall Acceptance Rate |
| 2026 | Withheld | Withheld | Withheld |
| 2025 | NA | 3.98% | 3.98% |
| 2024 | 15.82% | 3.71% | 5.55% |
| 2023 | 13.93% | 4.19% | 5.78% |
| 2022 | 14.79% | 3.89% | 5.49% |
| 2021 | 15.39% | 4.30% | 6.09% |
What GPA Is Required for Princeton?
Many schools have a minimum GPA requirement when selecting applicants. To get into Princeton, however, you must achieve the highest possible score. Therefore, strive for more than the absolute minimum to keep your name on the admissions list. If you’re wondering what GPA is required for Princeton, read on to learn:
The GPA acceptance rate at Princeton is 3.9. As a result, in order to meet the Princeton GPA requirements, you must have a 3.9 GPA. Let’s now examine what a 3.9 GPA actually means.
A topper-level grade is 3.9. To put it another way, you must rank at the top of your class to earn a 3.9 GPA. Additionally, you should have an IB or AP degree and your grades should be an “A” in every subject. If you are a high school student, it might be challenging to change or raise your GPA if it is below 3.9.
However, you can make up for this low score by attempting to perform better on the SAT or ACT. It is not required to take both the ACT and SAT tests. You have a choice of sitting for either of the two.
Before choosing applicants for admission to Princeton enrollment, the college takes their GPA and SAT/ACT scores into account. The college takes your performance in extracurricular activities into account as well. Therefore, if you don’t meet the GPA requirements for Princeton University, your score can be adjusted using the other scores.
Is Princeton Test Optional for 2023?
The Office of Undergraduate Admission at Princeton University is still evaluating how the pandemic has affected secondary education across the globe, with a focus on the inconsistent classroom environments brought on by the unpredictability of in-person instruction. The bis question “Is Princeton test optional for 2023?”
In light of this, Princeton will continue to operate in a test-optional environment for first-year applicants applying for Princeton’s Class of 2027 during the 2022–2023 cycle. No advantage will be given to applicants who choose to submit their applications to Princeton without having taken the ACT or SAT.
Each application will be assessed holistically and the testing needs of students applying after the cycle for the following year. Tests will also be optional for transfer applicants during the 2022–2023 cycle, and the process will be reevaluated for those who apply after the cycle of the following year.
What are the requirements for Princeton enrollment?
You have the option to submit your SAT scores even though Princeton currently has a test-optional policy. No specific SAT score is needed to apply, though. The middle 50% of admitted students had SAT Math scores between 740 and 800 and SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing scores between 710 and 770, according to Princeton’s class profile data. You’ll have a better chance if you score near the top of these ranges.
Princeton has no ACT requirements or cutoffs. While submitting their ACT scores, the middle 50% of students received a composite score between 32 and 36. You may have a better chance of being admitted if you aim for the higher end of this range.
Princeton University’s new 25th percentile SAT requirement is 1440. On the other hand, Princeton University’s new 75th percentile SAT requirement is 1570. A thorough analysis of the candidate’s SAT scores from the Princeton Review reveals that his or her 1440 score is below average. A 1570 SAT score is regarded as above average for admission to Princeton University.
Out of the total SAT score, the SAT score of 1600 is a good SAT score range for admission to Princeton University. The table that follows provides a breakdown of the average SAT score at Princeton. The scoring chart from the Princeton Review is as follows for candidates:
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
| Math | 765 | 730 | 800 |
| Reading and Writing | 740 | 710 | 770 |
| Composite | 1505 | 1440 | 1570 |
SAT Subject Tests
Princeton suggests that applicants send in their scores from two SAT II subject tests. Although Princeton does not specifically state that these tests are necessary, if your SAT subject test scores are in the 90th percentile or higher, you should submit them.
