Princeton University

Princeton University Leads with Academic Excellence and Generous Financial Aid

Princeton University is a private, coeducational, nondenominational research university located in Princeton, New Jersey. One of eight universities of the Ivy League, it is the fourth-oldest university in the United States. As a liberal arts institution that is home to a vibrant community, Princeton is committed to enrolling students of all backgrounds and interests and also in ensuring that admitted students can afford college by offering one of the strongest need-based financial aid programs in the country.

Chartered in 1746, Princeton University is recognized for its rigorous standards, strict honor code, outstanding faculty, and historical legacy. Its illustrious academic, athletic, and social traditions have been part of the student experience for more than 260 years. The current undergraduate student population is 5,260.

Notable Princeton University alumni include U.S. Presidents James Madison and Woodrow Wilson; United States Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor; former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama; mathematician John Forbes Nash, who was the subject of the movie "A Beautiful Mind"; physicist Richard Feynman; David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker magazine; filmmaker Ethan Coen and actress Brooke Shields; and Charles Gibson, a former anchor of ABC's "World News." The U.S. House of Representatives has included a Princeton alumnus every year since it first met in 1789.

Ranked First in the Nation and Among the World's Best

Princeton University consistently ranks among the top universities in the nation and the world. From 2001 to 2011, "US News & World Report" ranked Princeton University either first or second among national universities; Princeton held the #1 spot for nine of those eleven years. Princeton tied with Harvard for #1 in 2012 and 2013 but since 2014 Princeton alone has maintained the top ranking on the list.

Academic Overview

Princeton University awards the Bachelor of Arts (AB) degree in 31 concentrations. The School of Engineering and Applied Science confers the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degree in six disciplines. Fifty-five interdisciplinary certificate programs are also offered. Also in the undergraduate program are the School of Architecture and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. 

All undergraduates agree to adhere to an academic integrity policy called the Honor Code, established in 1893. Traditionally, undergraduate AB courses in the humanities are either seminars or lectures held two or three times a week with an additional "precept," or discussion seminar. To graduate, all undergraduates complete a senior thesis or a substantial research project and, in most departments, extensive independent research known as "junior papers."

AB undergraduates also fulfill foreign language requirements and distribution requirements with a total of 31 classes for each student. BSE candidates follow a similar track with an emphasis on a rigorous science and math curriculum, computer science requirement, and at least two semesters of independent research including an optional senior thesis. All BSE students must complete at least 36 classes.

Both AB and BSE students enjoy a considerable amount of flexibility in structuring their own curricula.

Post-Princeton Opportunities

Approximately 18 percent of the class of 2017 pursued further education within six months of graduation. Of them 34 percent accepted admission into doctoral programs, 40 percent into master's degree programs, 11 percent into medical schools, and five percent into law school. Within six months of graduation, 74 percent of the class had accepted employment.

Undergraduate Life

About 96 percent of Princeton students live on campus. First year and sophomore students are required to live on campus in one of six residential colleges. The residential experience is central to Princeton's educational program, offering students a supportive and enriching environment full of opportunities for personal growth and extracurricular activities.

The six residential colleges also host a variety of social events and activities throughout the academic year, including guest speakers and trips to New York City and Philadelphia to attend cultural and sporting events. The McCarter Theatre, winner of a Tony Award for best regional theater, is situated on the Princeton campus and is easily accessible to all students.

World-Renowned Faculty

Princeton distinguishes itself among other research universities by its commitment to undergraduate teaching. All faculty members are expected to teach; student-faculty member ratio is about 5:1. Princeton employs 1,261 faculty members who balance excellence in their fields with a dedication to their students' development and success.

Every member of the Princeton University faculty is engaged in scholarly research. Each year, they publish more than 2,000 scholarly documents. Eleven members of the current faculty have received the Nobel Prize and many are MacArthur Fellows.

Distinguished faculty members include Nobel laureate economist Christopher Sims, Pulitzer Prize winning author Jhumpa Lahiri, Poet Laureate of the United States Tracy K. Smith, Australian philosopher Peter Singer, and F. Duncan Haldane, who received a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2016.

Highly Ranked Grant-Based Financial Assistance Program

Princeton University is known for its generous financial aid policy. The university was the nation's first to eliminate loans for all students who qualify for financial aid; all assistance is awarded in the form of grants. Princeton will offer an estimated $173 million in grants to more than 3,100 undergraduates for the 2018-19 academic year. About 60 percent of incoming students receive financial aid in the form of no-loan grants and campus jobs. Eighty-two percent of recent seniors graduated without debt. Those who chose to borrow for additional expenses graduated with an average debt of $9,000.

"US News & World Report" and "Princeton Review" both cite Princeton as the university with the fewest graduates with debt. "Kiplinger" magazine ranks Princeton as the best value among private universities, noting that the average graduating debt has about "one fifth the average debt of students who borrow at all private schools."

Campus and Surroundings

The main campus of Princeton University is situated on 500 acres in the community of Princeton. The Princeton area, which has a population of approximately 30,000 residents, has tree-lined streets, specialty shops, restaurants, parks, and a friendly and safe atmosphere. The shuttle train known as the "Dinky" connects the campus to Princeton Junction Station and regular service to New York City and Philadelphia via Amtrak or New Jersey Transit (approximately one hour to either city).