The last 10 years have been a time of exceptional change at Princeton. Enhancements to our aid program have strengthened Princeton’s core value of equality of opportunity. Combined with many other efforts across the University, the aid program is helping to broaden and enrich the student community.

The result is a more economically diverse campus.  The following graphics help illustrate the progress achieved this decade.

While concern over rising college costs has been in the news recently, less has been said about the efforts many colleges are making to actually improve affordability.  The above bar graph shows that, since 2000-01, the total need-based grants provided by our aid program have increased by over 160 percent, compared to a fee increase of 60 percent during the same period.

The benefit to aid students is captured in the chart above, showing the relative portion of tuition covered by the average aid grant.  Ten years ago the average grant paid for about 70 percent of Princeton's tuition.  Next year the average grant will cover 100 percent.

Finally, students from a very broad range of economic backgrounds are represented in the Class of 2013 pie chart.  Lower- and middle-income students (in shades of orange) have enrolled in greater numbers with the help of Princeton's world-class aid program, which provides generous aid packages without requiring a student loan.  Our groundbreaking no-loan policy makes it possible to graduate with little or no debt, which in turn gives students the freedom to pursue postgraduate opportunities without the burden of loan repayments.

We hope you'll take a closer look at Princeton, no matter what your financial circumstances.  You may be surprised to find that Princeton is among your most affordable college options once financial aid is taken into consideration.