Because the scores are scaled based on who takes the test in a given year, use percentiles rather than scores to make this choice. For example, a score of 750 on the English Language and Literature test is valued much higher than a score of 750 on the Math 2 SAT Subject Test.
Other Princeton Application Requirements
The Princeton admissions officers are interested in all aspects of your life in addition to your academic performance. There are a few additional important aspects of what are the requirements for Princeton enrollment in addition to reporting your grades and SAT scores:
- High school transcript
- Mid-year report
- SAT and two SAT Subject Test scores, or ACT scores
- Two teacher recommendations and one counselor letter
- $75 application fee or fee waiver
- Completed Common Application
- Essays specifically for Princeton
Letters of Recommendation
First, Princeton will request letters of recommendation from two of your teachers and your school counselor in order to learn more about you as a student than is evident from your transcripts and test results. Don’t just think about the teachers who gave you the best grades when deciding who to ask; also think about the people who know you well and will write excellent, personalized letters.
School Records and Counselor’s Recommendation
Second, your school counselor will submit the following documents along with your transcript and his or her letter:
- A mid-year report, which will inform Princeton of your senior year grades that may not have been officially posted when you applied
- Update Princeton on your school’s demographics and its most noteworthy features
Additionally, they will aid Princeton in contextualizing your application.
Essay for the Common Application
After that, you must submit the Common Application (or Coalition Application). You’ll become very familiar with this online application process when you apply to colleges because it’s where you’ll go to apply to Yale, Brown, Harvard, and Princeton in addition to Princeton itself!
The Common Application contains a large portion of the usual demographic and educational data. The “activities” section of the application asks you to list all of your extracurricular activities.
The Common Application also requests a single personal essay, which will be sent to all of your schools. You have the opportunity to tell Princeton and the other schools on your list about a significant event or theme in your life in this essay, which must be 650 words or less. Plan to revise your Common App essay several times if you want to submit a competitive application.
Additional Essays
Finally, many schools, including Princeton, require additional, school-specific essays in addition to the main essay. These can vary from year to year, but in general, they inquire about your interest in the institution and/or further information regarding your prior experiences.
Thirteen short-answer essay questions, ranging in length from a few sentences to several pages, were asked at Princeton University last year.
- What is your favorite line from a movie or book?
• What is your favorite keepsake or memento?
• Using a favorite quotation from an essay or book you have read in the last three years as a starting point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world.
For admission to competitive schools like Princeton and the rest of the Ivy League, you must have a solid application strategy to get these essays written, revised, and finished as well as a cogent narrative to present in them.
Application Fee
Lastly, a $75 application fee is required in order to use these online interfaces to submit your application. By demonstrating financial hardship, these fees may be waived.
Application Deadlines
Remember the upcoming deadlines as you compile all of this information. The deadline for submitting materials to Princeton is:
- Single-Choice Early Action begins on November 1
- Regular Decision: January 1
Mid-December marks the release of Early Action decisions, and Regular Decision applicants will hear online by April. Accepted students have until May 1 to decide whether or not to enroll.
How To Get Into Princeton?
What Sort of Student Does Princeton Want?
Like the majority of Ivy League institutions, Princeton seeks applicants who are intelligent, self-driven, and able to perform well under pressure.
Princeton University’s admissions committee specifically looks for applicants who are prepared to take advantage of research opportunities (the university is ranked fifth in the nation for undergraduate research and creative opportunities), engage in volunteer work (the school’s unofficial motto is “Princeton in the Nation’s Service and the Service of Humanity”), and have an interest in forming connections with alumni.
Similar to many other Ivy League institutions, Princeton prefers a diverse student body to diverse students body.
Princeton favors applicants who have a narrow area of expertise. An ideal student is extremely passionate about a very particular area of interest. In a similar vein, outstanding performers in the arts and sports are also desired.
Students who are serious about pursuing both a top-tier education and a career in division 1 sports may have an advantage in the admissions process because Princeton is proud of its athletic achievements. Although it’s less well known, Princeton sends out talent scouts to find students who excel in the performing arts, visual arts, music, theatre, and dance.
