Princeton University

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2019 Undergraduate Tuition

$51,870

4.89% growth from 2018

2019 Average Net Price

$18,712

After Financial Aid

2017 Student Loan

0.935%

Default Rate

2019 Acceptance Rate

5.78%

32,804 Applicants

2019 Enrolled Students

8,419

98.9% Full-Time

2018 Graduation Rate

96.4%

1,306 Graduates

About

Princeton University is a higher education institution located in Mercer County, NJ. In 2016, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Princeton University were Computer Science (146 degrees awarded), Econometrics & Quantitative Economics (144 degrees), and General Public Policy Analysis (122 degrees).

In 2019, 2,335 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Princeton University. 43.7% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 56.3% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (926 degrees), 2.55 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (363 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Princeton University is $51,870, which is $23,370 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,500).

Photo by Alexander Day

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Princeton University is $51,870, which is $23,370 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,500).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $18,712.

In 2019, 61% of undergraduate students received federal grants, while 3% of undergraduate students received federal loans.

Student Expenses

Tuition Costs

$51,870

2019 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2019, the cost of tuition at Princeton University was $51,870. The cost of tuition at Princeton University is $23,370 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,500).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Princeton University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$18,712

2019 Value

15.6%

1 Year Growth

In 2019 Princeton University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $18,712. Between 2018 and 2019, the average net price of Princeton University grew by 15.6%.

This chart compares the average net price of Princeton University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$16,360

Room and Board

$1,050

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Princeton University was of $16,360 in 2019. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,050. The cost of room and board increased by 4.8% between 2018 and 2019. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Princeton University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid by Income Level

61%

Of Undergraduates Receive Grants

Of Undergraduates Receive Federal Loans

61% of undergraduate students at Princeton University received grants or loans in 2019. This represents a growth of 3.39% with respect to 2018, when 59% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Princeton University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

0.935%

2017 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2017 the default rate for borrower's at Princeton University was 0.935%, which represents 1 out of the 107 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Princeton University received 32,804 undergraduate applications in 2019, which represents a 7.25% annual decline. Out of those 32,804 applicants, 1,895 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 5.78% acceptance rate.

There were 8,419 students enrolled at Princeton University in 2019, and 70% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Princeton University has an overall enrollment yield of 70.4%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

5.78%

Acceptance Rate in 2019

1,895

Accepted Out of 32,804

In 2019, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Princeton University was 5.78% (1,895 admissions from 32,804 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2018, which was 5.48%. Between 2018 and 2019, the number of applicants declined by -7.25%, while admissions declined by -2.32%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Princeton University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

70%

Submission Percentage

940

Scores Submitted

70% of enrolled first-time students at Princeton University in 2019 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Princeton University has a total enrollment of 8,419 students. The full-time enrollment at Princeton University is 8,325 students and the part-time enrollment is 94. This means that 98.9% of students enrolled at Princeton University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Princeton University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 37.2% White, 17.1% Asian, 9% Hispanic or Latino, 5.94% Black or African American, 4.25% Two or More Races, 0.119% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0831% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Princeton University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (21.3%), followed by White Female (18.8%) and Asian Female (12.2%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Male (19.4%), followed by White Female (13.4%) and Asian Male (4.6%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

98.9%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Princeton University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 8,419 students. The full-time enrollment at Princeton University is 8,325 and the part-time enrollment is 94. This means that 98.9% of students enrolled at Princeton University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.6% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Princeton University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

98%

2019 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Princeton University was 98%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (83%), Princeton University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Princeton University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity

White
3,128
Asian
1,439
Hispanic or Latino
758

The enrolled student population at Princeton University is 37.2% White, 17.1% Asian, 9% Hispanic or Latino, 5.94% Black or African American, 4.25% Two or More Races, 0.119% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0831% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 50.3% White, 14.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.48% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 277 students (3.29%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2019, 293 fewer women than men received degrees from Princeton University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Princeton University is white (926 degrees awarded). There were 2.55 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (363 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Princeton University is Computer Science (146 degrees awarded), followed by Econometrics & Quantitative Economics (144 degrees) and General Public Policy Analysis (122 degrees).

The most specialized majors across all degree types at Princeton University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Philosophy and Religious Studies (69 degrees awarded), Physical Sciences (219 degrees), and History (118 degrees).

