Undergraduate Admission and Enrollment

Admission to Princeton is quite competitive. In recent years, Princeton has offered admission to about 10 percent of those who apply. Successful applicants must demonstrate exceptionally high academic ability and performance. Personal strengths and nonacademic talents and commitment are also highly valued.

Princeton offers one admission program. The postmark or electronic submission deadline for completed applications is January 1, although applicants are encouraged to submit their portion of the application by December 15, if possible.

In 2006–07, there were 3,980 candidates for the A.B. degree and 810 for the B.S.E. degree. The largest numbers of students came from New Jersey (653), New York (621), California (591), Pennsylvania (270), Maryland (207), Texas (201), and Virginia (200).

Admission Rates, 5-year history
Academic year Applications Admitted %
2007–08 18,942 1,838 9.7
2006–07 17,564 1,790 10.2
2005–06 16,529 1,826 11.0
2004–05 13,695 1,732 12.6
2003–04 15,726 1,601 10.2

Undergraduate Enrollment, 2006–07
Number %
Total 4,790
  Men 2,564 54
  Women 2,226 46
American minorities 1,454 30
  African American 415 9
  Asian American 652 14
  Latino 347 7
  Native American 40 1
Alumni children 623 13
Foreign citizens 442 9

Approximate Undergraduate Enrollment, 2007–08
Number %
Total 4,798
  Men 2,555 53
  Women 2,243 47
American minorities 1,519 32
African American 424 8
Asian American 683 14
Latino 378 8
Native American 34 1
Alumni children 652 14
Foreign citizens 467 10

In recent years, approximately 88 percent of each entering class has graduated from Princeton within four years, and 97 percent of all undergraduates have received a degree from Princeton within six years.

Admission 2007: Class of 2011

As of August 1, 2007. (All percentages rounded)
Applicants Admitted Enrolled
No. % of Total No. % of Applicants No. % of Admits % of Class
Total 18,942 — 1,838 9.7 1,246 67.8 —
  Men 9,971 52.6 971 9.7 651 67.0 52.2
  Women 8,971 47.4 867 9.7 595 68.6 47.8
Alumni children 570 3.0 214 37.5 183 85.5 14.7
Minority students 6,423 33.9 802 12.5 463 57.7 37.2
International students 3,242 17.1 192 5.9 139 72.4 11.2

SATs/SAT Subject Tests

Middle 50 percent of Critical Reasoning SAT, Mathematics SAT, Writing SAT, and three highest SAT Subject Tests. For example, 25 percent of the applicants had Critical Reasoning scores below 640; 50 percent had Critical Reasoning scores between 640 and 750; 25 percent had Critical Reasoning scores above 750.
Test Applicants Admits Enrollees
Critical Reasoning 640–750 700–800 690–790
Mathematics 660–780 700–800 700–790
Writing 630–740 700–780 690–780
SAT II 660–760 710–790 700–780

top | August 2007