How to Win the Competitive Edge and Get into Princeton?
When applying for admission to Princeton University, students can use a variety of strategies to gain an advantage over the competition:
- Submit an early action application to Princeton.
- Use a lesser-known major.
- Have a distinct history
- Select the best test preparation company.
Let’s think about each aspect of how to get into Princeton:
1. Use the single choice early option.
Although Covid-19 prevents applicants from using this option during the 2020–2021 cycle, submitting early action applications is still a wise move for applicants who are serious about getting into Princeton. Remember that we stated earlier in the article that Princeton’s Early Action acceptance rate is 13.93 percent, which is significantly higher than its regular admissions rate.
Regular decision applicants tend to be weaker than early decision applicants, and applying early shows a more sincere interest in the institution.
The only drawback is that Princeton’s early action policy prohibits students from applying early to any other private universities; however, they may do so for any public or international institution as long as the decision is non-binding. Students should only take advantage of this if Princeton is their top choice since applying early to Princeton locks them out of applying early to any other Ivy League schools.
2. Select a lesser-known major.
You might have an advantage in the Princeton admissions process if you can show that you have a sincere interest in a smaller major.
The Humanities and Engineering are good options because they make up the least amount of undergraduate concentrations. This is particularly true if you belong to a group that is underrepresented in the industry.
For instance, there is evidence that Princeton has been attempting to increase the proportion of female B.S.E students who attend their school in recent years. Women majoring in engineering make up a smaller proportion than men do.
But this particular piece of advice has two sides to it. When students select a major as their intended concentration merely because they believe it will look good on an application, most Princeton admissions officers can tell. Furthermore, there might be other institutions with better programs in that field for students who are genuinely interested in a less well-known major.
If you are genuinely interested in the major, can demonstrate your interest in it, and are certain that you want to attend Princeton, choosing a smaller major is a good option.
3. Build a special background.
Students should try to bring a distinctive perspective to the table because Princeton values diversity in its student body. This viewpoint may result from the place, ethnicity, or particular life experiences.
Because so many qualified applicants to Princeton come from the East and West Coasts, students who apply from states with fewer applicants, like Wyoming, South Dakota, and so forth, may have a marginally better chance of being accepted.
Additionally, because Hispanic, African American, and Native American students are the most underrepresented minority groups at Princeton, they may have an advantage in the application process. Just keep in mind that your geographic location and racial identity will only help you if you already meet the minimum academic requirements for admission to Princeton.
4. Maximize your ACT/SAT prep time.
Your ACT target score is the score you want to achieve in order to be admitted to your top choice of colleges.
Google your top choice school and “ACT scores” will help you find your target score the quickest. You ought to be able to locate the school’s 25th and 75th percentile scores. The scores of the middle 50% of admitted students are represented by the range between the two. To ensure you have the best chance of being accepted, aim for the 75th percentile score (a higher score than 75% of the school’s admitted students)!
Take one of practice exams to find out where you stand in relation to your desired result. Really push yourself to experience taking the ACT in the testing environment. Plan a weekend morning to complete each section under the same time restrictions as the actual test.
If you still have six months until the test, decide which day of the week will be the least stressful for you in terms of obligations and academic work, and set aside that afternoon or evening for studying. You should start to see noticeable improvements if you set aside five hours per week for six months prior to the test. You may also reach out to experts to help you prepare more efficiently for your tests.
Princeton University is a top choice for many college-bound students due to its extensive history and Ivy League standing. Princeton’s attractive campus, which features traditional gothic architecture, and the many opportunities it offers students to pursue interests outside of the classroom. That explains why Princeton enrollment is a tough process due to its high level of selectivity. If you want to be part of this prestigious institution, AdmissionSight would be glad to be your partner in your admissions journey. Book an initial consultation now.
