About Us
Wilson College, the first of Princeton's six residential colleges, was founded in 1957 by a group of students who called themselves the ‘Woodrow Wilson Lodge’. Following the ideals of Woodrow Wilson, president of Princeton from 1902-1910, the Lodge advocated a more thorough integration of academic, social and residential life on campus, and offered students ‘a place where individuals could be accepted for who they are.’ Known affectionately as ‘The College of Destiny’ by its’ residents, the modern Wilson College has maintained a tradition of student governance and promotion of diversity; it is a tradition that inspired the creation of an expanded residential system which now includes six colleges and serves undergraduates from all four class years.
Wilson College today is home to roughly 500 freshmen and sophomores, sixteen upper-class Residential College Advisors (RCAs), ten Residential Graduate Students (RGSs), and a Resident Faculty Fellow. Within the residential college system, Wilson College is paired with Butler College, which opens as the newest four-year residential college in September 2009. Regardless of where they live, Wilson students now benefit from a continued relationship with their residential college community. Wilson’s academic and social programming, much of which is organized by students, complements the classroom and extracurricular experience. The college functions as an integrated living and learning environment with something to offer students at every stage of their undergraduate careers -- just as Woodrow Wilson had always dreamed it would.