PrincetonUniversity      Reference Room Princeton University Library photo © J.T. Miller '70        Chartered in 1746 as the College of New Jersey -- the name by which it was known for 150 years -- Princeton University was British North America's fourth college.       Located in Elizabeth for one year and then in Newark for nine, the College of New Jersey moved to Princeton in 1756. It was housed in Nassau Hall, which was newly built on land donated by Nathaniel FitzRandolph. Nassau Hall contained the entire College for nearly half a century.       In 1896 when expanded program offerings brought the College university status, the College of New Jersey was officially renamed Princeton University in honor of its host community of Princeton. Four years later in 1900 the Graduate School was established.       Fully coeducational since 1969, Princeton during the 1997-98 academic year enrolled 6,351 students -- 4,600 undergraduates (636 of whom are New Jersey residents, representing every county in the state) and 1,751 graduate students. The ratio of full-time students to faculty members (in full-time equivalents) is less than eight to one. More facts and figures about Princeton can be found in the Princeton Profile, a handy booklet about the University. For an historical time line and more, visit our facts page.        University home | Caption page archive | Communications Office | Web page feedback