Many families are understandably concerned about meeting educational costs, especially at private colleges like Princeton. Whether or not you intend to apply for financial aid, there are two key elements to consider in planning to pay for a Princeton education: estimating costs and looking at family resources.

As detailed in Fees & Expenses, the standard budget for 2009-10 (excluding the Student Health Plan and travel costs) is $50,620. Approximately $47,855 of this amount is billed by the University, while the difference of $2765 represents books & personal expenses that will occur over the course of the year. If you live a distance from Princeton, you should add anticipated travel costs to your budget. Additionally, if you intend to enroll in Princeton’s Student Health Plan, the $1270 fee will be included on the University bill.

With an estimate of college expenses in mind, the next step is to see how much your family can contribute. There are three primary sources to consider.

1. the parental contribution;
2. the student's own share;
3. non-Princeton funds.

Once you have estimated the amount that is available from these sources and compared it to the estimated cost, you will have a good idea of whether you should apply for need-based aid.  There is no automatic income cut-off for Princeton’s aid program, and each application is reviewed individually. Sixty percent of Princeton’s Class of 2013 is receiving financial aid and, if you feel your family might need assistance, you should not hesitate to apply.

Finally, refer to payment options to see how the University bill can be paid.