Workforce

Common Jobs by Major

Postsecondary teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Princeton University are Postsecondary teachers (158,834 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (149,480 people), Other managers (139,096 people), Architects, except landscape and naval (108,255 people), and Secondary school teachers (105,877 people).

The most specialized majors at Princeton University are Philosophy and Religious Studies (69 degrees awarded), Physical Sciences (219 degrees), History (118 degrees), Language & Linguistics (114 degrees), and Architecture and Related Services (46 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Princeton University are Surgeons, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Physicians, Agents & business managers of artists, performers, & athletes, and Dentists

Common Industries by Major

Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Princeton University are Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (286,968 people), Elementary & secondary schools (284,611 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (180,338 people), Legal services (112,749 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (110,785 people).

Degrees

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Princeton University.

Most Common

Computer Science
146 degree-majorss awarded
Econometrics & Quantitative Economics
144 degree-majorss awarded
General Public Policy Analysis
122 degree-majorss awarded

In 2019, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Princeton University was Computer Science with 146 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Princeton University according to their major.

Gender Breakdown for Common Majors

1,314

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2019

1,021

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2019

In 2019, 1,314 degrees were awarded to men at Princeton University, which is 1.29 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,021).

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 majors at Princeton University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2019, 147 degrees were awarded to men at Princeton University in Computer Science, which is 2.23 times more than the 66 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2019, 110 degrees were awarded to women at Princeton University in General Public Policy Analysis, which is 1.07 times more than the 103 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

89%

100% Completion Time

97%

150% Completion Time

In 2019, 89% of students graduating from Princeton University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 97% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 98% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Diversity

Graduation Rate by Race and Gender

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Princeton University is Male and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (69.1%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1.3% of graduates (17 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
926 degrees awarded
Asian
363 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
189 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Princeton University is white (926 degrees awarded). There were 2.55 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (363 degrees).

2.91% of degree recipients (68 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Gender

Most Common Gender Demographic

White Male
514 degrees awarded
White Female
412 degrees awarded
Asian Male
191 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and gender grouping at Princeton University is white male (514 degrees awarded). There were 1.25 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (412 degrees).

Operations

Princeton University has an endowment valued at nearly $25.6B, as of the end of the 2019 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $1.52B (5.93%), compared to the 4.24% average return ($13.2M on $311M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2019, Princeton University had a total salary expenditure of $1.74B. Princeton University employs 492 Professors, 184 Assistant professors, and 176 Lecturers. Most academics at Princeton University are Male Professors (362), Female Professors(130), and Male Assistant professors (107).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Princeton University are: Computer, Engineering, and Science, with 1422 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 941 employees, and Management with 736 employees.

Finances

Endowment

$25.6B

2019 Endowment

0.729%

growth from 2018

Princeton University has an endowment valued at about $25.6B, as of the end of the 2019 fiscal year. The endowment of Princeton University grew 0.729% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $25.3B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Princeton University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$196M - Federal
$1.55M - State
$0 - Local

As of 2019, Princeton University received $196M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $1.55M from state grants and contracts, and $0 from local grants and contracts.

Expenses

Salary Expenditure

$693M

2019 Salaries

3.36%

growth from 2018

In 2019, Princeton University paid a median of $693M in salaries, which represents 39.8% of their overall expenditure ($1.74B) and a 3.36% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 6.66% growth from 2017 and a 5.18% growth from 2016.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 234M (42.4% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$184M

Instructional Salaries

985

Number of Employees

In 2019, Princeton University paid a total of $184M to 985 employees working as instructors, which represents 26.5% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $71.1M (30.3%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Faculty and Staff

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

492 Employees

Computer, Engineering, and Science

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

1422 Employees

In 2019, the most common positions for instructional staff at Princeton University were Professor with 492 employees; Assistant professor with 184 employees; and Assistant professor with 176 employees.

In 2019, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Princeton University were Computer, Engineering, and Science with 1,422 employees; Office and Administrative Support with 941 employees; and Management with 736 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Gender

Most Common Demographic

Male Professor
Female Professor
Male Assistant professor

In 2019, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Princeton University was Male Professor with 362 employees, Female Professor with 130 employees, and Male Assistant professor with 107 employees.

This chart shows the gender split between each academic rank present at Princeton University.

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